Olivetti Workers Walk Off Job

Hundreds of Olivetti workers walked off the job briefly on Friday to protest the company’s plans to find a buyer for its money-losing personal computer division.

Meanwhile, newly appointed chief executive Roberto Colaninno met bankers and analysts in London in an effort to reassure investors about the future of the Italian information systems company.

Workers at the Scarmagno personal computer factory struck for two hours, union officials said, and walkouts were reported at several other Olivetti plants. The unions are threatening more strikes next week. They fear that selling the computer division would cost jobs.

Colaninno announced Thursday that the Ivrea-based company will sell its personal computer division and other units to raise as much as $800 million.

Olivetti shares climbed about 6 percent on the Milan stock market Friday.