THE SECOND QUARTER RESULTS AT EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY SHOWED A WEAKING PERFORMANCE IN THE COMPANY’S POLYMERS AND FIBERS SEGMENTS. THE KINGSPORT BASED COMPANY REPORTED EARNINGS OF 1.34 CENTS A SHARE COMPARED TO A 1.40 IN THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR AGO. INCOME AT EASTMAN WAS 105 MILLION, DOWN FROM 114 MILLION THE YEAR BEFORE. EASTMAN CHAIRMAN AND CEO BRIAN FERGUSON SAID SECOND QUARTER RESULTS DEMONSTRATE THE COMPANY REMAINS FOCUSED ON DELIVERING STRONG EARNINGS FROM ITS SOLID BASE OF BUSINESSES. HE CLAIMS THE COMPANY IS MAKING GREAT PROGRESS IN ITS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, INCLUDING TWO GASIFICATION PROJECTS IN THE GULF COAST. A LOOK AHEAD, FERGUSON EXPECTS CONTINUED SOLID RESULTS IN ALL SEGMENTS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PERFORMANCE POLYMERS OUTSIDE THE U.S. THEY ALSO EXPECT CONTINUED HIGH AND VOLATILE RAW MATERIAL AND ENERGY COSTS FOR THE COMPANY.