Novell Slides 12.6% on Earnings

Novell

(NOVL)

was down 12.6% in preopen

Island

trading. After Tuesday's close, the company said it broke even in the fourth-quarter, meeting the Street's estimate. A year ago it earned 17 cents per share.

The fall in earnings came as revenue dropped sharply for the business softwaremaker. Novell said sales of packaged software fell faster than its new Internet services grew.