Option makes worse-than-expected Q2 loss

BRUSSELS, July 24 (Reuters) - Belgian wireless data card maker Option (OPIN.BR) (OPNVY.PK)reported a worse-than-expected second-quarter operating loss on Thursday following its warning about the first half two weeks ago. Option's loss before interest and tax for the April-June period came in at 6.6 million euros ($10.4 million) versus an average analyst forecast for a loss of 4.3 million euros.

Option, whose cards allow laptop users to surf the Internet at high speeds, issued preliminary figures on July 11 that sent its shares crashing 20 percent. They hit week 2.30 euros last week, their lowest level since January 2004. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Louise Ireland)