The rally has defied skeptics who thought stocks were due for a harder slog as the economy slows.

Manufacturing companies have formed an unusual alliance with the United Steelworkers, aiming to preserve and promote manufacturing in the U.S.

The companies plan to introduce specialized high-end server systems that provide fresh evidence of a new era in computing.

The increase in reality programming is more about a shrinking potential market that gives networks less incentive to spend money.

New data on durable goods orders raised expectations that decent economic growth can continue.

An Amalgamated Bank branch opened Wedensday in Long Island City, part of an effort to wean many residents off an all-cash economy.

The rise lends support to the views of bullish investors that the company?s spending and its emphasis on increasing sales over profit would eventually pay off.

Qualcomm also raised its annual revenue and profit forecasts.

Jeffrey R. Immelt said he found the lagging performance of the company?s shares ?frustrating.?

A proxy fight between investor Carl C. Icahn and Motorola heated up when two proxy advisory firms lined up in opposing camps.

The UAL Corporation posted a bigger-than-expected $152 million loss for the first quarter, pressured by reduced domestic passenger demand.

First-quarter earnings climbed 27 percent, mostly as a result of robust orders for commercial airplanes and strong military business.

The increase came on lower corporate expenses, a lower tax rate and strong international sales of snacks and beverages.

The nation?s largest brewer reported a 3.7 percent increase in first-quarter earnings.

The world?s largest aluminum company said it might put its packaging and consumer businesses up for sale to focus on metal production.

United Parcel Service reported lower quarterly profit as a result of a charge related to aging aircraft and expenses for a voluntary layoff program.

Federal authorities arrested a man suspected of mailing pipe bombs and threatening letters to two mutual fund companies.

General Dynamics and Raytheon were reluctant to raise their profit outlooks for the full year, citing unusually high uncertainty over future Pentagon funding.

First-quarter profit rose 7.7 percent as income from asset sales helped offset lower commodity prices and higher operating costs.

Wendy?s said it had formed a special committee to review options that could include a possible sale, merger or other business combination.

Quarterly profit rose 27 percent on better-than-expected demand for telecommunications products.

First-quarter profit rose 50 percent, driven by sales of new products and growth in all geographic regions.

Honda Motor reported a seventh consecutive year of record sales, but profit dropped 20 percent in the first quarter because of a special gain in the previous year. Profit for the fourth quarter was 176 billion yen ($1.5 billion), down from 219.5 billion yen in the period the previous year. Quarterly sales rose 9 percent, to 3.1 trillion yen, on strong demand for Honda?s models, which have a reputation for good fuel efficiency.

Hynix Semiconductor, the maker of memory chips, reported a 45 percent increase in first-quarter profit, but the gain was less than some analysts expected after a glut drove down chip prices. Net income rose to 418 billion won ($451 million), from 289 billion won a year earlier, missing analysts? estimates by more than 20 percent. Hynix joins Samsung Electronics, Micron Technology and Nanya Technology in reporting lower-than-expected results for the latest quarter because prices for computer memory chips have tumbled more than 60 percent.

Canada will ban inefficient light bulbs within five years, the natural resources minister, Gary Lunn, said. The decision follows a similar move by Australia and by Canada?s most populous province, Ontario. Regulations for the ban, which will not be available until later this year, will require bulbs to meet minimum efficiency standards. While that will remove traditional incandescent bulbs from store shelves, it may also affect other technologies, like bulbs filled with halogen gas.

GlaxoSmithKline said first-quarter profit was flat as it faced greater competition from generic versions of its drugs in the United States. Glaxo said earnings, which were slightly better than analysts had forecast, were also hurt by currency exchange rates because of the dollar. The company said that it earned £1.51 billion ($3.01 billion) in the period, compared with £1.50 billion a year earlier. Sales rose 3 percent, to £4.8 billion.

Endorsing a set of common criminal penalties across the European Union for the first time, the European Parliament approved legislation that would impose jail sentences and fines on counterfeiters of drugs, toys and other goods in the 27-country bloc. The legislation, which still must be approved by national governments, aims to protect consumers from unsafe products like fake Viagra pills or imitation condoms, while preventing the infringement of intellectual property in the music and film industry. .

AP - Washington Mutual Inc. has begun offering a new mortgage and home equity line of credit bundled into a single loan that allows customers to reset interest rates or switch between fixed and adjustable rates up to twice a year without having to refinance.

Apple sells more than 10 million iPods in the first three months of 2007, helping the firm to a 88% rise in profits.

A US judge approves a plan by Delta Air Lines for the firm to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

House prices increased once again in April, rising 0.9% in the month, the Nationwide building society says.

British Gas announces that it is to cut its gas bills by 3% and electricity by 6%, with immediate effect.

The Office of Fair Trading launches an investigation into the cost of personal bank accounts.

Reuters - Dutch bank ABN AMRO said it will open its books to a Royal Bank of Scotland Plc led consortium, which has made a 72 billion-euro ($98.2 billion) rival bid for the bank.

Reuters - Ericsson (ERICb.ST), the world's largest supplier of equipment for mobile phone networks, reported a 24 percent rise in first-quarter earnings on Thursday and stuck to its 2007 market forecast, boosting its shares in pre-trading.

Reuters - NYSE Euronext said on Thursday that first-quarter profit of NYSE Group more than doubled, helped by increases in transaction revenue and activity assessment fees.

Massive demand for Nintendo's Wii games machine and DS console bring record profits for the Japanese firm.

Takeover target ABN Amro says it will open its books to a consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland.

Toshiba's annual profits jump 75.8%, as strong sales of memory chips compensate for their fall in price.

The Dow Jones, America's main share index, closes above the 13,000 mark for the first time in its history.

The Office of Fair Trading launches a fresh investigation into the charges banks impose on customers.

Reuters - Life insurer Lincoln National Corp. is in the process of hiring advisers for a potential sale of its broadcast and media unit, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site on Thursday.

Reuters - NYSE Euronext said on Thursday that first-quarter profits at NYSE Group more than doubled, helped by higher revenue and lower fixed operating expenses.

The sell-off in shares of Spanish real estate firms eases after falls that fanned fears of a property crash.

Five protestors are arrested following a break-in at a BAE Systems site at Filton, near Bristol.

The SEC, the US finance watchdog formalises its probe into alleged bribery at German group Siemens.

The Dow Jones, America's main share index, closes above the 13,000 mark for the first time in its history.

Reuters - Ford Motor Co. posted a narrower quarterly loss Thursday as cost-cutting and improved results from its European and luxury vehicle operations partially offset weaker sales and charges for restructuring.

Reuters - U.S. shares looked set for a firmer start on Thursday after the Dow hit an all-time high in the previous session and with earnings updates from U.S. heavyweights Mircosoft and Ford on the agenda.

Reuters - Dow Chemical Co. on Thursday reported lower first-quarter earnings on a decline in North American volumes and a slowdown in basic chemical sales.

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, is cutting about 1,000 management positions at its Sam's Club stores, a spokeswoman for the company's warehouse chain said on Thursday.

A $282 million loss was an improvement that pleased investors, but the decline in North America continued.

French carmaker Peugeot Citroen is looking to axe 4,800 workers this year through voluntary redundancy.

An investment firm linked to the Qatari royal family is now a major shareholder in UK retailer Sainsbury's.

Struggling carmaker Ford posts a narrower quarterly loss, as a major cost-cutting drive helps offset weaker US sales.

Reuters - Exxon Mobil Corp , the world's largest publicly traded company, said on Thursday its first-quarter earnings rose more than 10 percent as higher profits from its refineries outweighed lower crude oil prices.

Reuters - Ford Motor Co. posted a narrower quarterly loss Thursday as cost-cutting and improved results from its European and luxury vehicle operations partially offset weaker sales and charges for restructuring.

Reuters - 3M Co. , a diversified manufacturer whose products include Scotch tape and Post-It notes, on Thursday posted a far better-than-expected first-quarter profit on strong demand across many of its businesses, sending shares up 4 percent.

Reuters - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. on Thursday said it had named its interim Chief Executive James Cornelius as its permanent leader for two years, and reported first-quarter earnings well above forecasts.

AP - The number of laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell last week by the sharpest amount in nearly two months, indicating the labor market remains healthy despite the sluggish economy.

The Dow Jones index surged ahead in early trading before falling back to trade little changed.

Takeover target ABN Amro says it will open its books to a consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland.

Reuters - Ford Motor Co. posted better-than-expected results on Thursday, helped by cost-cutting and improved results from its European and luxury vehicle operations, sending shares up 5 percent in early trading.

Reuters - Audio-equipment maker Harman International Industries Inc. said on Thursday it would be acquired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s private equity arm for about $8 billion.

Services union Verdi warns of strikes as talks with Deutsche Telekom break down.

Reuters - Audio-equipment maker Harman International Industries Inc. said on Thursday it would be acquired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s private equity arm for about $8 billion.

Reuters - U.S. blue-chip stocks inched higher on Thursday, helped by a fresh batch of stronger-than-expected profits from companies such as 3M Co. , a day after the Dow topped 13,000 for the first time.

Reuters - In a hot private equity market, a high-profile deal has put a chill on relations between JPMorgan and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., sources close to the matter say.

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , the world's largest retailer, is cutting about 1,000 management positions at its Sam's Club stores, a spokeswoman for the company's warehouse club chain said on Thursday.

The News Corporation signed a deal to license the brand for MySpace.com in the world?s fastest-growing Internet market, even though other Western companies have tried and failed there.

Reuters - Exxon Mobil Corp said on Thursday rising profits from gasoline sales and its chemicals unit drove its first-quarter earnings up over 10 percent, offsetting lower oil and gas prices.

Reuters - The chief executive of Wendy's International Inc. on Thursday defended the hamburger chain's decision to consider putting itself up for sale, adding that it was the board's decision, not hers.

Reuters - The Dow's surge past the 13,000 mark for the first time this week unleashed a wave of superlative adulation among market cheerleaders and the financial media.

AP - The number of laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell last week by the sharpest amount in nearly two months, indicating the labor market remains healthy despite the sluggish economy.

Reuters - Mexico's leading retailer Wal-Mart de Mexico, or Walmex, has launched a line of 150 cheap generic drugs, selling for no more than $3.50, in a new bid to boost its appeal as a one-stop shop for clients looking for low prices.

The deal for the maker of JBL speakers, home theater systems and Infiniti car stereos would be worth about $8 billion.

Shareholders of ABN Amro tell the Dutch bank's management to accept the highest available takeover bid.

Reuters - Microsoft Corp. posted a 65 percent rise in quarterly profit on Thursday, topping Wall Street estimates due to strong demand for its new Windows Vista operating system.

Reuters - Security software maker McAfee Inc. said on Thursday it posted higher first- quarter profit and revenue as worldwide demand led to better- than-expected preliminary results.

AP - The number of laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell last week by the sharpest amount in nearly two months, indicating the labor market remains healthy despite the sluggish economy.

The oil company reported another surge on stronger earnings from its refining, marketing and chemicals businesses.

The Windows Vista operating system and Office 2007 helps Microsoft beat earnings forecasts for its third quarter.

Inflation in Zimbabwe hit a record 2,200% in March amid a deepening economic and political crisis in the country.

Reuters - London-based music company EMI Group appointed former Warner Music Group Chief Executive Roger Ames to lead its North American music division, a company spokeswoman said on Thursday.

Reuters - Mattel Inc. is using technology to come up with a new twist on a toy launched in 1959 to appeal to today's Web-savvy, multimedia girl shoppers.

Bristol-Myers said it would go with its interim chief, James M. Cornelius, extending his contract for two years.

Ecuador's president orders the World Bank's representative in the country to pack his bags, sources say.

Reuters - Radio broadcasters, facing increased competition from iPods and satellite radio, are pushing a new digital format called HD Radio that has so far failed to win over U.S. carmakers.

Ford executives said that a smaller loss in the first quarter was proof that their corporate overhaul was working.

Joseph R. Perella?s new investment bank has a big budget and a star cast but is still waiting for a big-time deal.

Amazon.com is expanding a program designed to allow independent sellers ? even vendors who sell through eBay ? to use its network of distribution centers to store and ship their products.

The reality is that companies are quite happy spending their profits ? and in many cases, much more ? on buying back their stock.

Absolut vodka will discontinue their distinctive ad campaign, changing approaches for the second time in 15 months.

Microsoft?s results suggested that early sales of its new Windows Vista operating system were off to a solid start.

A meeting between President Bush and Representative Charles B. Rangel lifted prospects for bipartisan agreement on trade legislation in Congress.

Reuters - Audio-equipment maker Harman International Industries Inc. said on Thursday it would be acquired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s private equity arm for about $8 billion.