Market data, trading systems and news provider to the securities industry Thomson Reuters showed a profit during the third quarter that beat analysts’ predictions and underscores the importance of information and technology to trading even during a volatile downturn.

Thomson Reuters reported a drop in earnings for the third quarter, which came in at $380m (€305.1bn), or $0.46 per share, compared to $3 billion, or $4.61 per share, in the same period in 2007. The 2007 earnings included $2.66bn gained via the discontinued operations resulting from the sale of Thomson Learning's higher education assets.