Charter Posts Slimmer 1st-Quarter Loss

Charter Communications Inc. had a smaller first-quarter loss after adding more Internet customers than forecast. The shares rose 10%.

The loss narrowed to $174.2million, or 59 cents a share, from $280.7 million, or $1.20, a year ago. Sales rose 23% to $1.08 billion, Charter said. Analysts had forecast a loss of 74 cents.

Shares of St. Louis-based Charter, the fourth-biggest U.S. cable company, rose 77 cents to $8.48 on Nasdaq.