Pfizer Inc.: The New York-based pharmaceuticals giant...

Pfizer Inc.: The New York-based pharmaceuticals giant reported flat third-quarter earnings. Pfizer’s net income was $217.5 million for the quarter on sales of $1.44 billion, compared to $216.8 million on sales of $1.38 billion in the year-ago period. The company said health-care sales increased 3% and consumer products sales rose 23%, while speciality chemicals sales were flat and agricultural sales fell 5%. Pfizer attributed its earnings performance to the introduction of newly approved drugs for angina, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which raised its research and development expenses 11% for the quarter.