** Finnish telecom network gear maker Nokia posted on Friday better-than-expected Q2 earnings and lifted its full-year guidance
** Shares rise 13.5% and top European Stoxx 600 index
NUMEROUS POSITIVES WITHIN RESULTS
** UBS ("buy") says that despite slightly weaker topline and some outstanding questions (Verizon share), it believes Nokia delivered a very solid set of results with much improved execution
** Liberum ("neutral") says the improvement in profitability from extremely low levels is encouraging but adds it's unclear how much further Nokia can take such an improvement with sales coming under COVID-19- and China market share-related pressure
** Credit Suisse ("neutral") says the weak top-line is more than compensated by higher margins, especially within the Networks segment
** JP Morgan ("neutral") also points to the Networks' performance as the driver behind the Q2 beat and highlights Mobile Access turn-around starts being visible in margin
** Inderes ("reduce") echoes other brokers saying Networks' results explain the beat, adding that the retreat from the challenging market in China was positive for margins too
** It also notes Nokia's free cash flow (FCF), the company's weak spot, showed signs of improvement
** According to JP Morgan strongly positive '20 FCF should likely see the dividend reinstated in Q4 2020
((Tommyalexander.lund@homsonreuters.com))