Nissan on track for predicted profit

Nissan reported a 26.6 percent jump in profit for October-December on Friday, and kept its full-year forecasts despite looming worries about a U.S. slowdown and an unfavorably strong yen.

Profit at Nissan, which has an alliance with Renault SA of France, rose to $1.24 billion for the fiscal third quarter from $981.4 million the same period the previous year.

Quarterly sales climbed 18.2 percent to $26.03 billion, partly boosted by brisk sales of the Rogue crossover vehicle in the United States.

Earnings at Japan's No. 3 automaker, which also makes the Z sportscar, Altima coupe and Infiniti luxury models, could be endangered in coming months amid worries about slower American consumer spending.

Also, a weaker dollar, which has dropped recently to about 106 yen from 114 yen last year, eats into the revenue from U.S. exports for the Japanese.

But so far, demand for Nissan vehicles has remained strong in the U.S. and in emerging markets such as the Middle East, China and Russia.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/02/01/nissan.results.ap/index.html