Monsanto beats profit forecast

NEW YORK: Monsanto Co, the world’s largest seed company, raised its full-year profit forecast after reporting a better-thanexpected second quarter driven by strength in its global corn and herbicide businesses.

Shares were up 1.5% after the company said net earnings in the second quarter, ended Feb. 28, were US $1.48 bil, or US$2.74 a share, up from US $ 1.21 bil, or US$2.24 a share, a year earlier.