Carrefour 3Q Profit Up

Paris Carrefour S.A. said Thursday third-quarter sales rose 7% to euro 24.7 billion ($31.6 billion), lifted by growth in its French hypermarkets business and continued strength abroad.

Chief executive Jose Luis Duran said in a statement the performance "put us on track to attain our 2008 objectives." In France, which accounts for 40% of Carrefour's sales, the group reported growth of 3.5% to euro 10.8 billion ($13.8 billion), helped by improving results at its hypermarkets.