STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Opera tumble on Q3 loss, weak outlook

Shares in Norwegian software maker Opera (OPERA.OL) fall 22.8 percent to 17.90 crowns after the company reports weak third quarter figures and gloomy outlook during the first half of next year.

Opera posted a third-quarter pretax loss of 16 million crowns ($2.8 million), against expectations of a 17 million profit in a Reuters poll. It expects revenues of 140-145 million in the fourth quarter and expenses at 145-150 million crowns.

"This was significantly weaker than what we had expected, and it does not look to improve until second half of 2010," analyst Fredrik Thoresen at DNB NOR says.

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