Struggling carmaker Ford has posted a narrower quarterly loss, as a major cost-cutting drive helped offset weaker sales in the US.
Ford reported a loss of $282m (£141m) for the first three months of 2007, compared with a loss of $1.4bn during the same period a year ago.
The firm added that improved sales in Europe helped boost its performance.
Ford is in the midst of a turnaround plan that includes cutting up to 45,000 jobs in North America.
'Uncertainties'
The first-quarter results were better than analysts had predicted, pushing Ford's shares higher in pre-market trading and indicating a higher open on the New York stock exchange.
"Our first-quarter results came in somewhat stronger than expected, but there are many uncertainties going forward," said chief executive Alan Mulally.
The Premier Automotive Group, which includes Ford's upmarket brands Jaguar and Volvo, posted a record pre-tax profit of $402m.
Ford of Europe reported a pre-tax profit of $219m for the period.
Japanese rivals
But in North America, the firm posted pre-tax losses of $614m.
The carmaker's US market share fell to 15.1% from 17.2% a year earlier as its sales dropped 13%.
A record loss of $12.7bn was posted by the firm last year - the biggest annual loss in the embattled carmaker's 103-year history.
The iconic car firm has been struggling in the face of competition from Japanese rivals such as Toyota.
It plans to close 16 plants in the US and has forecast its core North American operations will not be profitable until 2009.
Ford shares rose 3.4% in pre-market trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
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