German drug, chemical maker Merck second quarter net profit falls 48 percent to euro109 million

August 6th, 2009 King Pharmaceuticals reports 2Q profit dropBRISTOL, Tenn. — Drug developer King Pharmaceuticals said Thursday its second-quarter profit dropped, as generic competition continued to hurt drug sales.

August 5th, 2009 Henkel 2Q net profit up sharply to euro143 millionFRANKFURT — German consumer goods company Henkel AG, maker of Persil detergent and Loctite adhesive, said Wednesday its net profit in the second quarter rose sharply from the year ago quarter, when it took significant restructuring charges. The Duesseldorf-based company said net profit for the April-June period rose 276 percent to euro143 million ($206 million) from euro38 million in the second quarter of 2008.

August 3rd, 2009 Linde 1H net profit down 34 percentFRANKFURT — German industrial gas company Linde AG said Monday that its net profit for the first six months of the year fell 34 percent, citing a difficult market environment and falling business volumes in the recession. The Munich-based company earned euro248 million ($354 million) in the January-June period, compared with euro375 million in the first half of 2008.

July 29th, 2009 Germany's Bayer says Q2 profit down 7 pctBERLIN — German pharmaceutical and chemical company Bayer AG said Wednesday that its second-quarter profit slipped 7 percent as sagging sales for its plastics division offset better results from its health-care products. The Leverkusen-based maker of Aspirin and the birth control pill Yasmin said net profit for the April-June period declined to euro532 million ($757 million) compared with euro574 million for the same quarter a year earlier.

July 28th, 2009 Earnings roundup: US Steel, SupervaluAmong the earnings stories for Tuesday, July 28, from AP Financial News: PITTSBURGH (AP) — United States Steel Corp., the largest U.S.-based steel maker, said Tuesday it lost $392 million during its second quarter as the global recession hurt orders for the metal. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Grocery chain Supervalu Inc.

July 22nd, 2009 Whirlpool 2Q profit falls on lower consumer demandBENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Whirlpool, the world's largest maker of major home appliances, says its second-quarter profit fell 33 percent as consumer demand for its products significantly weakened.

July 22nd, 2009 Caterpillar, Merck, Lexmark are big moversNEW YORK — Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market: NYSE: Caterpillar Inc., up $2.81 at $39.46 Weak demand for products and the cost of layoffs hit the construction equipment maker's profit, but it raised its forecast for the year. Regions Financial Corp., down 62 cents at $3.42 The Birmingham, Ala., regional bank tripled its reserve for future loan losses and posted a loss as its income from lending money fell.

July 20th, 2009 Continental says 2Q pretax slips 91 pctFRANKFURT — German tire and car parts maker Continental AG said Monday that its pretax profit slid 91 percent during the second quarter as sales slowed on weaker demand from auto makers. In a preliminary estimate, the Hannover-based maker of tires, brakes, electronics and other auto components said earnings before interest and taxes in the April-June period fell to euro39 million ($54 million) compared with euro456 million during the same period a year earlier.

July 15th, 2009 Abbott Laboratories 2Q profit falls 3 percentNORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — Drug developer and medical device maker Abbott Laboratories said Wednesday its second-quarter profit fell 3 percent on a mix of buyout and restructuring charges, but the results still met Wall Street forecasts.

June 24th, 2009 Monsanto 3Q profit falls 14 pct, will cut 900 jobsST. LOUIS — Monsanto Co., the world's biggest seed maker, said Wednesday its third-quarter profit fell 14 percent and it plans to cut 900 jobs, or about 4 percent of its work force.

May 9th, 2009 Sara Lee's 3Q profit falls 22 percentDOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — Food maker Sara Lee says its fiscal third-quarter profit fell 22 percent as sales dropped on a consumer spending pullback and the stronger dollar.

May 8th, 2009 Unilever first-quarter net profit falls 45 percentAMSTERDAM — Unilever NV, the maker of consumer products such as Dove soaps and Ben & Jerry's ice cream, has reported a 45 percent fall in net profit for the first quarter, as sales dipped and restructuring costs increased. The company says net profit was euro731 million, down from euro1.34 billion.

April 27th, 2009 Merck 1Q net profit falls 76 percentFRANKFURT — German pharmaceutical and chemical company Merck KGaA said Monday that its first-quarter net profit dropped by 76 percent as demand for chemicals in particular declined. Darmstadt-based Merck said net profit for the January-March quarter fell to euro57 million ($75 million) from euro239 million a year earlier.

April 27th, 2009 Sweden's Scania 1Q profit falls 93 percentSTOCKHOLM — Swedish truck and bus maker Scania AB on Monday reported a 93 percent drop in first-quarter net profit, as the global financial crisis continued to weigh on demand and capacity utilization. Net profit for the first quarter was 179 million kronor ($22.1 million), down from 2.5 billion kronor in the same period last year, Scania said.

April 21st, 2009 Schering-Plough 1Q profit jumps despite sales fallNEW YORK — Schering-Plough Corp., in the process of being acquired by competitor Merck & Co., said Tuesday drug sales fell in the first quarter but profit tripled because of cost cutting and a charge in last year's quarter related to an acquisition. The Kenilworth, N.J.-based maker of arthritis treatment Remicade and allergy spray Nasonex earned $767 million, or 46 cents per share.