-->Coeur D'Alene Mines 3rd-Quarter Loss 10 Cents/Share


COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (Dow Jones)--Sales dropped slightly in Coeur D'Alene Mines Corp.(NYSE:CDE) 's (CDE) third quarter due to a temporary suspension of operations at Silver Valley to prepare the mine for its long-term expansion plan.

In a press release, the silver and gold producer reported sales of $23.4 million in the third quarter ended Sept. 30 compared to $24.4 million in the same period last year.

In the quarter, the company recorded $12.5 million for interest expense and charges. Including these charges, Coeur had a net loss of $17.9 million or 10 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $12.3 million or 14 cents a year earlier.

Excluding these charges, the company would have reported a loss of $5.4 million or 3 cents a share.

Coeur D'Alene Mines Corp.(NYSE:CDE) 's (CDE) third-quarter production totaled 3.3 mllion ounces of silver and 31,000 ounces of gold, compared with 3.8 million ounces of silver and 34,000 ounces of gold in last year's third quarter.

The company noted its cash position and balance sheet strengthened to its" best position in a decade" with no net debt and available liquidity approaching $100 million following the completion of a 23.7 million-share offering for net proceeds of $76 million.

Coeur D'Alene Mines Corp.(NYSE:CDE)
- Coeur D'Alene, Idaho
3rd Quar Sept. 30:
2003 2002
Sales $23,375,000$24,424,000
Net income a (17,871,000) (12,339)000
Avg shares 183,102,000 87,742,000
Shr earns
Net income a (.10) (.14)


Figures in parentheses are losses.

a. Includes $12.5 million in charges for interest expense and charges related to the early retirement of debt. The impact on share results wasn't disclosed.