DuPont to Cut Jobs

Chemical maker had a poor third quarter performance

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Chemical maker DuPont is cutting 1,500 jobs and says it will take other steps to increase competitiveness after a third quarter in which earnings fell sharply.

The Wilmington company reported net income of $10 million Tuesday, or a penny per share, compared with $452 million, or 48 cents per share, for the same period last year.

Excluding one-time items, DuPont earned 44 cents per share, compared with 69 cents per share for last year's third quarter.

The results fell short of the average estimate of 46 cents per share, and Dupont's stock slid 4 percent in premarket trading.

Revenue totaled about $7.4 billion, down 9 percent from $8.1 billion.