Summary Box: Handset arm sale lifts Ericsson in 1Q
Summary Box: Sale of handset stake lifts Ericsson's 1st-qtr profit, but revenue drops
SALE BENEFIT: Wireless equipment maker LM Ericsson said its first-quarter profit more than doubled thanks to proceeds from the sale of its stake in handset maker Sony Ericsson.
PROFIT BOOST: The Swedish company posted profit of 8.95 billion kronor ($1.33 billion), including a 7.69 billion kronor gain from selling its stake in its joint venture with Sony Corp.
REVENUE DROP: Revenue fell 4 percent back of the financial crisis and tension in the Middle East. Network operators in areas facing political or economic uncertainty are spending less.
