D2 Saturday,July 19, 1986	Û¢Û¢Û¢
Aluminum Co. of America said yesterday that its second-quarter profits rose 31 percent over last year, despite a month-long strike by 15,000 union members.</br></br>Also yesterday, RJR Nabisco Inc. said its net rose 21 percent in the quarter; Bell & Howell Co. said it suffered a 21 percent dip in second-quarter earnings, and Sperry Corp., in its final earnings report, said its profits fell 87 percent in its first fiscal quarter, mainly because of special costs related to its acquisition by fellow computer maker Burroughs Corp.</br></br>Alcoa, which is based in Pittsburgh, said net income for the three months was $53.3 million (63 cents a share). In the same quarter last year, Alcoa earned $40.6 million (49 cents) after a $15.6 million charge from a utility rate case at a subsidiary.</br></br>For the first half, Alcoa reported earnings of $54.7 million (64 cents) compared with $47.3 million (57 cents) in 1985. Sales and operating revenue for the periods declined to $2.41 billidn from $2.68 billion.</br></br>Alcoa Chairman Charles Parry said second-quarter earnings improved because of a more profitable product mix, price and cost improvements and a favorable foreign currency exchange.