Goldman Sachs posts $2.72B 2nd-Q profit on strong trading, underwriting businesses

Goldman Sachs Group said its 2nd-Q profit easily surpassed expectation as profit was buoyed by strength in its trading & underwriting businesses. Long considered one of the strongest banks in the financial sector, analysts widely expected Goldman's profit to continue its rebound. Goldman posted a quarterly loss in the 4th-Q of 2008 amid the mushrooming credit crisis before returning to profitability in the 1st 3 months of 2009. During the quarter ended June 26, the NY-based banking giant earned $2.72 billion, or $4.93 per share, after preferred stock dividends. Goldman recorded a charge of 78