From staff and wire reports

Cintas posts gains for quarter

Despite the sluggish economy, Mason uniform supplier Cintas Corp., posted gains in fiscal first quarter earnings and revenues.

For the three months ended Aug. 31, Cintas posted net income of $63.3 million, or 37 cents a share, up 2.7 percent from $61.7 million, or 36 cents a share, a year ago.

Total revenues rose two percent to $678 million.

"Many of our customers' businesses continue to experience the pressure of a sluggish economy and, as a result, our business has been negatively impacted,'' said new CEO Scott Farmer.

However, the company reiterated its full year guidance for earnings of $1.52 to $ 1.64 a share and revenue of $2.75 billion to $2.95 billion.

The company said pre-tax profits rose 7 percent before a one-time charge of about $4 million for a receivable from an unnamed garment maker whose business has since deteriorated. Despite the write-off, the company said it might recover some of the investment in helping the supplier improve operations.

Skin-patch test shows progress

A clinical trial by Procter & Gamble shows success in what would be the first product to boost sexual desire in women.

An experimental testosterone skin patch significantly increased sexual desire and sexual activity in a study of 447 women with a disorder caused by removal of both ovaries. The findings were presented Thursday at the 14th Annual Meeting of The North American Menopause Society in Miami Beach.

Mason-based P&G Pharmaceuticals sponsored the 24-week trial.

Cinergy to offer $400M in notes

Cinergy Corp., the sixth-largest U.S. utility owner, planned Thursday to sell $400 million of 10-year notes, said people familiar with the sale. The people declined to be named.

Bank of America Corp. and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. arranged the sale.

The debt offering will carry investment-grade ratings of Baa1 at Moody's Investors Service and BBB at Standard & Poor's.