TOKYO -- Health and beauty products maker Kao likely logged a group operating profit of about 87 billion yen ($783 million) for the six months ended June, up 7% on the year and bounding past its 82 billion yen projection.
Net sales look to have climbed 3% to around 720 billion yen, topping the forecast of 700 billion yen. Disposable diapers enjoyed growth in China and on the company's home turf of Japan, while facial cleansers fared well in the U.S.
