US HOT STOCKS: US Steel, Lexmark, UBS, DuPont, Deutsche Bank

U.S. stocks traded higher Tuesday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 20 points to 10546, the S&P 500 grew 2.7 points to 1118 and the Nasdaq Composite increased 4.1 points to 2301. Among the companies whose shares are actively trading in the session are U.S. Steel Corp. (X), Lexmark International Inc. (LXK) and UBS AG (UBS). U.S. Steel ($46.36, -$2.53, -5.17%) posted a second-quarter loss on currency impacts while shipments surged in its flat-rolled products and revenue more than doubled. Lexmark's ($38.05, +$3.24, +9.31%) second-quarter earnings shot higher as the printer company posted fewer charges and demand continued to improve from the prior year's weak levels. Switzerland's largest bank, UBS ($16.28, +$1.13, +7.46%), showed fresh signs that a turnaround plan is working as it reported that its investment bank held up well during a choppy second quarter and the outflow of money from its huge private bank slowed further. DuPont Co.'s (DD, $40.52, +$1.53, +3.91%) second-quarter profit almost tripled amid prior-year charges while revenue increased more than expected on better volume and higher selling prices. Germany's Deutsche Bank AG (DB, $68.35, +$2.17, +3.28%) reported a 6.2%-increase in second-quarter profit despite a significant decline in investment banking revenue as the sovereign debt crisis roiled markets throughout the Spring. Regions Financial Corp.'s (RF, $7.44, +$0.35, +4.94%) second-quarter loss widened on a $200 million charge from regulatory proceedings involving its Morgan Keegan mutual-fund business, though the regional bank operator's loan-loss provisions declined. The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled Monday that graphics-chip maker Nvidia Corp. (NVDA, $10.44, -$0.11, -1.02%) infringed patents held by Rambus Inc. (RMBS, $20.83, +$1.24, +6.35%) and said it will issue an order that bars the importation of some Nvidia products into the U.S. BP PLC (BP, $38.12, -$0.53, -1.38%) posted a $17.15-billion loss for the second quarter as it made provision for $32.2 billion in costs related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Meanwhile, the oil giant launched a radical shakeup, including plans to sell about $30 billion in assets, replace Chief Executive Tony Hayward with Bob Dudley, and alter the way it does business. Cummins Inc.'s (CMI, $81.09, +$3.24, +4.16%) second-quarter profit more than quadrupled, handily topping analysts' predictions, as sales soared and the margin rose. The company once again raised its current-year sales forecast, this time by $1 billion to $13 billion. Zoran Corp.'s (ZRAN, $9.00, -$0.77, -7.88%) second-quarter loss narrowed on lower expenses, but the company reduced its outlook for digital televisions for the rest of the year on customer delays and customer share loss. It predicted a third-quarter loss and revenue that was worse than expected. Other Stocks In Focus: AK Steel Holding Corp. (AKS, $14.69, -$0.51, -3.36%) swung to a better-than-expected second-quarter profit on much-improved margin. Revenue more than doubled but came in short of estimates. Bemis Co.'s (BMS, $29.75, -$1.14, -3.69%) second-quarter earnings rose 24% as the food-and-beverage packaging company saw strong sales growth and increased volume, aided by its March acquisition of Alcan Packaging Food Americas from Rio Tinto PLC (RTP, $52.76, +$0.79, +1.52%) in a $1.2 billion deal. Still, the top end of the company's current-quarter view merely matched Street expectations. (MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires July 27, 2010 10:29 ET (14:29 GMT)