World Business Briefing | Europe: France: Sanofi-Aventisâs Profit Falls 4.6%.
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The drug maker Sanofi-Aventis said its fourth-quarter profit fell 4.6 percent under pressure from European health care reforms and generic competition for its blockbuster medicines. It said earnings would be flat this year. The company, which is based in Paris, declined to comment on reports that it had discussed a merger with Bristol-Myers Squibb. Net profit at Sanofi-Aventis fell to 1.38 billion euros ($1.79 billion) in the fourth quarter from 1.44 billion euros a year earlier. Sales increased 5 percent, to 7.36 billion euros ($9.53 billion) from 7.01 billion euros.
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Fourth-quarter profit fell 8 percent on declining advertising sales at the companyâs newspapers and television stations.
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Altria Group Inc. MO.N on Wednesday  said quarterly profit fell 6.9 percent, weighed down by  one-time charges at its Kraft Foods business and increased  exposure to airline industry losses at its financial services  unit.
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GENEVA  Â The Swiss pharmaceutical maker Novartis said on Thursday that its profit dropped 45 percent in the fourth quarter, citing revamping costs and a weak performance in the United States.
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French oil giant Total reports a record 12.58bn euros net profit in 2006 but fourth quarter earnings slip as oil prices fall.
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Sanofi-Synthelabo said earlier this month it would push for 100 percent control of its former rival and newly-acquired subsidiary Aventis after the French Financial Market Authority confirmed the success of its ...
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BNP Paribas , France's biggest listed bank, said on Wednesday it expected fourth quarter profits to be lower than last year as rumors swirled that it may pounce on weakened rival Societe Generale .
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BASEL, Switzerland  - Novartis AG's  fourth-quarter net profit fell 42 percent to $931 million, missing forecasts, hit by generic competition and a one-off restructuring charge, the Swiss drugmaker said on Thursday.
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The British pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline announced a nine percent drop in annual pretax profits which were hit by sales of generic drugs and a weaker dollar, but the group looked ahead to a strong 2005.
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French pharmaceutical group Sanofi-Synthelabo formally announced the birth of Sanofi-Aventis, the world's third-largest pharmaceutical company, ranking number one in Europe.
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Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis on Thursday announced record earnings over the first nine months of the year, but third quarter profits fell 12 percent on sharper competition from generic drugs.
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Sanofi-Aventis has withdrawn its   marketing application for its Multaq heart arrhythmia treatment   in the European Union, the world's third-largest drugmaker said   on Thursday.
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BNP Paribas SA confirmed Wednesday that fourth-quarter net profit plunged 42 percent due to write-downs of securities affected by the financial markets crisis.
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Net profit dropped at the consumer products maker to 721 million euros ($1.04 billion) in the last three months of 2007, from 2.03 billion euros a year earlier.
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European stocks were slightly lower by  mid-day in holiday-hit trading on Monday, with crude oil rises  weighing on shares, though Sanofi-Aventis gained on the result  of trials of an anti-obesity drug.
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Shares of Sanofi-Aventis rose and Bristol-Myers Squibb stock tumbled Monday after a report that the French drugmaker had called off talks on a possible combination with the U.S.-based company.
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AMSTERDAM  Â Unilever, the maker of consumer products like Dove soap and Ben & Jerryâs ice cream, reported a sharp decline in its fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, compared with results a year ago when it sold a business.