Kuwaiti cement and building materials trader Hilal Cement Company posted a net profit of KWD1.1m (US$3.8m) in the first nine months of 2005, down from KWD1.4m (US$4.8m) in the same period of 2004. Earnings per share (EPS) decreased to 34.5 fils (US$0.118) in the first nine months of 2005 from 43.6 fils (US$0.149) in the year-ago period. The company registered a surge in net profit to KWD418,200 (US$1.4m) for the third quarter of 2005, against a net loss of KWD77,100 (US$261,000) in the same period of 2004.  Published under Cement News