Demand from global markets, and a recent acquisition, helped General Cable beat analysts' estimates for first-quarter sales and profits. The company posted first-quarter net income of $65.8 million, or $1.21 per share, compared to $37.8 million, or 71 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. Net sales were $1.57 billion versus $1.01 billion in first-quarter 2007. Analysts, on average, had expected earnings per share of $1.13 and revenues of $1.48 billion.

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