HELSINKI: Finnish telecommunications equipment provider Nokia said Friday it had returned to profit in the second quarter and hiked its 2020 forecasts, despite a drop in sales due to the coronavirus pandemic. Net profit came in at 94 million euros ($112 million) compared to a loss of 193 million euros during April-June last year. The result was still far below the analyst consensus of a profit of 142 million euros compiled by Factset.

"Nokia delivered a strong improvement in Q2, with better-than-expected profitability, significant improvement in cash generation, clear indications of a return to strength in mobile radio, and a year-on-year increase in earnings-per-share, despite the challenges of Covid-19," outgoing CEO Rajeev Suri, who will leave his post on Saturday, said in a statement.

Pekka Lundmark, who until now served as CEO of Finnish energy company Fortum, will take over from Suri. Sales fell by 10.6 percent to 5 billion euros, with Nokia estimating the impact from the coronavirus pandemic at 300 million euros for the second quarter. The company managed to increase its operating margin to 8.3 percent from 7.9 percent one year ago, using a method that is not compliant with international accounting rules.