09:35 AM EST - Agrium Inc. : reported a 28-per-cent decline in profit for the fourth quarter from a year ago, hurt by inventory writedowns and lower sales volumes. In mid-January, Agrium had said it expects writedowns for the fourth quarter due to falling prices. For fiscal year 2009, the company said it expects to benefit from robust demand for crop inputs in the coming year. The Calgary-based company's net income for the fourth quarter declined to $124 million U.S., or $0.79 U.S. per share, from $172 million U.S., or $1.24 per share U.S., in the prior-year quarter. Agrium Inc.
shares T.AGU are trading up $1.09 at $47.10.
