Key figures for listed enterprises (discontinued), Q1 2012

Profit before tax amounted to NOK 70 billion in the first quarter of 2012; an increase of around NOK 8 billion or 12 per cent from the fourth quarter of 2011, and a decrease of more than NOK 4 billion or approximately 6 per cent from the first quarter of 2011.

Operating profit rose from the fourth quarter of 2011 by about NOK 2 billion, or slightly under 3 per cent, to NOK 69 billion in the first quarter of 2012. Operating profit decreased by about NOK 5 billion or just 7 per cent from last year’s first quarter. The decrease in operating profit from the first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012 was consequently equal to the decrease in profit before tax in the same period.

The improved results in this year’s first quarter affected the number of companies with pre-tax profits positively. The proportion of companies making pre-tax profits went up from the fourth quarter of 2011. It was also higher than in the same quarter last year, although the results in the first quarter of this year were weaker than last year’s results.

Tables:

• Table 1 Key figures for listed enterprises