Swedish truckmaker Scania says 4Q profit rose 48 percent; lifts sales forecast

Swedish truck maker Scania AB on Wednesday said fourth-quarter net profit rose 48 percent due to strong sales and raised its revenue forecast for the next two years.

The company said it now expects sales growth for 2007 to 2009 of more than 10 percent, while it had previously forecast growth of around 10 percent. The operating margin is still expected to be between 12 and 15 percent.

Shares in Scania rose 2.3 percent to 134.5 kronor (US$20.86; euro14.3) in Stockholm Wednesday.

Scania earned 2.71 billion kronor (US$420 million; euro288 million) in the three months ended Dec. 31, up from 1.82 billion kronor a year earlier. For the full year 2007, …