Du Pont Co.’s profit rose 51% on...

Du Pont Co.’s profit rose 51% on a 12% sales increase and some one-time gains. The company attributed the first-quarter gains to cost-cutting and improved sales of agricultural and industrial chemicals, coal, petroleum and polymers. It reported a profit of $590 million; sales totaled $8 billion. The latest results include non-recurring gains of $40 million resulting from the settlement of litigation, the sale of technology and the sale of its U.S. and Canadian explosives business.