Thomson Reuters 4Q profit jump

NEW YORK (AP) - News and information provider Thomson Reuters says fourth-quarter earnings climbed 24 percent from a year ago, as revenue grew for the second consecutive quarter.

Thomson Reuters Corp. was under pressure in 2009 as the financial companies and law firms that subscribe to its services cut spending and shed workers during the recession.

Now, an improving economy and new services are lifting results. The company says it earned $225 million, or 27 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, up from $182 million, or 21 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding special items, the company says it earned 43 cents per share. On that basis, analysts surveyed by FactSet expected earnings of 46 cents per share.

Revenue climbed 3 percent to $3.46 billion, while analysts expected $3.44 billion.