Johnson & Johnson, the US healthcare products group, yesterday said third-quarter profits jumped 20 per cent based on strong sales of its Cypher coronary stent, and conditions created by the weak dollar.

The robust performance caused the group to raise its full-year earnings forecast to $2.64 (€2.25) a share from $2.62 per share. Analysts in a conference call were also told to expect sales growth of around 10 per cent for 2003. Johnson and Johnson employs 1,300 people in Ireland. - (Financial Times Service)