Goodyear expects flat 2nd quarter earnings

AKRON (June 29)—Goodyear expects 2000 second quarter earnings per share before rationalization charges to be about level with 1999´s like period, when it reported 37 cents per share, the company announced June 29. The Akron tire maker´s net income will include after-tax rationalization charges of about $6.5 million, or 4 cents per share related to a plant closing in Italy and general sales office consolidation in Europe. Estimated results were negatively impacted by reduced volumes resulting from North American and European price increases, a weak Euro versus the U.S. dollar and the British pound and rising raw material and energy costs. Goodyear´s actual 2000 second quarter results will be released July 24.