METALS

Alcoa 2nd-Quarter Earnings Fall: Profit from operations of the world’s largest aluminum producer fell to $172.2 million, or 99 cents a share, compared with net income of $219.4 million, or $1.23, in the year-ago period. A previously announced charge of $40 million for the shutdown of Aluminum Co. of America’s ceramic operations in San Diego led to net income of $132.2 million, or 76 cents a share. Per-share earnings were lower than the $1.11 average forecast of 15 Wall Street analysts. Pittsburgh-based Alcoa’s shares fell 87.5 cents to $56 on the New York Stock Exchange. The decline in net income stemmed mainly from falling metal prices, the company said. Alcoa recorded a loss of $33.8 million, or 19 cents a share, on certain aluminum commodity contracts.