IN FOCUS

ITT Industries, Inc. announced third quarter 2004 net income of $109.8 million, even with the period last year, and up 21 percent when excluding the net benefit of special items recorded in the third quarter 2003.

IDEX Corporation reported record sales and net income for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2004. Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter were 44 cents, up 33 percent from the third quarter of 2003. Earnings per diluted share for the first nine months of 2004 were $1.23, up 32 percent versus the first nine months of 2003.

SKF reports for the third quarter of 2004 a 14.1% increase in sales, measured in local currencies, compared to the same period in 2003. The operating margin for the quarter was 10.6% (8.4). The price/mix increased by 2.3%. Cash flow continued to be strong.

Parker Hannifin Corporation today reported record quarterly net income and earnings for the period ended September 30, 2004, while also marking a record $1.95 billion in fiscal first-quarter sales.

In accordance with a resolution taken at the Annual General Meeting of AB SKF on April 20, 2004, this is to announce the representatives of the four largest shareholders, …

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced net income per share of $1.09 for the third quarter of 2004, an increase of 58 percent over net income per share of $.69 in the third quarter of 2003.

Parker Hannifin Corporation reported orders for the month of September in the company’s industrial and aerospace segments. Orders for the North American Industrial businesses increased 18 percent over the same month last year, while Rest-of-World Industrial orders increased 12 percent.

The U.S. subsidiary of the Ebara Corporation (Japan) has agreed to pay a $6.3 million criminal fine and $121,000 civil fine for illegally shipping of pumps to Iran and trying to shield the deal from regulators.

Highlights: Significant increase in order input – over 25% at constant exchange rates; Increased order input driven by new products and markets; Improving outlook on new orders in Clear Liquid and Techna; Strong turnover and profit growth in Engineering Services; New product introduction programme on track; Earnings per share up 2%; dividend up 3%

Crane Co. will hold its annual analyst conference starting at 8:00am (eastern) on December 14th in New York City.