James Hardie Industries
(ASX:JHX) has widened its full year loss to $US347 million, from a loss of $US84.9 million the year before.
In the last quarter of its 2011 financial year the building materials manufacturer booked a net operating loss of $US1.8 million, after tax, ASIC and asbestos claims, down from a loss of $US2.3 million for the same period last year.
Fourth-quarter underlying operating profit also improved, lifting to $US33.3 million, from $US23.7 million the year before.
Earlier this week the company announced plans to buy back up to 5 per cent of its shares via an on-market share buyback and that it will resume paying dividends in the 2012 financial year.
In the first half of its 2011 financial year, James Hardie booked an interim net loss of $329.8 million for the six months to 30 September 2010.
