Merck projects '09 profit, revenue below forecasts
Merck said it expected earnings, excluding special items, of $3.15 to $3.30 per share. Analysts polled by Reuters Estimates were expecting $3.52, on average.
On Wednesday, some analysts had predicted Merck would issue a conservative 2009 forecast, given uncertain foreign currency factors in the coming year.
(Reporting by Ransdell Pierson and Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)