El Segundo  - A bleak third quarter report will likely have Mattel, the world's biggest toymaker, eying this year's holiday season nervously.

According to the firm, third quarter profits essentially stagnated at 238 million dollars. Overall sales were up to 1.9 billion dollars, a 6-percent rise compared to 2007. But the company said those gains were largely attributable to beneficial changes in the dollar's exchange rate.

The Barbie doll, a Mattel classic, continued to suffer weak sales outside of the United States, the company reported. (dpa)