It reported $1 million in profit for its first full year.

Many companies are expected to report significant changes in profits under the rules.

The company reported a 10pc increase in profits over the same period with figures up from £253m to £278m.

A new rule would probably force companies to report actual results in profits.

The company reports $1.27 billion in profits for the fiscal year, 35 percent less than it made six years earlier.

And the firm reported an average of $1.6 billion in quarterly profits last year.

In 1996 the company reported its first fall in profits for 22 years.

Bayer also reported a sharp fall in profits for 2002.

Dell, which reported a small gain in profits after the market closed Thursday, was down $1.921875, to $36.875.

Four of the nation's 10 largest local telephone companies reported modest increases in sales and profits.