Praktiker's operating loss widened more than expected

German home improvement chain Praktiker's first-quarter operating loss widened more than analysts' had expected, in Hungary the decrease is over 20 percent.

Its first-quarter loss before interest and amortisation widened to 49.2 million euros ($63.50 million) from 20.8 million euros a year earlier, below the average estimate in a Reuters poll of analysts of a loss of 37 million euros. According to Praktiker, the loss of interest on their Eastern-Central European market is the consequence of unfavourable exchange rate effects.Stores are still open within the regular framework in Hungary, even though the interest in the home improvement chain has fallen significantly (a 20 percent loss we are talking about).