RIYADH, 10 October 2005 — Saudi Arabia’s Arab Cement Co. said yesterday its nine-month operating income rose 36 percent from the same period last year to SR247 million ($66 million). But overall net profit fell 3.4 percent to SR252 million from a year earlier, when results were boosted by one-off gains from the sale of investments worth SR72 million. The company made its announcement after the close of morning trade.