Nokia Q2 profit up at $383 million on strong sales growth, network improvement

Telecommunications and wireless equipment maker Nokia Corp. says second-quarter net profit was €347 million euros ($383 million), with growth particularly strong in its core networks division.

Overall sales increased 9 percent to 3.2 billion euros, with higher software sales and global demand for mobile broadband. Net profit a year earlier was 213 million euros but is not directly comparable because of discontinued operations.

CEO Rajeev Suri said Thursday that all three of the Finnish company's remaining business sectors performed very well and it was "well positioned to deliver on our full-year 2015 commitments."

Nokia, which was unable to meet the challenges of Apple, Samsung and Asian phone makers, has seen a turnaround in its business since selling its ailing handset unit to Microsoft for 5.4 billion euros in 2013.