Headline: Holcim's Operating Profit Rises as Sales Decline

Holcim, a producer of construction materials, reported better-than-expected operating profit in the third quarter despite a decline in sales. For the three-month period ending in September, Holcim achieved an operating profit of 1.67 billion Swiss Francs. In the same period last year, operating profit was 1.60 billion CHF. Analysts had anticipated the third-quarter operating profit to be 1.65 billion CHF. Sales in the third quarter fell to 7.12 billion CHF from 7.34 billion CHF in the same period last year, with expectations at 7.19 billion CHF.