IN BRIEF (Page 17)

'Similar' profit

Tate & Lyle Plc, Europe's biggest sugar refiner, said second-half pretax profit will be "broadly similar" to the first half.

Pre-tax profit after one-time items and adjustments for acquisitions in the first half ended Sept 30 was 117 million pounds ($231.6 million), the London-based company, which reports on May 22, said in a statement distributed yesterday by Business Wire.

WestLB loss

WestLB AG, the government-owned German bank reeling from subprime-related investments, posted its first loss in three years on writedowns and errant trading bets.

The 1.6 billion-euro loss for 2007 compares with 799 million euros in profit a year earlier, the Dusseldorf-based bank said yesterday.

Retailer retreats

Best Buy Co, the largest US electronics retailer, said fourth-quarter profit fell less than analysts estimated as the company sold more higher-priced items including laptops and video-game consoles.

Profit dropped to $737 million, or $1.71 a share, in the three months ended March 1 from $763 million, or $1.55, a year earlier, the Richfield, Minnesota-based company said yesterday.

Monsanto grows

Monsanto Co, the world's largest seed producer, said fiscal second-quarter profit more than doubled as US farmers bought more weed killer and genetically modified corn seed amid surging grain prices.

Net income in the three months through February rose to $1.13 billion, or $2.02 a share, from $543 million, or 98 cents, a year earlier, St. Louis-based Monsanto said.

Agencies

(China Daily 04/03/2008 page17)