AP - Petronas, Malaysia's national oil-and-gas monopoly, said Wednesday its net profit climbed 23 percent on-year in half-year through September as skyrocketing oil prices offset lower output.

Reuters - Top Japanese tire maker Bridgestone Corp.'s quarterly profit jumped 32.5 percent according to data on Wednesday as increased sales volume and price hikes offset higher raw material costs, but it kept its annual outlook unchanged.

AP - Malaysia's national oil-and-gas company Petronas said Wednesday its net profit climbed 23 percent on-year in half-year through September as skyrocketing oil prices offset lower output.

AP - Australia's Westpac Banking Corp. said Wednesday its full-year net profit rose 11 percent to 2.82 billion Australian dollars ($2.1 billion), releasing the results a day ahead of schedule due to a reporting glitch.

AP - U.S. stock market futures edged lower on Wednesday, with the Federal Reserve's interest-rate outlook likely to be a continued focus amid a relatively light day for earnings and economic data.

AP - Time Warner Inc., the world's largest media company, reported an 80 percent rise in third-quarter earnings Wednesday and raised its stock repurchase program to $12.5 billion from $5 billion in an effort to meet shareholder demands to lift its slumping stock price.

AP - Cigna Corp., a health insurer, said Wednesday its third-quarter profit declined 16 percent from a year-ago period that benefited from higher one-time gains.

Reuters - Cigna Corp. said on Wednesday earnings fell as health-plan enrollment and premiums dropped, while last year the health insurer recorded a big gain tied to selling its retirement benefits business.

Reuters - Rural telephone company Citizens Communications Co. on Wednesday posted a third-quarter profit, reversing a loss from a year ago when it took charges because of costs related to a strategic review.

AP - Bridgestone Corp., which last month settled its tire recall dispute with Ford Motor Co., said Wednesday its group net profit for the first nine months of the year nearly doubled and raised its full-year earnings projection.

AP - Credit Suisse Group, Switzerland's second-largest bank, posted a 42 percent rise in third-quarter net profit, driven by the healthy performance of its Credit Suisse First Boston investment bank in the U.S. and its private banking operations.

AP - U.S. stocks are trading lower on Wednesday, with the Federal Reserve's interest-rate outlook likely to be a continued focus amid a relatively light day for earnings and economic data.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - The world's eastern markets rose while their western counterparts showed weakness early Wednesday as corporate earnings reports flooded in.

AP - Time Warner Inc., the world's largest media company, reported an 80 percent rise in third-quarter earnings Wednesday and raised its stock repurchase program to $12.5 billion from $5 billion in an effort to meet shareholder demands to lift its slumping stock price.

Reuters - Devon Energy Corp. , the largest U.S. independent oil and gas producer, posted higher third-quarter profits on Wednesday, boosted by record energy prices despite the effects of severe hurricanes.

AP - BASF AG, the world's biggest chemical company, said Wednesday its net profit more than doubled in the third quarter, but its fourth-quarter earnings would fall due in part to production losses from this year's hurricane season.

Reuters - Beckman Coulter Inc. on Wednesday said quarterly net earnings fell as it switched to a new policy that lets customers lease its medical instrument systems rather than purchase them, deferring revenue recognition.

AP - Utility holding company Duke Energy Corp. on Wednesday said third-quarter earnings fell sharply, largely due to the sale of one of its businesses.

Reuters - Cigna Corp. said on Wednesday that third-quarter earnings fell as health-plan enrollment and premiums dropped, while last year the health insurer recorded a big gain tied to selling its retirement benefits business.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - A boost in the energy sector and some positive earnings reports took the Toronto stock market higher Wednesday morning.

Reuters - Nortel Networks Corp. , one of the world's largest telecom equipment suppliers, reported surging sales and a smaller third-quarter loss on Wednesday, as it hiked its 2005 sales forecast.

AFP - Media and entertainment giant Time Warner Inc. said it was in talks with outside companies over its AOL Internet division as it unveiled a surge in profits and a bigger share buyback programme.

AP - Nortel Networks Corp. Wednesday said its third-quarter loss narrowed sharply as revenue climbed.

AP - Cigna Corp., a health insurer, said Wednesday its third-quarter profit declined 16 percent from a year-ago period that benefited from higher one-time gains.

AP - Time Warner Inc., the world's largest media company, reported an 80 percent increase in third-quarter earnings Wednesday and raised its stock repurchase program to $12.5 billion from $5 billion in an effort to meet shareholder demands to lift its slumping stock price.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - A boost in the energy sector and some positive earnings reports took the Toronto stock market almost 100 points higher Wednesday morning.

AP - The New York Stock Exchange fined Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. $500,000 for failing to supervise a trading strategy pegged to the closing price of a stock in 2002 that gave it a profit while potentially harming its customers.

AP - Health insurer Cigna Corp., said Wednesday its third-quarter profit dropped 16 percent compared to a year-ago period that included higher one-time gains, but said it continued to staunch a yearslong membership decline. The company's stock tumbled 9 percent in midday trading.

AP - Nortel Networks Corp., recovering from a costly accounting scandal that erupted last year, said Wednesday its third-quarter loss narrowed to $105 million as revenues rose 22 percent from a year earlier.

AP - Dean Foods Co., the country's largest producer of dairy products, Wednesday said its third-quarter profit and sales climbed as volumes increased.

Reuters - Time Warner Inc. on Wednesday said it more than doubled its planned stock buyback and reported a bigger-than-expected 80 percent jump in quarterly profit, sending its shares up nearly 2 percent.

FT.com - Wall Street stocks are set to beat an all-time record by posting their 14th straight quarter of double-digit earnings growth, surpassing a 13-quarter streak in 1992-95.

AP - Cutera Inc. stock rose Wednesday in the first day of trading after the maker of cosmetic lasers reported it blew past third-quarter earnings projections.

AP - One-time charges from the planned sale of most of its merchant power plants cut into Duke Energy Corp.'s third-quarter earnings, the utility holding company said Wednesday.

AP - BASF AG, the world's biggest chemical company, said Wednesday its net profit more than doubled in the third quarter, but its fourth-quarter earnings would fall due in part to production losses from this year's hurricane season.

AP - Credit Suisse Group, Switzerland's second-largest bank, posted a 42 percent rise in third-quarter net profit, driven by the healthy performance of its Credit Suisse First Boston investment bank in the U.S. and its private banking operations.

Reuters - A year ago, selling dollars was the best way to turn a profit in the currency market. But as 2005 winds down, the clear money-making trend appears to be to sell the yen.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - A surge of almost five per cent in the energy sector and positive earnings reports sent the Toronto stock market up almost 200 points in its best one-day gain in three months.

AP - Credit Suisse Group, Switzerland's second-largest bank, posted a 42 percent rise in third-quarter net profit, driven by the healthy performance of its Credit Suisse First Boston investment bank in the U.S. and its private banking operations.

AP - Health insurer Cigna Corp., said Wednesday its third-quarter profit dropped 16 percent compared to a year-ago period that included higher one-time gains, but said it continued to staunch a yearslong membership decline. The company's stock tumbled 9 percent in midday trading.

AP - Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Communications Inc. reported an 8 percent increase in third-quarter earnings Wednesday, citing higher ratings against English-language networks and strong advertising sales.

AP - Third-quarter earnings for Duke Energy Corp. dropped significantly because of one-time charges for the planned sale of most of its merchant power plants, the company said Wednesday.

Reuters - Spanish television network Univision Communications Inc on Wednesday reported an 8 percent higher quarterly profit.

AP - Nortel Networks Corp., recovering from a costly accounting scandal that erupted last year, said Wednesday its third-quarter loss narrowed to $105 million as revenues rose 22 percent from a year earlier.

AP - es/AP) — Dean Foods Co., the country's largest producer of dairy products, Wednesday said its third-quarter profit and sales climbed as volumes increased.

Reuters - Shares of Apple Computer Inc. on Wednesday jumped to a record high as investors made bets on growth in its digital music and video businesses, analysts said.

AP - Prudential Financial Inc.., one of the largest U.S. life insurers, said Wednesday its third-quarter profit rose sharply with improved results in all its financial services divisions.

AP - Qualcomm Inc.'s earnings rose 37 percent in its latest quarter, fueled by demand for next-generation cell phones.

Reuters - Univision Communications Inc on Wednesday reported its quarterly profit rose 8 percent, driven by strength in its radio and television businesses, and said its Spanish-speaking audience grew faster than other top U.S. broadcasters' English-language audiences.