Ceradyne Inc.: The Costa Mesa maker of...

Ceradyne Inc.: The Costa Mesa maker of technical ceramic products and components posted second-quarter net income of $759,000, or 10 cents a share, down 20% from $951,000, or 12 cents a share, reported for the same period last year. Sales gained 4% to $7.3 million from $7 million. Net income for the first half declined 41% to $1 million, or 13 cents a share, from $1.7 million, or 22 cents a share, for the first six months of 1996. Sales were up 5% to $13.9 million from $13.3 million.