EARNINGS AND THE ECONOMY-CEOs express cautious optimism

LONDON, April 28 (Reuters) - Company executives across Europe and Asia reported mixed results on Tuesday, and some suggested the effect of the economic downturn on their businesses may be slowing, if not yet reversing.

Following is a compilation of comments made as quarterly company earnings were announced:

"The first positive signs first observed at the end of the quarter do not yet provide indications of a trend," Air Liquide (AIRP.PA) chairman and chief executive Benoit Potier said in a statement. "Thus, the recovery in our markets could take longer."

"What we're seeing is a marked improvement in margins for 2010 and beyond," Drax Group Plc (DRX.L) chief executive Dorothy Thompson said.

"The overall market sentiment in our customer industries continues to be cautious," Metso Oyj (MEO1V.HE) chief executive Jorma Eloranta said in a statement. "There have been some weak positive signals, but it is too early to say if this is enough to improve confidence levels and to start gradual recovery."

"Although no improvement in demand in end-markets seems to be imminent, we are not at this point in time seeing a further deterioration, either," DSM NV (DSMN.AS) chief executive Feike Sijbesma said in a statement.

"The market remains very, very tough, (but) there's no question we're gaining market share in a market that's shrunk somewhere between 20 and 25 percent," Philip Harris, chairman and chief executive of Carpetright (CATVU.L) told analysts.

"We are fairly confident that our cash flows will be positive for the full year," Umicore (UMI.BR) chief executive Marc Grynberg said.

"The North American region isn't quite on a recovery track yet, and the support will come from emerging markets. But we're seeing a bottoming out of the overall U.S. market," Honda Motor Co (7267.T) executive vice president Koichi Kondo said.

"The market outlook is still cloudy, but we hope to generate a full-year profit on a recovery in the second half," Shinichi Taniguchi, executive vice president at Nippon Steel (5401.T), told reporters, adding zero profit was a tentative forecast.

"2009 will be characterised by bad and doubtful debts on the business side of things. 2010 will begin to move into the consumer side as unemployment begins to peak," National Australia Bank (NAB.AX) chief executive Cameron Clyne said.

"We have a chance to significantly cut our losses this year. We may even strive for profitability," Luo Zhuping, China Eastern Airlines Corp (600115.SS) (0670.HK) board secretary, told a briefing.

(Compiled by Simon Jessop; editing by Dan Lalor)