ABBOTT <ABT> SEES GAINS FROM WEAKER DOLLAR
Abbott Laboratories Inc said
its 1987 first quarter record results reflected continued
productivity improvement, higher volume, better product mix and
a weaker U.S. dollar.
    Abbott reported 1987 first quarter earnings rose to a
record 142 mln dlrs or 62 cts a share on record sales of one
billion dlrs.
    Research and development expenses, most of which was
applied to diagnostic and pharmaceutical products, increased by
23 pct to 78 mln dlrs, it said.
    Sales of pharmaceutical and nutritional products were 548
mln dlrs in the first quarter, up 17.6 pct over a year ago,
Abbott said. Hospital and laboratory product sales in the first
quarter rose 14.1 pct to 456 mln dlrs, it said.
    First quarter sales in domestic markets advanced 11.5 pct
to 688 mln dlrs while international sales jumped 27.1 pct to
316 mln dlrs, Abbott said.
 Reuter
