Reynolds Metals Co. said earnings rose 170%...

Reynolds Metals Co. said earnings rose 170% in the first quarter to $70.1 million on the strength of record operating results. The company said net income per share grew 159% over the same period a year ago, even with a 20% increase in the average number of common shares outstanding. The Richmond, Va.-based company attributed the continued sharp gains in the company’s operating income to strong improvement in volume and prices, increasing income from gold operations and the company’s continuing cost-containment efforts.