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

U.S. stocks were mixed Tuesday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 10 points to 10536, but the S&P 500 slipped 2 points to 1113 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 9.9 points to 2286. 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 ($45.62, -$3.27, -6.69%) posted a second-quarter loss on currency impacts while shipments surged in its flat-rolled products and revenue more than doubled. Still the steel producer warned that the "gradual and uneven" recovery in the U.S. and Europe would drag its third-quarter operating results below the second quarter's. In the important flat-rolled segment, volumes are expected to slide, costs to rise and prices will remain flat. Lexmark's ($38.01, +$3.20, +9.19%) 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 ( $16.43, +$1.28, +8.45%), 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, $40.28, +$1.29, +3.31%) 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, $67.97, +$1.79, +2.70%) 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, $7.34, +$0.25, +3.53%) 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, $10.48, -$0.07, -0.66%) infringed patents held by Rambus Inc. (RMBS, $20.44, +$0.85, +4.34%) and said it will issue an order that bars the importation of some Nvidia products into the U.S. BP PLC (BP, $38.04, -$0.61, -1.58%) 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. 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, $14.46, -$0.74, -4.87%) 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, $29.84, -$1.05, -3.40%) 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. Carlisle Cos. (CSL, $34.75, -$4.40, -11.24%) topped analysts' expectations for earnings and revenue in its second quarter, but margins were pressured by high raw material costs and weaker selling prices. FBR analysts pointed to Carlisle's cash burn during the quarter as a concern for the multi-industry manufacturing company, which makes products ranging from cookware to dump-truck bodies. Crane Co.'s (CR, $35.88, +$1.02, +2.93%) second-quarter profit climbed 44%, again showing how the industrial-products maker's cost cuts during the recession are propping up its bottom line, while sales increased for the first time in two years. (MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires July 27, 2010 13:12 ET (17:12 GMT)