News Summary: Tough market dents BMW Q1
Slow markets, investment in new technology make sales, earnings dip at BMW
ROUGH ROAD: Tough auto markets worldwide — including a deep slump in Europe — and investment in new technology dented first-quarter earnings at German automaker BMW AG.
NUMBER NUMBERS: BMW's net profit fell 3 percent to 1.312 billion euros ($1.73 billion) as revenues declined 4.1 percent to 17.55 billion euros. The earnings figures follow a quarter in which the European car market shrank 9.8 percent as many countries have sunk back into recession.
LEADER OF THE PACK: Still, the company's drop in profit for the quarter was smaller than its German competitors, Daimler AG and Volkswagen AG.
