Europe's dotcoms may have turned corner

A survey says Europe's dotcoms may have turned the corner as more than a third of the big names move into profit

A survey says Europe's dotcoms may have turned the corner as more than a third of the big names move into profit. The PriceWaterhouseCoopers Internet 150 study says 38 per cent of the top 150 publicly listed European Internet companies were profitable in the fourth quarter of the year. But the study warns that the gap is widening between the strongest and weakest companies. The top 25 per cent of companies by share price performance are generally more profitable and growing sales faster. But the bottom 25 per cent have seen little sales growth and increasing pressure on cash resources. Internet service providers are leading the turnaround with 50 per cent of them reporting a profit. PriceWaterhouseCoopers partner Mr Kevin Ellis said: "Trading in a start-up industry is always tough and the dotcom market is no different. "We're now seeing those companies who have got it right emerging as the dominant forces in the market while the weaker ones fall by the wayside. We expect this polarisation to continue." he said. PA