41.   The company said each of its business units -- Alberto-Culver USA, Alberto-Culver International and Sally Beauty -- had strong earnings increases.

42.   The earnings increase reflects lower manufacturing costs and a better mix of higher-margin products, the company said.

43.   The company also said that part of its earnings increase stemmed from nonoperating factors, like currency rates and lower interest expenses.

44.   The earnings increase came from higher selling prices and increased sales of more profitable products.

45.   The earnings increases at both chains are their largest percentage gains in about two years.

46.   The increase in volume and productivity gains accounted for much of the earnings increase, the company said.

47.   The Minneapolis-based company credited its worldwide cereal operations, which accounted for more than half of the earnings increase.

48.   The New York-based entertainment company attributed the earnings increase to the results at its lodging and casino gambling businesses.

49.   The Salt Lake City-based company should report an earnings increase over the year-ago quarter despite weakening same-store sales.

50.   The same way a rush of big second-quarter earnings increases and prospects for low rates of inflation brought panic.