Lafarge net loss widens

French cement group Lafarge, which intends to merge with Swiss group Holcim, reported on Tuesday that weak trading conditions in Europe had improved in the first quarter and stood by its targets for the year. But net profit fell by 15.3 percent from the figure at the same time last year to 135 million euros ($188 million). However, this was partly because the previous figure had been boosted by exceptional gains of 45 million euros, chief executive Bruno Lafont said. Cement and other building materials produced by the group are a barometer of the construction industry which has been through a difficult period in Europe, according to AFP.