IN FOCUS

IDEX Corporation announced record financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Sales were up 17 percent, orders increased 12 percent, and net income rose 34 percent from the first quarter of 2004. Diluted earnings per share were 45 cents versus 35 cents in the year-ago period.

The Annual General Meeting of Aktiebolaget SKF, parent company of the SKF Group, was held in under the chairmanship of Mr Anders Scharp.

Parker Hannifin Corporation reported fiscal third-quarter income from continuing operations of $142.2 million, or $1.18 per diluted share on sales of $2.14 billion for the period ended March 31, 2005, compared to income from continuing operations of $105.7 million, or 88 cents per diluted share on sales of $1.88 billion in the same period last year.

SKF reports an increase in sales of 14.2% for the first quarter 2005, measured in local currencies and compared to last year. Profit before taxes increased by 38%. The operating margin was 10% for the first quarter.

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation announced that its Board of Directors authorized the company to repurchase up to 10 million of its common shares.

In the first quarter of 2005, Sulzer recorded a high order intake of CHF 630.4 million, representing a growth of 15.0% in nominal terms, adjusted for acquisition and currency effects 11.3% compared to the first quarter of the previous year. All core divisions increased their order intake.

Baker Hughes Incorporated updated its outlook for the first quarter of 2005, raising its expectations for income from continuing operations per diluted share for the first quarter of 2005 to between $0.52 and $0.53.

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation announced net income per share of $1.19 for the first quarter of 2005, an increase of 40 percent over net income per share of $.85 in the first quarter of 2004.

At Cardo AB’s annual general meeting today, the following resolutions were among those passed:

In his address at today’s annual general meeting of Cardo AB, president and CEO Kjell Svensson included a reference to the trend during the first quarter of 2005: …