IN BRIEF (Page 14)

Xstrata profit dips

Xstrata Plc, the world's largest exporter of coal used for power, said full-year profit declined 41 percent after prices of the fuel declined.

Net income fell to $2.77 billion, from $4.7 billion a year earlier, the Zug, Switzerland-based company said yesterday in a statement. Operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, or Ebitda, fell 27 percent to $7.05 billion, beating the $6.67 billion median of 19 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.