Netscape Communications, the leading Internet software maker, yesterday reported a net fourth quarter loss of $88.33 million (£63 million), compared with earnings of $8.15 million in the same period of 1996. The losses were greater than analysts had predicted.

Per share the loss came to 92 cents, after a gain of nine cents in fourth quarter 1996, the company said.

Excluding special charges, fourth quarter losses were $20.8

million, or 22 cents a share. Wall Street analysts had predicted losses per share of 16 cents.

Netscape attributed what it termed "slower than expected overall revenue growth in fourth quarter 1997" to competitive pressures and the failure of enterprise software and services revenue to meet expectations.