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U.S. stock index futures rose on Wednesday amid cautiousoptimism that U.S. politicians would strike a last-minute dealto prevent the country from defaulting on its debt, an eventthat could roil markets and economies worldwide.
S&P 500 futures rose 7.7 points and were above fairvalue, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into accountinterest rates, dividends and time to expiration on thecontract. Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 65points and Nasdaq 100 futures added 9 points.
** BANK OF AMERICA CORP, Tuesday close $14.24, up1.5 pct premarket
The bank reported a third-quarter profit of $2.22 billionattributable to common stockholders compared with a loss a yearearlier, as provisions for credit losses fell.
** MATTEL INC, Tuesday close $41.55, up 1.7 pctpremarket
The toys maker topped Wall Street's profit estimates for thethird quarter, benefiting from strong demand for itschubby-faced American Girl dolls and its Monster High linedepicting the teen descendants of famous monsters.
** BNY MELLON CORP, Tuesday close, $30.85
The bank reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profitdue to rising fees from managing money, increased mutual fundbalances and strength in foreign currency trading.
** BLACKROCK INC, Tuesday close $282.27
The world's largest money manager said its third-quarterprofit rose 15 percent due to market growth and strong globaldemand from its retail and institutional clients.
** PEPSICO INC, Tuesday close $80.60
The company reported higher quarterly earnings and said itwas on track to meet its financial goals for the year, despite asluggish economy. The maker of Pepsi-Cola, Frito-Lay snacks andTropicana juice said net income was $1.91 billion, or $1.23 pershare, in the third quarter, up less than 1 percent from $1.90billion, or $1.21 per share, a year earlier.
** JPMORGAN CHASE & CO, Tuesday close $52.31, up 0.7pct premarket
The bank has reached an agreement with the Commodity FuturesTrading Commission to pay $100 million to settle charges relatedto the bank's "London Whale" trading scandal, according to mediareports.
** YAHOO INC, Tuesday close $33.38, up 2 pctpremarket
Investors cheered the internet company's plans to keep alarger-than-expected stake in Chinese e-commerce giant AlibabaGroup Holding Ltd, overlooking continuing softness in its coreonline advertising business. Yahoo said it would sell fewershares than originally agreed from its 24 percent stake whenAlibaba goes public.
** ADVANCE AUTO PARTS INC, Tuesday close $82.50
The company said it would buy General Parts InternationalInc in a deal that values the closely held company at $2.04billion, creating the largest automotive after-market partsprovider in North America.
** GENERAL ELECTRIC, Tuesday close $24.19, up 0.4 pct
The conglomerate expects to value its Swiss consumer financeunit GE Money Bank at a total market capitalization of up to1.53 billion Swiss francs ($1.67 billion) when it lists it inthe fourth quarter. The price for each share will be between 43and 51 Swiss francs at the initial public offering, Money Banksaid on Thursday.
** ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE LP, Tuesday close $50.45
The company's general partner Plains GP Holdings LP pricedits initial public offering at $22 per share to raise $2.82billion, making it the largest U.S. IPO this year.
** BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY, Tuesday close $114.63, up0.2 pct premarket
Marmon Group, which is owned by the company, will buyengineering company IMI Plc's beverage dispense andmerchandising businesses for 690 million pounds ($1.10 billion).
** HALLIBURTON CO, Tuesday close $51.16
A manager of the company formally pleaded guilty in U.S.federal court on Tuesday to destroying evidence in connectionwith the oilfield services company's role in the BP oilspill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.
** APPLE INC, Tuesday close $498.68, up 0.4 pctpremarket
The company has hired Burberry Chief Executive AngelaAhrendts to direct strategy, expansion and operation of itsretail and online stores, setting her the task of bolsteringiPad and iPhone sales.
** WAL-MART STORES INC, Tuesday close $74.37
The retailer expects slightly stronger sales growth nextyear as it makes changes such as opening more smaller U.S.stores and shutting 50 poorly performing stores in Brazil andChina, executives said on Tuesday.
** REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS INC, Tuesday close$290.43
** AMGEN INC, Tuesday close $111.40
A new type of cholesterol drug being developed by RegeneronPharmaceuticals and Sanofi SA, when used by itself,cut levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol almost in half in the firstof a dozen late-stage trials of the injectable medicine. Theexperimental drug, called alirocumab, is from a promising newclass of injectable cholesterol fighters also being developed byAmgen Inc and other drugmakers.
** TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES
The Israel-based company and the Israeligovernment will set up a joint team to examine ways to implementcost cutting measures that preserve most of the company'sworkforce in that country.
** INTEL CORP, Tuesday close $23.39, down 1 pctpremarket
The chipmaker's third-quarter results modestly beatexpectations on Tuesday, but its current-quarter revenue outlookfell short and it warned that production of its upcomingBroadwell processors was delayed.
** CSX CORP, Tuesday close $26.10
The company posted a higher quarterly profit as its non-coalbusiness did well and the railroad increasedprices.
** NEXTERA ENERGY INC, Tuesday close $80.21
The staff at the California Energy Commission found someenvironmental issues with the U.S. power company's proposed485-megawatt Blythe solar power plant near California, thecommission said in a release on Tuesday.
** ORACLE CORP, Tuesday close $32.75
Top proxy advisers recommended votes against key directorsof the software maker, citing concerns over executive pay. Therecommendations promise to stir up a debate over compensation atthe company's annual meeting scheduled for the end of thismonth.
* WET SEAL INC, Tuesday close $3.84, down 9 pctafter market
The California-based specialty apparel retailer forecast awider loss for the current quarter as slower mall traffic forcedit to discount more than planned.
"Following our strong start to the quarter, mall trafficsoftened considerably during September and has continued intoOctober, resulting in an increasingly promotional competitiveenvironment in recent weeks," Chief Executive John Goodman said.
** LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORP, Tuesday close $39.55,down 2 pct after market
The semiconductor company posted first-quarter profit belowWall Street estimates and said it expected second-quarterrevenue to be flat to down 4 percent from the first quarter asthe U.S. government shutdown might affect its business.
On Wednesday, brokerages B.Riley & Co and Piper Jaffray cuttheir price targets on the company's stock following theresults.
** J.C. PENNEY CO INC, Tuesday close $7.17, up 1 pctpremarket
A spokeswoman of the company denied a market rumor onTuesday that the department store chain had hired bankruptcycounsel. Penney spokeswoman Kristin Kays said there was "notruth to the rumor," origins of which were unclear. (Compiled by Sneha Banerjee in Bangalore; Editing by KirtiPandey)
