AP - Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest car maker, said Thursday that its third-quarter net profits tripled from last year because of increased sales and cost-cutting that has its German labor force working more hours for less pay.

AP - Sportswear maker Adidas-Salomon AG, which is mounting a $3.8 billion takeover of Reebok International Ltd., said Thursday that third-quarter net profit rose 20 percent and that earnings for the year would rise a like amount.

AP - Unilever NV, the maker of consumer products such as Dove soaps and Lipton teas, reported a 26 percent increase in third-quarter net profit on Thursday, boosted by the sale of its cosmetics business. But operating profit fell under margin pressure.

AP - Automaker BMW AG said Thursday that third-quarter net profit fell 6.5 percent, citing the higher cost for raw materials to make its cars, but said sales increased some 11 percent. The company confirmed its outlook for the rest of 2005.

AP - U.S. stock market futures were mixed Thursday as October sales from the retailing sector filtered in, with a host of economic data and testimony from the outgoing Federal Reserve chief also expected to be a focus.

Reuters - Harrah's Entertainment Inc. , the world's biggest casino operator, on Thursday said its third-quarter profit rose 42 percent.

AP - MCI Inc., the telecommunications provider being acquired by Verizon Communications Inc., said Thursday it earned $271 million in the third quarter, helped by new services and the absence of large impairment charges that led to a loss a year ago.

AFP - European stock markets were helped by some strong company earnings and a rebound on Wall Street overnight.

Reuters - Printing services company R.R. Donnelley and Sons Co. on Thursday said quarterly profit fell 9 percent, hurt by charges for restructuring and other items.

Reuters - MCI Inc. , the long-distance phone company being acquired by Verizon Communications Inc. , on Thursday posted a third-quarter profit as a reduction in tax liabilities helped offset a decline in revenue.

AP - Commerzbank AG, Germany's third-biggest publicly traded bank, said Thursday it swung to a third-quarter profit as earnings from trading securities rose.

AP - Unilever NV, the maker of consumer products such as Dove soaps and Lipton teas, reported a 26 percent increase in third-quarter net profit on Thursday, boosted by the sale of its cosmetics business. But operating profit fell under margin pressure.

AP - Better-than-expected retail sales and increased worker productivity helped drive stocks higher Thursday as investors' worries about the health of the economy eased.

Reuters - The New York Stock Exchange on Thursday said its members would meet on December 6 to vote on the proposed takeover of electronic stock-trading company Archipelago Holdings Inc. .

AP - Sara Lee Corp. on Thursday said its fiscal first-quarter profit plunged from the year before, hurt by declining sales and a spate of charges as the food and clothing company looks to restructure its businesses.

AP - Cosmetics company Revlon Inc. on Thursday reported a smaller loss for the third quarter despite a drop in revenue.

AP - DirecTV Group Inc., the nation's largest direct broadcast satellite provider, said Thursday it returned to a profit for the third quarter, as strong subscriber growth helped boost revenue 13 percent.

Reuters - Sara Lee Corp. on Thursday posted a sharp drop in quarterly profit on charges the food and apparel company took for a massive restructuring and higher costs for energy and coffee.

Reuters - Revlon Inc. on Thursday said its third-quarter loss narrowed as it shipped new cosmetics to stores.

AP - CVS Corp., one of the nation's largest drugstore chains, on Thursday said its third-quarter earnings jumped 38 percent, as acquired stores helped revenue rise.

AP - Harrah's Entertainment Inc., the world's largest casino company, on Thursday said profit rose 42 percent in the third quarter, boosted by its acquisition of Caesars Entertainment Inc. and an increase in gambling.

AP - Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable TV systems operator, said Thursday that profit for the third quarter was essentially flat, even as revenue from digital cable and high-speed Internet services showed improvement.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - North American stock markets advanced Thursday as worries about the U.S. economy lessened while the TSX energy sector provided extra strength as the price of crude oil headed higher.

AP - Better-than-expected retail sales and increased worker productivity helped drive stocks higher Thursday as investors' worries about the health of the economy eased. A major court victory for Dow Jones industrial Merck & Co. lifted blue chips.

Reuters - Comcast Corp., the top U.S. cable operator, on Thursday posted lackluster quarterly profit and its stock fell 5 percent on worries about customers dropping its basic cable service.

AP - CVS Corp., one of the nation's biggest drugstore operators, said Thursday that third-quarter earnings jumped 38 percent on strong performance by its recently acquired Eckerd stores, as well as growth in non-pharmacy sales.

AP - MCI Inc., the telecommunications provider being acquired by Verizon Communications Inc., said Thursday it swung to a $271 million third quarter profit, helped by the absence of large one-time charges that led to a big loss a year ago.

Reuters - Elizabeth Arden Inc. on Thursday said quarterly profit fell as higher costs outweighed strong sales of new fragrances such as Britney Spears Fantasy, and its shares sank more than 16 percent as the company cut its full-year forecast.

AP - AmerisourceBergen Corp. on Thursday posted a 79 percent plunge in profit for its latest quarter, hurt by a hefty charge for debt repayment.

AP - Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable TV systems operator, said Thursday that profit for the third quarter was essentially flat, even as revenue from digital cable and high-speed Internet services showed improvement.

AP - Better-than-expected retail sales and increased worker productivity helped drive stocks higher Thursday as investors' worries about the health of the economy eased. A major court victory for Dow Jones industrial Merck & Co. lifted blue chips.

AP - Seat owners of the New York Stock Exchange and stockholders of Archipelago Holdings Inc. will vote Dec. 6 on whether the two exchanges should merge, the companies said Thursday.

AP - Shares of Priceline.com Inc. jumped Thursday, a day after the online travel agency reported third-quarter sales and earnings that rose with help from strong gross travel bookings.

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AP - MasterCard International Inc., the credit card giant that plans to go public next year, said Thursday its third-quarter profit rose 8 percent as more credit and debit cards were issued and consumer use of the cards rose.

AP - A wide swath of good news, from better-than-expected retail sales and worker productivity to a major court victory for Merck & Co., drove stocks higher Thursday, but a jump in oil prices limited the gains.

Reuters - German sporting goods maker Adidas-Salomon raised its 2005 outlook on Thursday following a jump in quarterly profit, while it pushed ahead with its planned $3.8 billion takeover of U.S. rival Reebok by conducting a capital hike.

AP - Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable TV systems operator, said Thursday that profit for the third quarter was essentially flat, even as revenue from digital cable and high-speed Internet services showed improvement.

AP - Harrah's Entertainment Inc.'s acquisition of Caesars Entertainment helped the world's largest gambling company weather losses from hurricane damage to its Gulf Coast properties and pushed third-quarter profits up 42 percent.

AP - A wide swath of good news, from better-than-expected retail sales and worker productivity figures to a major court victory for Merck & Co., drove stocks higher Thursday, although a jump in oil prices limited the gains.

AP - Seat owners of the New York Stock Exchange and stockholders of Archipelago Holdings Inc. will vote Dec. 6 on whether the two exchanges should merge, the companies said Thursday.

AP - DirecTV Group Inc., the nation's largest direct broadcast satellite provider, said Thursday it returned to a profit for the third quarter, as strong subscriber growth helped boost revenue 13 percent.

AP - Sara Lee Corp. on Thursday reported an 81 percent drop in first-quarter profits and declining revenue Thursday, reflecting weak results in some of its businesses and the heavy costs of an ongoing restructuring at the food and apparel manufacturer.

AP - Cosmetics company Revlon Inc. on Thursday said its loss narrowed in the third quarter even as revenue fell, sending shares down 7.7 percent.

AP - Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable TV systems operator, said Thursday that profit for the third quarter was essentially flat, even as revenue from digital cable and high-speed Internet services showed improvement.

AP - CVS Corp., one of the nation's biggest drugstore operators, said Thursday that third-quarter earnings jumped 38 percent on strong performance by its recently acquired Eckerd stores, as well as growth in non-pharmacy sales.

AP - AmerisourceBergen Corp. on Thursday posted a 79 percent plunge in profit for its latest quarter, hurt by a hefty charge for debt repayment.

AP - MCI Inc., the telecommunications provider being acquired by Verizon Communications Inc., said Thursday it swung to a $271 million third quarter profit, helped by the absence of large one-time charges that led to a big loss a year ago.

AP - Laserscope shares fell sharply Thursday on concerns about slowing sales of the company's laser tool for prostate surgery.

Reuters - Video game developer and publisher Atari Inc. on Thursday posted a wider quarterly loss as sales fell 44 percent as the company released fewer titles amid a transition to new video game consoles.

Reuters - Travel services company Expedia Inc. on Thursday said its profit rose on increased travel demand.

Reuters - Comcast Corp., the top U.S. cable operator, on Thursday posted lackluster quarterly profit and its stock fell 5 percent on worries about customers dropping its basic cable service.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto stock market finished higher in a fifth winning session as the TSX continues to mend from the energy-sector led mauling of last month.

Reuters - DirecTV Group Inc. , the top U.S. satellite television operator, on Thursday posted a quarterly profit versus a year-earlier loss, but shares slipped on disappointing subscriber growth and customer loss rates.

AP - Buoyed by a big income tax benefit, Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. reported a net profit Thursday for the third quarter but noted that revenue had declined in its revamped publishing unit.

AP - Insurance brokerage Aon Corp. on Thursday reported third quarter net earnings that were flat compared to a year earlier, and announced it is eliminating 1,400 jobs.