ABBOTT &lt;ABT> SEES GAINS FROM WEAKER DOLLAR
  Abbott Laboratories Inc said
  its 1987 first quarter record results reflected continued
  productivity improvement, higher volume, better product mix and
  a weaker U.S. dollar.
      Abbott reported 1987 first quarter earnings rose to a
  record 142 mln dlrs or 62 cts a share on record sales of one
  billion dlrs.
      Research and development expenses, most of which was
  applied to diagnostic and pharmaceutical products, increased by
  23 pct to 78 mln dlrs, it said.
      Sales of pharmaceutical and nutritional products were 548
  mln dlrs in the first quarter, up 17.6 pct over a year ago,
  Abbott said. Hospital and laboratory product sales in the first
  quarter rose 14.1 pct to 456 mln dlrs, it said.
      First quarter sales in domestic markets advanced 11.5 pct
  to 688 mln dlrs while international sales jumped 27.1 pct to
  316 mln dlrs, Abbott said.
  

