US: Rise in fourth quarter sales at Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola Co posted a 4% increase in sales for the fourth quarter but the drinks giant's predictions for 2002 have been adversely affected by soft sales in the North American market. The group recorded net income for the fourth quarter of $914 million, or 37 cents a share, broadly in line with analysts' predictions, up from $242 million, or 10 cents a share, a year earlier. The 2000 figure had been affected by a number of one-off charges. Excluding these one-off items, Coke earned 38 cents a share in the fourth quarter of 2000.