Now, as then, corporate profits have surged; the stock market has, too.

Workers could also earn a 20 percent bonus if profits surged.

Profits in the quarter surged 30.4 percent, to 4.37 billion yen.

Imperial's profits from cigarettes surged to £225m last year, while its market share remained buoyant.

Profit at eBay surged in the second quarter, although investors were disappointed that its growth was not even faster.

The nation may be poised for faster economic growth than previously believed, with labor productivity, profits and business spending all surging.

ConocoPhillips, the No. 3 oil company, said its profit surged 89 percent in the quarter.

The profits surged 46 percent, to $:31.8 million ($49.3 million).

Lehman's profit surged 74 percent in the third quarter, while Goldman's jumped 84 percent.

Despite its losses in Russia last year, profits surged 12 percent, to $:1.9 billion ($3.1 billion).