German retailer Metro AG witnessed a slow start to the Christmas season in its home market. But Metro affirmed that it is expecting 'satisfactory' Christmas trading as its operating profit was more than the expectations.

In the final quarter of 2013-14, Metro reported sales of 15.1 billion euros. Europe's fourth biggest retailer affirmed that operating profit was at 418 million euros, which was more than an average analyst forecast for 369 million euros.

Metro said that they have witnessed a slow start in sales and especially in sales of food and textiles, but the business started to pick up in the first two weeks of December. Metro said that it expected to witness a small rise in the sales and earnings for the 2014-15 financial year that started in October.

Metro runs cash and carries, supermarkets, departmental stores and Europe's top consumer electronics chain. It is making efforts to reduce costs in order to revive its profits. This year, Metro has seen its shares decline by 31%.

One of the main reasons for the same was exposure to weak Russian currency. Chief Executive Olaf Koch also passed on a letter to shareholders that the company cannot say in definite when the group would be able to again join the listing plan.

In 2013, Metro did not pay a dividend and now, it has proposed to resume payments at 0.90 euros per share. In November, Metro did witness a decline in sales due to unseasonably mild weather. As mentioned above Metro is making efforts to generate fortune.

Lately, Metro sold its cash-and-carry business in Vietnam and Greece. It has even sold its stake in British wholesale company Booker and withdrawn from the Danish market.