JPMorgan Q1 Profits Plunge 50% on $5.1B Writedowns

JPMorgan Chase, battling $5.1 billion in subprime writeoffs and deteriorating consumer credit, reported first quarter profits fell 50%, reports the Wall Street Journal. CEO Jamie Dimon warned the outlook for the remainder of 2008 was likely as grim. Morgan—the 3rd-largest US bank—said profits dropped to $2.37 billion, or 68 cents a share, down from $4.79 billion, or $1.34 a year earlier. (More JPMorgan Chase stories.)