Stanley Black & Decker shoots up 43%

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — Stanley Black & Decker announced last week that profits for the third quarter rose 43%, buoyed by a gradual U.S. housing thaw and cost-cutting budget measures at the company. Sales for the quarter rose 5.2% to a total of $2.9 billion, while gross margin increased from 35.8% to 36.2%. Construction and DIY, the company’s biggest division, saw a 9.1% increase in revenue to $1.45 billion.