ATHENS (Thomson Financial) - Refiner Motor Oil Hellas SA first half year net profits came in at 109 million euros, up from 85.5 million euros posted the previous year, which beat forecasts.

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Leisure & Gaming Plc. said it swung to a first-half pretax profit from a loss last year, adding it is on track to meet forecasts for the full year.

PARIS (Thomson Financial) - The International Monetary Fund has cut its world growth forecasts for this year and next in light of the global slowdown, an official said on Tuesday.

Aug. 27 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. is facing the worst financial crisis since the Depression. You would never know that from the Democrats' platform in Denver or its Republican counterpart, or from listening to Barack Obama or John McCain.

HONG KONG — Esprit, the world's No. 5 fashion retailer, lagged forecasts with a 12.5 per cent rise in second-half profit, as waning consumer sentiment in its core European market offset a strong euro and sales growth elsewhere.

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/99d458/china_diabetes_car) has announced the addition of the "China Diabetes Care Devices Investment opportunities Analysis and Forecasts to 2012" report to their offering.

The Cash Store Financial Services Inc. today announced fourth quarter and year end results for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Aug. 27, 2008 -- Westamerica Bancorporation is scheduled to participate in the Lehman Brothers 2008 Financial Services Conference.

Agricultural group PrimeAg Australia Ltd says its outlook for this financial year is encouraging amid better weather and stronger commodity prices, after delivering a maiden profit.

DUBLIN, Ireland----Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "China Diabetes Care Devices Investment opportunities Analysis and Forecasts to 2012" report to their offering.