Amazon posts first net loss since 2003 Amazon shares fell more than 5 per cent in after-hours trading after the world's largest online retailer posted its first net loss since 2003. The online retailer said its third-quarter results included a $169m writedown taken on the company's investment in LivingSocial, the coupon website which was "primarily attributable to its impairment charge of certain assets, including goodwill." Amazon invested $175m in the company in 2010. The Seattle-based company said on Thursday its net loss was $274m in the third quarter, or 60 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $63m, or 14 cents, in the third quarter 2011. Analysts had expected a third-quarter net loss of 8 cents. The online retailer, which provides infrastructure services to a growing number of other businesses, reported total revenues of $13.8bn, versus $13.9bn in the same quarter last year. Amazon gave a fourth-quarter earnings outlook below analysts" estimates, citing a range of $20.25 to $22.75bn, versus expectations of $22.82bn. Shares in the company were down 3.6 per cent in after-hours trading.