Women's career and casual sportswear company, Bernard Chaus Inc, on Wednesday posted a near 40 per cent fall in first quarter net profit from the same quarter of last year despite a climb in sales. The New York-based firm said net income for the 13 weeks ended September 30 decreased to $1 million, or three cents per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.6m, or five cents per share, last year.