AKZO NOBEL REPORTS DROP IN 3Q PROFITS

Dutch chemicals company Akzo Nobel reported a 66 percent drop in third-quarter profit Wednesday, in part because last year's earnings benefited by a one-time sale of assets. Net profit came to euro175 million (US$209.3 million), down from euro510 million, while sales rose 2 percent to euro3.30 billion (US$3.95 billion) from euro3.22 billion.

Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2005/10/19/ap2285521.html)