Gloves and condom maker Ansell Ltd has downgraded its full year earnings per share guidance, saying its outlook for the second half of the 2008/09 financial year was "cautious". "Previous annual EPS (earnings per share) guidance of 70 US cents to 74 US cents has, in the current economic environment, been revised to 65 US cents to 70 US cents," the company said on Wednesday. Ansell on Wednesday reported a first half net profit of $72.2 million, up 27 per cent on the prior corresponding quarter. The half year result in US dollars, which is Ansell's operating currency, was $US54.1 ($A82.68) million, up nine per cent. The company declared an interim dividend of 12 cents per share, compared to 11 cents per share in the prior corresponding period.