AP - Asian stocks suffered their fourth straight day of losses Thursday amid a growing belief the markets were due for a reality check after the recent surge.

Reuters - NYSE Euronext , the world's top exchange operator by the size of its listings, is planning to establish a clearinghouse for fixed-income investments, the Wall Street Journal said.

Reuters - NYSE Euronext said it had signed a deal with Depository Trust & Clearing Corp (DTCC) to form a joint venture for clearing U.S. fixed income derivatives.

AFP - European stock markets were lower Thursday, extending losses with sentiment in London hit especially by more dire British economic data showing the rising cost of the recession.

AP - J.M. Smucker Co. said Thursday that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit more than doubled, continuing to benefit from last year's Folgers acquisition.

AP - Recreational-vehicle maker Winnebago Industries Inc. posted a loss of $8.6 million in its fiscal third quarter, as revenue continued to crumble in the face of falling motor-home sales.

AP - Stocks were little changed in early trading Thursday as investors took the latest sign of improvement in the labor market in stride.

AFP - European stock markets were lower Thursday, extending losses with sentiment in London hit especially by more dire British economic data showing the rising cost of the recession.

AP - Discover Financial Services said Thursday it managed to remain profitable during its fiscal second quarter, thanks to a payment from a lawsuit settlement.

AP - Carnival Corp. said Thursday it booked a better-than-expected 32 percent drop in its second-quarter profit, but the cruise operator lowered its full-year forecast to reflect rising fuel costs.

Reuters - Discover Financial Services , the fourth-largest U.S. credit card network, said quarterly earnings from continuing operations rose nearly 12 percent, helped by an antitrust settlement.

Reuters - Pier 1 Imports Inc posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss, helped by improved merchandise margins due to reduced supply chain costs and decreased clearance activity, sending the home furnishings retailer's shares soaring 25 percent.

AP - Investors piled back into shares of financial and health care companies Thursday, breaking from three days of selling and pushing the stock market higher.

Reuters - Discover Financial Services reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly operating loss as the fourth-largest U.S. credit card network cut costs and bad loans grew less than expected, sending its shares up 5.5 percent.

AFP - The London stock market edged higher at the close on Thursday, powered by better-than-expected US data.

Reuters - Carnival Corp & Plc posted a quarterly profit that beat analysts' estimates helped by better-than-anticipated pricing and lower net cruise costs, driving shares up nearly 9 percent in midday trading.

AP - Investors can't seem to get the stock market rally back up to full speed again.

AP - Making it easier for shareholders to seat directors on company boards, restricting short-selling in down markets, strengthening oversight of mutual funds, and tightening scrutiny and standards for investment advisers are among the pro-investor initiatives being undertaken by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the agency's chairman said Thursday.

AP - Making it easier for shareholders to seat directors on company boards, restricting short-selling in down markets, strengthening oversight of mutual funds, and tightening scrutiny and standards for investment advisers are among the pro-investor initiatives being undertaken by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the agency's chairman said Thursday.