Cement maker Holcim beats earnings forecasts in fourth quarter

ZURICH, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Holcim HOLN.S reported better-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter on Friday as the building materials company presses ahead with its plan to spin off its North American business.

Holcim reported recurring operating profit rising 4.4% to 1.17 billion Swiss francs ($1.30 billion), beating forecasts for 1.14 billion francs in a company gathered consensus of analysts.

The cement maker's sales of 6.47 billion francs in the three months to the end of December, down 1.9% from a year earlier, matched forecasts for 6.45 billion francs.

($1 = 0.8988 Swiss francs)