Billionaire Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa is anticipated to perceive an end to 3G losses for the very first time. The Hong Kong conglomerate unconfined its 2010 yearly outcomes on Tuesday.

The 3G endeavor, which has racked up losses of 158 billion Hong Kong dollars since services began in year 2003, had provoked many to question Mr. Li's renowned deal-making prowess.

Other business interests of Hutchison span the world. The firm has fifty one ports, 9,300 stores counting the retailer Superdrug, as well as energy and property investments. It is anticipated to report yearly earnings of about HK$17 billion, with its 3G business anticipated to break even or contribute small earnings.

The technology was slow to start off, but has charged much better recently as more customers shift to smartphones and use the gadgets to surf the internet, forecasters say."I still do not think this essentially means that 3G has proved to be a good investment but it does change the investment prospect," said Cusson Leung, a forecaster at Credit Suisse in Hong Kong.

"It is not losing money anymore and that will be reflected in the share cost." Hutchison's HK-listed shares have soared by about seventy percent from August after Mr. Li asserted he would raise shareholder shares once 3G clogged making a loss.