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Facebook sees sharp drop in profits Facebook sees sharp drop in profits
(35 minutes later)
Facebook has reported a sharp drop in profits, partly due to increased spending on research and development.Facebook has reported a sharp drop in profits, partly due to increased spending on research and development.
The social network site made a profit of $64m (£41m) in the final three months of 2012, against $302m a year earlier. Revenue was up 40% at $1.1bn. The social network site made a profit of $64m (£41m) in the final three months of 2012, compared with $302m a year earlier.
Boss Mark Zuckerberg said the firm entered 2013 with "good momentum". Revenue was up 40% at $1.6bn, largely due to a big jump in advertising revenue, a quarter of which came from mobile platforms.
Facebook shares launched on the Nasdaq stock exchange in May at $38, and after falling sharply have recovered to stand at $31. Shares in Facebook fell by almost 6% in after-hours trading in New York.
The shares launched on the Nasdaq stock exchange in May at $38, and had halved in value by September.
They have since recovered to stand at $31 at the close of trading on Wednesday. The drop in after-hours trading suggests the shares will fall back again when full trading resumes on Thursday.
"Mobile revenue was expected to be a little higher," said analyst Aaron Kessler at Raymond James.
"Overall it's a solid quarter but maybe [the company has suffered from] high expectations going into the quarter."
Revenue from advertising was $1.3bn, 41% up on a year earlier.
Mobile revenue, an important indicator of the company's ability to capitalise on the growing move towards mobile platforms, accounted for 23% of overall revenue.
"In 2012, we connected over a billion people and became a mobile company," said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder and chief executive.
"We enter 2013 with good momentum and will continue to invest to achieve our mission and become a stronger, more valuable company."