From U.S. companies last week, came a broad cross section of third-quarter earnings. Despite talk of a business downturn, many a company reported sales and profits up substantially, although there were cases where fast-rising costs had kept profits below the sales increase.
On the up side was Du Pont (see below), with a solid 7% increase in both sales and net. Earnings were $2.14 a share, v. $1.99 last year. Owens-Illinois Glass Co. raised its volume and net 4%; Eastman Kodak did even better. On a 10.2% increase in sales (from $175.6 million to $193.5 million), it raised profits 14%...