Volvo stalls in Q4 as construction sector contracts

Volvo Group, the world's second-largest producer of trucks, posted a fourth-quarter loss as a plunge in construction equipment deliveries compounded the effects of provisions for credit losses and a potential antitrust fine.

The operating loss totaled 2.26 billion kronor ($272 million) compared with profit of 996 million kronor a year earlier, Sweden-based Volvo said in early February in a statement. Analysts on average had estimated that Volvo would post a profit. Revenue rose 1.1 percent to 77.5 billion kronor.

Volvo's fourth-quarter construction-equipment deliveries dropped 30 percent, including a 44 percent plunge in Asia, hurt by "weakness" in emerging markets, especially those that depend on commodity production.