American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. posted its first quarterly profit in two years. It earned $19.6 million, or 35 cents per share, compared with a loss of $440.9 million, or $8.54, a year ago. Revenue fell 22 percent to $409.6 million.

Chevron Corp. reported a 51 percent drop in third-quarter profit on lower oil and natural gas prices, but the results bested analysts' expectations thanks to a jump in output and a sharp cut in operating costs. The second-largest U.S. oil company by market value earned $3.83 billion, or $1.92 a share, down from $7.89 billion, or $3.85, a year ago. Revenue decreased 41 percent to $47 billion.

Laclede Group Inc., the owner of Missouri's largest natural gas utility, posted a wider fiscal fourth-quarter loss because of weaker gas sales. The net loss was $4.7 million, or 22 cents per share, compared with a loss of $3.6 million, or 16 cents, a year ago. St. Louis-based Laclede often loses money during the fourth quarter because of lower natural gas demand during the summer months. Laclede Gas Co., the utility that supplies natural gas to more than 630,000 customers in St. Louis and surrounding Missouri counties, recorded a $7.5 million loss. The loss was partially offset by a $4 million profit for the company's wholesale gas marketing unit. (Jeffrey Tomich)

Natural gas distributor Nicor Inc. said its third-quarter profit jumped more than 10 times from the prior-year period levels, driven mainly by dramatically lower expenses for natural gas. Earnings were $13.6 million, or 30 cents per share, compared with $1.3 million, or 3 cents, a year ago. Revenue declined 26 percent to $325.6 million.

Penske Automotive Group, the No. 2 U.S car dealership group by sales, said third-quarter earnings rose 23 percent on cost-cutting and a boost from the Cash for Clunkers program. Net income rose to $27.4 million, or 30 cents per share, from $22.2 million, or 24 cents, a year ago. Revenue fell 13 percent to $2.6 billion.

YRC Worldwide lost money in the third quarter, but the financially fragile trucking giant is still working with lenders to stay out of bankruptcy. YRC lost $158.7 million, or $2.67 per share, compared with a loss of $720.9 million, or $12.58, a year ago. Revenue sank 45 percent to $1.31 billion.

From local and wire reports