Commenting on its figures (page seven), Dell Computer Corp says that while we are not pleased with the bottom line of 26 cents, we believe our fundamentals are strong, our financial strength improving and we continue to be focused on the issues that we believe will enable us to ultimately regainearnings momentum; according to chairman Michael Dell, the company faces two challenges, rebuilding its infrastructure and relaunching its notebook business; the company warns that it no longer expects to achieve higher year-over-year earnings in the fourth quarter and Our goal of reaching $3,000m in sales for the year looks too aggressive; gross margins declined to 18% in the third quarter from 21% a year earlier, and market conditions in the personal computer industry continue to be very dynamic; the firm is seeing a rise in demand in Europe in its fiscal fourth quarter, which began on November 1.
