(Telecompaper) LG Electronics reported a fall in third-quarter profits, hurt by a slowdown at its smartphones and consumer electronics business. Revenues were up 0.7 percent year-on-year to KRW 14.71 trillion, but operating profit dropped to KRW 294 billion from KRW 465 billion a year ago. Net profit fell to KRW 125 billion from KRW 203 billion, also hurt by lower results at the LG Display venture. At the mobile division, revenues fell 21 percent year-on-year and 7 percent from Q2 to KRW 3.38 trillion. The unit moved into the red, with an operating margin of negative 2.3 percent, compared to breakeven in Q2. LG said it sold 14.9 million smartphones in the quarter, up 6 percent from Q2 but 11 percent less compared to the year-earlier period. Sales improved on a sequential basis in the US thanks to solid sales of mid-range smartphones, but sales were lower on an annual basis in Korea due to weak market demand. LG said it expects competition to remain fierce in Q4 due to new models in the premium segment and price pressure in the mid-market. LG will aim to improve profitability and focus on the new Nexus 5X and V10 models. In consumer electronics, LG also reported sales down 5 percent to KRW 4.29 trillion. The operating margin improved to 0.9 percent from a negative 2.1 percent in Q2, but was still down on 3.0 percent a year ago. The company was hurt by weaker demand for TVs and currency fluctuations. LG said it will work on improving margins with a focus on the premium market for OLED and UHD TVs.