 Bridgestone is trying to recover its reputation in the US |
Bridgestone, the world's second-biggest tyremaker, has seen its profits slump 69%, hit by the surging cost of rubber and other raw materials. The Japanese firm's net income fell to 50bn yen ($427m; �224m) for the first nine months of 2006, down from 159bn yen for the same period last year.
Its sales during the nine months to 30 September rose 13% to 2.2 trillion yen.
Bridgestone's German rival Continental was also hit by raw material costs, as its third-quarter profits fell 27%.
Sales at Continental were 3.71bn euros in the quarter, up 8% on a year earlier.
Recall scandal
Both Bridgestone and Continental also saw the expense of closing US factories eat into their latest profits.
Bridgestone's net profits were further affected by a one-off tax gain last year.
When this factor is excluded, its operating profits were down 34%.
Bridgestone is continuing to recover from the aftermath of a safety recall scandal in the US.
This saw it pay Ford $240m last year to settle a dispute over allegedly dangerous tyres made by its US subsidiary Firestone.
One-Minute World News 
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