Earnings soar at solar firms

Chinese solar-power equipment manufacturers LDK Solar Co. and Trina Solar Ltd. report an increase in third-quarter net profit and sales. LDK's net profit rose to $88.4 million from $41.6 million, while sales more than tripled from last year's reported $541.8 million. LDK increased its fourth-quarter revenue forecast to between $555 million and $565 million, and its 2009 sales forecast to between $2.9 billion and $3.1 billion. Trina reports quadrupled net income to $32.1 million, while sales tripled to $290.7 million. Trina reduced its full-year revenue target by $50 million to between $800 million and $850 million.