ZURICH (Reuters) – Holcim (SIX:HOLN) reported better than expected operating profit during its third quarter, the construction materials maker said on Friday, despite a downturn in sales.

The company, which is planning to spin off its North American business next year, posted recurring operating profit of 1.67 billion Swiss francs ($1.93 billion) for the three months to the end of September.

The figure was slightly ahead of analyst forecasts for 1.65 billion francs in a company supplied consensus.

($1 = 0.8656 Swiss francs)

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