Emerging markets in South America and Asia as well as the U.S. economic recovery lifted first-quarter profits 27 percent for Danbury industrial gas supplier Praxair Inc.
Praxair earned $398 million, or $1.29 per share, in the three months ended March 31, up from $314 million, or $1.01 per share, earned the comparable 2010 period.
First-quarter sales rose to $2.7 billion from $2.4 billion last year.
Steve Angel, chairman and CEO of Praxair, said sales in South America and Asia grew by double digits in the first quarter, and the business in North America is recovering from the economic downturn.
