BASF operating profit dives 24% as trade disputes weigh

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Operating income at Germany's BASF dropped 24% during July-September as uncertainty over trade disputes weighed on prices for its basic petrochemicals and foam ingredients.BASF, the world's largest chemicals company by sales, said on Thursday that earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), adjusted for one-off items, dropped to 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion), in line with market expectations."The trade conflict between the United States and China is weighing on our..