Gillette Profit Up 18% on Razor, Battery Sales

Gillette Co. said first-quarter profit climbed 18% because of higher Mach3Turbo and Duracell battery sales.

Net income rose to $263 million, or 25 cents a share, from $223 million, or 21 cents, a year earlier, Gillette said.

Rising currencies in Europe helped sales jump 14%, the biggest gain in more than five years, to $1.97 billion.

Shares of Boston-based Gillette fell $1.01 to $30.97 on the New York Stock Exchange.

From Bloomberg News