UPDATE - MDA's profit dented by blocked asset sale (at Reuters)

TORONTO, July 30 (Reuters) - Data-processing and space technology company MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd (MDA.TO: ) reported a drop in quarterly profit on Wednesday, as costs related to the blocked sale of one of its units ate into results. The company, which earlier this year saw the planned sale of its space robotics and satellite technology business blocked by the Canadian government, earned C$13.4 million ($13.1 million), or 33 Canadian cents a share, in the three months ended June 30. That was down from a profit of C$19.8 million, or 45 Canadian cents a share, in the same period a year earlier. MDA said that excluding the costs related to the unit sale as well as non-cash adjustments related to stock compensation, earnings would have been 62 Canadian cents a share, compared with 55 Canadian cents a share a year... [read full story]