Standard Pacific Corp.: The Costa Mesa builder...

Standard Pacific Corp.: The Costa Mesa builder and savings and loan operator reported earnings of $3.5 million, or 12 cents a share, for the first quarter, a dramatic increase from $573,000 earned in last year’s first quarter. Arthur E. Svendsen, the company’s chairman, attributed the big increase to more sales, higher profit margins and a strengthening housing market. Quarterly revenue nearly doubled to $111.3 million from $61.6 million.