BUSINESS MEMO: A.G. EDWARDS EARNINGS

A.G. Edwards Inc. has announced results for the third quarter and the first nine months, which ended Nov. 30. Revenues.

Net earnings were reported at $68 million for the third quarter on revenues of $524 million, or 72 cents per basic share. During the same period a year ago, earnings were $72 million on revenues of $527 million, or 76 cents per basic shares.

Earnings for nine months were at record levels. Net earnings of $216 million, or $2.27 basic earnings per share, were up 10.2 percent from net earnings of $196 million or $2 per share, during the first nine months of 1997. Revenues were also at record levels, at $1.65 billion, from $1.48 billion a year ago.

Edwards is a financial services holding company whose primary subsidiary is the brokerage firm of A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, which operates 626 brokerage offices, including a branch office at 97 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.