AP - With the Dow Jones industrial average moving past the 13,000 mark for the first time, investors will likely be searching for a catalyst to send the markets higher.

AP - Shares of Apple Inc. soared above $100 for the first time after the company walloped Wall Street expectations with quarterly profits that jumped 88 percent on strong sales of its iPod players and Macintosh computers.

FT.com - Shipping stocks led Tokyo marginally higher in morning trade, but gains were curbed by other sectors where shares were flat or lower ahead of the release of a slew of earnings reports after the market closes.

AP - For the first time in four years, scandal-tainted Mitsubishi Motors turned a profit for the fiscal year through March, helped by improved sales and a relatively weak yen.

AP - Shares of a trimmed-down Wendy's International Inc. soared more than 12 percent after it announced it is forming a special committee of directors to consider a possible sale of the company, among other options.

FT.com - London equities made strong progress on Thursday, helped by robust overnight gains on Wall Street. Barclays (NYSE:BCS) and Royal Bank of Scotland stayed in the spotlight as their bid battle for control of ABN Amro continued.

AP - Nissan's profit plunged 54 percent in the January-March quarter, contributing to its first drop in annual profit in seven years — the first such setback under the leadership of Carlos Ghosn, who salvaged the Japanese automaker from collapse.

AP - Profit at Toshiba Corp. tumbled 37 percent in the January to March quarter despite surging sales, as falling prices for flash memory chips undercut earnings, the company said Thursday.

AP - Japanese computer maker Fujitsu Ltd.'s net profit jumped by one-half in the January-March quarter, lifted mainly by gains in the sale of investments in securities.

FT.com - Tokyo shares closed higher on Thursday, after a slew of positive earnings reports from Japanese blue-chips boosted investor confidence in the world's second-biggest economy.

AP - Wall Street was poised to open little changed Thursday, as investors appeared hesitant to push the Dow Jones industrial average further over the 13,000 mark ahead of more earnings data.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets gained ground in opening deals on Thursday after a record overnight showing on Wall Street, and following another batch of positive earnings news.

FT.com - London equities made strong progress on Thursday, helped by robust overnight gains on Wall Street. Barclays (NYSE:BCS) and Royal Bank of Scotland stayed in the spotlight as their bid battle for control of ABN Amro continued.

AP - Ford Motor Co. on Thursday posted a first-quarter net loss of $282 million, a vast improvement over the $1.4 billion it lost in the first quarter of 2006.

Reuters - Ericsson (ERICb.ST), the world's largest supplier of equipment for mobile phone networks, reported a 24 percent rise in first-quarter pretax earnings on Thursday and said it was taking market share from rivals.

Reuters - Consumer products maker Newell Rubbermaid Inc. reported lower first-quarter profit on Thursday due to higher costs and the effect of one-time tax items.

FT.com - European equities were higher on Thursday, thanks to strong first-quarter earnings, while overnight rises in petrol prices and planned European strikes helped lift oil refiners.

AFP - Japan's Toshiba Corp. said Thursday net profit jumped 76 percent to a record high in the year to March thanks to strong sales of electronic goods and its massive purchase of US nuclear power plant maker Westinghouse.

AP - Booming sales of the popular Wii and DS game machines lifted Nintendo Co.'s earnings 77 percent in the latest fiscal year as the Japanese gamemaker held its own against bigger rivals Sony and Microsoft.

AP - US Airways Group Inc. on Thursday said profit edged up 2 percent in the first quarter on modest revenue growth and the airline company backed its forecast for a profitable year.

Reuters - Comcast Corp. , the leading U.S. cable operator, on Thursday said quarterly profit rose 80 percent, fueled by subscriber growth and a gain from dissolving a partnership with Time Warner Cable Inc. .

Reuters - US Airways Group posted a quarterly net profit on Thursday, despite severe weather, as the airline flew fuller planes and charged higher ticket prices.

AP - Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest publicly traded oil company, said Thursday its net income grew 10 percent in the first quarter, as higher refining, marketing and chemical profit margins overcame lower crude oil and natural gas prices.

Reuters - Dow Chemical Co. on Thursday posted a nearly 20 percent fall in quarterly earnings on lower North American volumes and a slowdown in basic chemical sales.

AP - Diversified chemical maker Dow Chemical Co. said Thursday its first-quarter profit fell 20 percent from a year-ago period that included significant licensing revenue within its performance plastics segment.

AP - Oilfield services conglomerate Halliburton Co. said Thursday its first-quarter profit rose 13 percent, a boost driven largely by increased business in the Middle East that helped offset lower commodity prices in the United States.

AP - Ford Motor Co. on Thursday posted a first-quarter net loss of $282 million, a vast improvement over the $1.4 billion it lost in the first quarter of 2006.

AP - Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable television operator, on Thursday reported that first-quarter profits surged by 80 percent, in part helped by a one-time gain resulting from the dissolution of a joint venture with Time Warner Cable.

AP - Health insurer Aetna Inc. said Thursday first-quarter profits rose 8 percent on increased premiums, membership growth and continued cost cutting measures.

Reuters - Monster Worldwide Inc. , parent of jobs Web site Monster.com, reported a lower quarterly profit on Thursday, hurt by higher expenses and legal and other fees tied to its stock options investigation.

AP - Treasury prices were under slight pressure Thursday as investors turned their gaze once more to global stock markets, which have been trending higher ever since the Dow Jones Industrial Average barreled through the key 13,000 level on Wednesday.

Reuters - Share of Apple Inc. rose nearly 5 percent on Thursday after the computer maker posted a better-than-expected 88 percent rise in earnings, spurring a handful of analysts to increase price targets on the stock.

AP - XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., which is seeking regulatory approval to be acquired by its biggest rival, said Thursday that its first-quarter loss narrowed as subscription revenue rose sharply.

AP - Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable television operator, on Thursday reported that first-quarter profits surged by 80 percent, in part helped by a one-time gain resulting from the dissolution of a joint venture with Time Warner Cable.

AP - Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest publicly traded oil company, said Thursday its net income grew 10 percent in the first quarter, as higher refining, marketing and chemical profit margins overcame lower crude oil and natural gas prices.

FT.com - Wall Street paused for breath on Thursday as investors consolidated gains from a record breaking rally.

AP - Health insurer Aetna Inc. said Thursday first-quarter profits rose 8 percent on increased premiums, membership growth and continued cost cutting measures.

AP - Shares of Apple Inc. rose more than 6 percent early Thursday, continuing to soar above $100 for the first time after the company walloped Wall Street expectations with quarterly profit that jumped 88 percent on strong sales of its iPod players and Macintosh computers.

FT.com - US stocks drifted in and out of positive territory on Thursday as investors paused for breath after a record breaking rally on Wednesday.

AP - Stocks made only modest gains Thursday as strong profit reports from names like Apple Inc. and 3M Corp. failed to galvanize Wall Street a day after the Dow Jones industrials crossed the 13,000 mark.

AP - Ford Motor Co. on Thursday posted a first-quarter net loss of $282 million, a vast improvement over the $1.4 billion it lost in the first quarter of 2006.

Reuters - Toys "R" Us Inc. on Thursday reported a 40 percent rise in quarterly earnings, helped by the closure of underperforming stores and lower markdowns.

AP - US Airways Group Inc. on Thursday said profit edged up 2 percent in the first quarter on modest revenue growth, and the airline company backed its forecast for a profitable year.

Reuters - 3M Co. , whose products range from Scotch tape to optical films for liquid crystal displays, posted a far better-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, sending its shares up more than 4 percent.

FT.com - Group 4 Securicor closed at a record high on Thursday amid excitement over the arrival of an activist investor on its share register.

Reuters - 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

FT.com - A hectic schedule of earnings announcements provided the chief impetus for European stocks on Thursday, with continued merger and acquisition activity offering further support.

AP - At $282 million, Ford Motor Co.'s first-quarter loss was much improved over the $1.4 billion in red ink it posted during the same quarter last year.

Reuters - US Airways Group posted a slightly higher quarterly net profit on Thursday, despite severe winter weather and a customer service debacle, as the airline flew fuller planes and collected higher fares.

Reuters - The Dow Jones industrial average rose on Thursday as a fresh wave of better-than-expected profits from such companies as 3M Co. and Exxon Mobil Corp. propelled the blue-chip index to its second straight close above 13,000.

AP - XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., which is in the midst of a proposed acquisition by its biggest rival, said Thursday that its first-quarter loss narrowed as subscription revenue rose sharply.

AFP - Microsoft Corp. reported on Thursday that its profits soared to a record high in the first three months of the year due to sales of its new Vista operating system and Outlook software.

AP - Wall Street paused Thursday, with stocks little changed as strong profit reports from names like Apple Inc. and 3M Corp. failed to galvanize the market a day after the Dow Jones industrials crossed 13,000. Still, a modest advance in the Dow gave the blue chips another record close.

Reuters - The Dow Jones industrial average rose on Thursday as a fresh wave of better-than-expected profits from such companies as 3M Co. and Exxon Mobil Corp. propelled the blue-chip index to its second straight close above 13,000.

AP - U.S. Treasury bond prices ended lower under pressure from rising equity prices Thursday, although a decent outcome to the Treasury's five-year note sale helped put a floor under the falling prices.

AP - At $282 million, Ford Motor Co.'s first-quarter loss was much improved over the $1.4 billion in red ink it posted during the same quarter last year. Company officials touted the results as a sign that its restructuring plans were taking hold, but Ford still is struggling to make money on its core business — selling cars and trucks in North America.

AP - Oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp. kicked off 2007 with a 10 percent rise in profits, its best-ever first quarter, as higher margins on refining and chemical operations offset lower prices for crude oil and natural gas.

AP - Shares of Apple Inc. rose more than 6 percent early Thursday and soared above $100 for the first time after the company walloped Wall Street expectations with quarterly profit that jumped 88 percent on strong sales of its iPod players and Macintosh computers.

Investor's Business Daily - Companies are reporting strong earnings in the first quarter, blowing away most expectations.