Twitter hammered as user losses overshadow improving finances

Twitter shares took a pounding Thursday as an unsettling update on its global user base offset upbeat figures on revenues and profits in the past quarter.Shares skidded 9.8 percent to close at $30.80 following Twitter's fourth quarter update, which showed a consistent profit trend despite a shrinking number of users.Chief executive Jack Dorsey said the results reflect Twitter's efforts at "promoting healthy conversation" by weeding out fraudulent accounts used for abuse, harassment and political