Stocks, Earnings & Sales Reports | featured news

Fast food giant reports in-line earnings, chipmaker hikes dividend and earmarks another $10 billion for buybacks.

Shares were down after a disappointing report on home prices. Traders also took in a mixed batch of earnings in the United States and Europe.

Materials and energy stocks were among those pulling the U.S. stock market to a weak opening. Home Depot gained on Lowe's earnings report.

U.S. stock futures rose as better-than-expected earnings reports from Research In Motion and Oracle late Thursday reinforced confidence in the ability of companies to increase profits next year.

Stocks rallied Thursday to their highest levels in at least 8 months, as investors eyed the latest batch of better-than-expected profit reports or forecasts and a report that suggested the labor market is starting to stabilize.

Major stock gauges declined as weak earnings and worries about commodity demand weighed on raw-materials companies.

Stocks climbed at the open, with the market digesting a host of key earnings reports and awaiting an appraisal of the economy from Bernanke.

Stocks turned mixed in early trading after earnings reports showed mixed results.

A cautious forecast from FedEx Corp. is giving investors another reason to worry about the economy. Stocks fluctuated in a tight range Wednesday after FedEx issued a weaker-than-expected profit forecast and downbeat comments about what it sees ahead for the economy.

Stocks climbed as companies continued to report stronger-than-forecast results, though new data offered mixed signals on an economic recovery.