Hardware chain Clas Ohlson has reported a lower-than-expected drop in pre-tax profit for its third quarter, even as sales were up by a modest amount. For the quarter, pre-tax profit was down 8.7% to SEK240.2m (E21.3m), compared to SEK263m last year, beating analyst expectations of a profit of SEK227m. Sales meanwhile rose by 3% year-on-year to SEK1.54bn.

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