AP - SEOUL, South Korea — LG Electronics Inc. said Thursday it swung into the red in the first quarter on losses in its joint venture liquid crystal display business.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets extended losses in morning trading on Thursday, weighed down by the prospect of higher interest rates globally, especially in China.

FT.com - European stocks fell sharply on Thursday, with global interest rates the main focus of concern after strong Chinese growth raised fears of slowing demand if the country moves to cool its economy.

FT.com - The FTSE 100 fell sharply for a second consecutive session on Thursday following heavy losses in Asian markets overnight.

Reuters - U.S. shares looked set for a weaker start on Thursday as fears of overheating in China's economy weighed on global equity markets, while investors eyed results from Google and Merrill Lynch .

AP - China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index tumbled 4.5 percent in volatile trading Thursday amid speculation that strong first-quarter economic data might prompt regulators to raise interest rates.

FT.com - London markets were sharply lower in opening trade on Thursday, tracking heavy losses in Asia as gross domestic product data from China showed strong economic growth, rasing fears that the country might lift interest rates.

FT.com - Carphone Warehouse bucked the weak market trend on Wednesday as short sellers closed positions ahead of next week's investor day.

FT.com - Wall Street reversed early losses on Wednesday as investors shrugged off concerns about corporate earnings to push US stocks to a record high.

FT.com - Wall Street reversed early losses on Wednesday as investors shrugged off concerns about corporate earnings to push US stocks towards record highs.

Reuters - Southwest Airlines Co. , the leading U.S. discount carrier, said on Thursday it posted higher first-quarter earnings but that its jet fuel hedges are gradually unwinding.

Reuters - Continental Airlines Inc. on Thursday posted a higher-than-expected first-quarter profit helped by fuller planes, higher fares and a slight decline in fuel prices.

Reuters - Hercules Inc. posted higher quarterly earnings, and its net sales increased 9.6 percent, excluding the impact of the FiberVisions transaction.

AP - Merck & Co. Inc. said Thursday its first-quarter profit jumped 12 percent, as the drugmaker posted sharply higher sales of its asthma and cholesterol drugs, plus one-time gains from product divestitures.

Reuters - D.R. Horton Inc. , the largest U.S. home builder, said on Thursday quarterly earnings fell 85 percent, in part due to charges related to the lower value of land.

AP - Southwest Airlines Co. said Thursday its first-quarter profit rose by half on record revenues, but income would have fallen by 4 cents per share without gains from derivatives that hedge future fuel costs.

AP - Merrill Lynch & Co. said Thursday its first-quarter profit soared from a year ago, when it took a charge related to its acquisition of asset manager BlackRock Inc. Excluding that charge, the nation's largest retail brokerage still posted a 31 percent rise in profit, thanks to robust takeover activity and high trading volumes.

AP - Altria Group Inc., owner of the Philip Morris cigarette companies, said Thursday that first-quarter income fell by 21 percent as it saw weakness in domestic cigarette sales, but the company raised its full-year earnings prediction.

AP - Continental Airlines Inc. reported a better-than-expected first-quarter profit Thursday as it put more people on its flights and charged higher fares.

AP - UnitedHealth Group Inc., the nation's second-largest health insurer, said on Thursday its first-quarter profit rose 4 percent, but the results were hampered by payments related to its stock options problems.

AP - Supervalu Inc., the nation's No. 3 supermarket chain, said Thursday its fourth-quarter earnings rose sharply because of its purchase of grocery chain Albertson's last year.

AP - Bank of America Corp. said Thursday its first-quarter earnings rose 5 percent, helped by growth in fee income.

AP - U.S. stocks pointed to a lower opening Thursday, a day after the Dow Jones industrials closed at a new high, as investors in China sold off stocks amid concerns the country's economy might be growing too quickly.

Reuters - Continental Airlines Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co. posted net profits on Thursday as higher fares underpinned an industry recovery in the seasonally weak and unusually stormy first quarter.

FT.com - Wall Street stocks pared sharp early losses on Thursday to stand moderately lower by mid-morning as concerns about the Chinese economy overheating sparked selling of global equities.

FT.com - Wall Street stocks were set for a sharply lower start on Thursday as concerns about the Chinese economy overheating sparked selling of global equities.

Reuters - Marriott International Inc. , the top U.S. hotel operator, said on Thursday quarterly profit nearly tripled, helped by higher room rates, but the company lowered its outlook for full-year room revenue and shares fell 5.7 percent.

AP - Altria Group Inc., owner of the Philip Morris cigarette companies, said Thursday that first-quarter income fell by 21 percent as domestic cigarette sales dropped off more severely than expected.

AP - Merrill Lynch & Co. said Thursday its first-quarter profit soared, surpassing Wall Street expectations thanks to strong investment banking activity.

AP - Merck & Co. Inc. said Thursday its first-quarter profit jumped 12 percent, as the drugmaker posted sharply higher sales of its asthma and cholesterol drugs, plus one-time gains from product divestitures.

AP - UnitedHealth Group Inc., the nation's second-largest health insurer, said on Thursday its first-quarter profit rose 4 percent, but the results were hampered by payments related to its stock options problems and weak enrollment in Medicare-related programs.

Reuters - Harley-Davidson Inc. reported lower quarterly earnings on Thursday, hurt by a strike at a key plant, but results were better than expected and sent the motorcycle maker's shares up 3 percent.

AP - Continental Airlines Inc. reported a better-than-expected first-quarter profit Thursday as it put more people on its flights and charged higher fares.

FT.com - US stocks pared sharp early losses to stand flat by midday on Thursday as a raft of solid earnings updates helped investors shrug off concerns about the Chinese economy.

FT.com - Wall Street stocks pared sharp early losses on Thursday to stand moderately lower by mid-morning as concerns about the Chinese economy overheating sparked selling of global equities.

AP - Merck & Co. Inc. said Thursday its first-quarter profit jumped 12 percent, as the drugmaker posted sharply higher sales of its asthma and cholesterol drugs, plus one-time gains from product divestitures.

AP - Bank of America Corp. said first-quarter earnings rose 5 percent, helped by growth in fee income despite a challenging credit environment, buts its revenue was shy of Wall Street expectations.

Reuters - Bank of America Corp. , the second-largest U.S. bank, said on Thursday that first-quarter profit rose 5 percent, as investment banking growth helped offset higher loan losses and a shrinking lending margin.

FT.com - US stocks recovered from sharp early losses on Thursday to stand slightly higher by mid-afternoon as a raft of solid earnings updates helped investors shrug off concerns about the Chinese economy.

AP - Merrill Lynch & Co.'s first-quarter profit soared more than 30 percent, the nation's largest retail brokerage said Thursday, thanks to strong revenue from investments and takeover activity.

AP - Sagging U.S. sales and a three-week strike at Harley-Davidson Inc.'s largest production plant caused the motorcycle maker's profit to drop 18 percent in the first quarter.

Reuters - Bank of America Corp. , the second-largest U.S. bank, said on Thursday that first-quarter profit rose 5 percent, as investment banking growth helped offset higher loan losses and deposit costs.

Reuters - U.S. stocks ended nearly flat on Thursday as a rally in health-care shares after earnings from companies such as Schering-Plough Corp. offset worries China may take steps that reduce demand for U.S. goods.

FT.com - US Treasuries edged lower on Thursday as a rally that began late last week ran out of steam, amid rising US stocks and in spite of bond-friendly data.

Reuters - Shares of Google Inc. rose 3.2 percent to $486.87 in trading after the bell on Thursday following news from the Internet search company that its quarterly earnings beat Wall Street estimates.

AP - Google Inc.'s first-quarter profit rose 69 percent, maintaining the online search leader's penchant for obliterating analyst estimates.

AP - American Express Co., the nation's third-largest credit card brand, said Thursday heavier use of its cards by more customers helped drive first-quarter profit up 21 percent to a record $1.06 billion.

Investor's Business Daily - Asian stocks fell hard Thursday on fears China might act more decisively to slow its breakneck economic growth.

Investor's Business Daily - A widely tracked chip stock index is flashing signals that chip sales are on the upswing.