BY STEVENSON JACOBS
The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Another financial quarter, another period of blowout profits for Goldman Sachs. With some of the other big banks still losing money, many may wonder: How does Goldman do it?

Gutsy trading and talented employees…

U.S. Bank slashed its dividend by 88 percent Wednesday citing “uncertainty in the financial markets and a weakening economy.”

CEO Richard K. Davis also noted the federal government’s growing emphasis on common equity as a measure of financial strength. Cutting the…

Centene Corp.’s earnings guidance for the next fiscal year will be little changed from its 2008 guidance, according to a statement released today by the company.

Centene, a managed care company based in Clayton, expects earnings per share of about $1.82 to $1.94 in…

Isle of Capri Casinos said its loss narrowed in the second quarter, but revenue fell and it’s still being buffeted by the weak economy and hurricanes on the Gulf Coast.

The Creve Coeur-based gaming company Tuesday morning reported revenues of $254.1…

MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. dropped its third-quarter earnings estimate to about $520 million to $540 million because raw materials delivery decreased after Hurricane Ike, the O’Fallon, Mo.-based company said today.

Although Ike did not do any major damage to MEMC’s plant…

A top executive at Monsanto Co. plans to lay out a case for belief in the company’s ability to double its gross profits by 2012.

The Creve Coeur-based biotech giant sees a significant growth opportunity creating more yield for farmers through…

The new Lumiere Place casino complex downtown posted a small loss in its first full quarter of operation, owner Pinnacle Entertainment reported this morning.

Thanks largely to marketing and staffing expenses associated with its opening, the property lost $760,000, on $47.2…

LaBarge Inc. issued preliminary third quarter earnings Thursday that exceed its prior financial guidance, which it raised in mid-March.

For the three months ending March 31, the Clayton-based electronics manufacturer expects to report net sales of $75.4 million, up 27 percent…

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) this morning raised its 2008 earnings per share guidance and predicted its second-quarter profit will rise above Wall Street analysts.

The Creve Coeur-based company said it now expects second-quarter earnings per share of $1.98, including a…

LaBarge shares soared 24 percent Wednesday on news that the company raised earnings guidance for its third quarter.

The Clayton-based electronics manufacturer said it expects $70 million to $72 million in net sales for the quarter, up from $59.6 million in…