Applied Materials Quarterly Loss Widens

Applied Materials Inc., the biggest maker of computer chip production equipment, said its first-quarter loss widened because of costs to reduce overhead.

The net loss widened to $65.7 million, or 4 cents a share, from $45.5 million, or 3 cents, in the year-earlier period. Sales rose 5% to $1.05 billion.

Santa Clara, Calif.-based Applied Materials lost 11 cents to $11.94 on Nasdaq before the earnings announcement.