JC Penney lowers earnings view

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mid-tier department store operator JC Penney Co Inc on Friday lowered its first-quarter earnings forecast, saying sales through the Easter holiday were "well below expectations."

It now expects first-quarter earnings of approximately 50 cents per share, compared with its previous view of 75 cents per share to 80 cents per share.

(Reporting by Nicole Maestri, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

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