Norsk Hydro reports much lower-than-expected Q4 operating profits

Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro reported on Thursday much lower-than-expected fourth-quarter operating profits and full-year dividend amid continuing output restrictions in Brazil. Hydro's underlying operating profit for the quarter fell by 85 percent year-on-year to 534 million Norwegian crowns ($62.48 million), while analysts in a Reuters poll on average had expected a profit of 1.45 billion crowns.