BAYER AG NEARLY TRIPLES ITS 2Q PROFIT

German drug-maker Bayer AG nearly tripled its second-quarter profit on strong sales in its health-care and chemical businesses, but it still missed expectations and its shares fell Wednesday. The Leverkusen, Germany-based company earned 406 million euros ($502.1 million) in the quarter that ended June 30, compared with 146 million euros in the year-ago period. Analysts had expected a profit of 438 million euros.

Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/technology/ebusiness/feeds/ap/2005/08/10/ap2177022.html)