New York - The US toothpaste and cosmetics concern Colgate- Palmolive on Tuesday overshot market expectations with its announcement of 2nd quarter profits of 494 million dollars, a rise of 19 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Revenues, which rose due to price rises and the advantages of curency fluctuations, was up 17 per cent to around 4.0 billion dollars, the New York-based firm said.

Paris - The two heads of the troubled French-American telecommunications equipment supplier Alcatel-Lucent, Pat Russo and Serge Tchuruk, have decided to resign, the company announced on Tuesday.

Russo, the company's chief executive officer, is to leave her post by the end of the year but, at the request of the Board of Directors, will run the company until a replacement has been found.

"I am very pleased with the progress we are making especially in light of a difficult market environment," said Pat Russo. "That said, I believe it is the right time for me to step down.

London - Oil giant British Petrole