MOSCOW, RUSSIA: MTS, Russia's largest mobile phone operator, posted a 4.1 per cent fall in third-quarter net profit as its debt-servicing costs rose, but its figures were ahead of most analysts' forecasts.

The net profit fell to $494.4 million as the company's debt rose and the weaker rouble increased the interest on its dollar-denominated loans and bonds.

Sales at MTS, part of services conglomerate Sistema, fell 19.4 percent to $2.27 billion, also above the average forecast of $2.21 billion in a Reuters poll of analysts.

Operating income before depreciation and amortisation (OIBDA) declined 26.9 percent to $1.06 billion, while analysts had expected it to be $1.03 billion.