Its first profit report following the sale beat expectations, at NZ$37.4 million in the second half of 2012.

America Online eased another 1 5/8, to 141 3/8, as investors took profits after its strong profit report.

Robust profit reports came with warnings of weak numbers to come.

Much of that gain no doubt came from the company's good profit report, which was released at the same time.

Companies' profit reports, recent retail sales, manufacturing and other data are generally improving.

Caterpillar fell 1 3/8, to 58 7/8, on a disappointing profit report.

So far, he seems to be right about many of the profit reports - but quite wrong about the market reaction.

Earnings were also on investors' minds, and weak profit reports did little to convince them that a turnaround was at hand.

The two executives will go so far as to read the monthly profit reports.

It was not clear to what extent those changes affected the profit report.