09:53 AM EST - Talisman Energy Inc. : said on Wednesday first-quarter profit surged 164 percent, mainly due to a $277 million after-tax gain on asset sales. Talisman, Canada's No. 3 independent petroleum producer, said net income rose to $520 million, or 48 cents a share for the period ended March 31, up from $197 million, or 17 cents, in the year-ago quarter. Analysts were expecting an average operating earnings of 26 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates. Talisman Energy Inc.
shares T.TLM are trading down 24 cents at $21.64.
