Ask Jeeves Warns on Fourth Quarter, CEO Steps Down

Ask Jeeves

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expects fourth-quarter results to come in below estimates, citing weakness in the online advertising market.

The Emeryville, Calif., company, which provides an online question answering service, expects to report a fourth-quarter pro forma loss of $18 million, or 50 cents a share, on revenue of about $25 million. Analysts expect the company to lose 33 cents a share for the quarter, according to

First Call/Thomson Financial

.

Also, Rob Wrubel will step down from his post as chief executive. The company said the decision was made jointly by Wrubel and the board. Wrubel will become executive vice president of market development. The board named current member A. George Battle interim CEO.

After closing at $9.69 in the regular

Nasdaq

session, shares of Ask Jeeves were recently down to $5.75 in after-hours

Island

trading.