Occidental Petroleum Corp, (OXY), said that the latest core earnings exclude a net after-tax loss of $347 million in discontinued operations, reflecting an impairment charge related to an investment in Venezuela and income from Vintage Properties held for sale, while the year-ago core profit excludes a $619 million tax benefit and an $89 million gain from the sale of an investment. Revenue advanced to $4.6 billion from $3.39 billion in the same period a year earlier. The company missed analysts’ estimates for a profit of $2.79 a share. Occidental said its daily production from continuing operations rose to 609,000 barrels of oil equivalent, an increase of 93,000 barrels from its year-ago total. It said the latest results benefited from the higher production and robust crude oil prices.

Ceradyne Inc, (CRDN), maker of ceramic body-armor plates, reported that net earnings advanced to $1.10 a share, from 46 cents the year earlier. Analysts’ forecasts were for earnings of $1.05 per share. Revenue rose to $162 million from $89.9 million. The company said the expansion of production capacity allowed it to meet the U.S. government''s continuing requirements for lightweight ceramic body armor. Ceradyne also said it has found inconsistencies in its stock option grants between 1997 and 2003, as the measurement dates made for accounting purposes and the actual recorded dates grants differed on some grants. As a result, the company recorded a charge of $1.5 million pertaining to the years 1997 to 2005 and the first six months of 2006.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, (GT), manufacturers of tires and rubber products, reported Q2 earnings of 1 cent a share, down from a year-ago profit of 34 cents a share. The latest results include 36 cents a share in charges related to plant closings. Sales gained 3% to $5.14 billion from $4.99 billion in the same period a year earlier. The company missed analysts’ estimate for a profit of 18 cents a share. The company said its latest results were impacted by higher raw material costs of $210 million, an increase of 16% from last year, as well as weak tire industry demand, especially in North America.

OM Group Inc, (OMG), producer and marketer of value-added, metal-based specialty chemicals, reported a Q2 profit of $1.80 a share, well above the figure of 40 cents a share a year-ago. Revenue increased to $330.2 million from $314.7 million. The company topped analysts’ forecasts for earnings of 80 cents a share.

Greater Bay Bancorp, (GBBK), bank holding company, reported Q2 net income rose 10% to 46 cents a share, from $38 cents a share a year earlier. The company said net interest income for the period rose to $65.8 million from $65.4 million.