"Wallstreet" Reader

"Wallstreet" Reader

Samsung's Profit Falls 30%

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 06:29 PM PDT

Samsung's first-quarter profit fell 30% as its TV-component business tumbled into the red and semiconductors and televisions brought smaller profits.

Asia Mostly Down; Sydney Market Hit by Strong Aussie Dollar

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 07:07 PM PDT

Asian shares were mostly lower, with the Sydney market dragged by the Australian dollar's strength, while Samsung Electronics fell in Seoul after weak first-quarter earnings.

Tough Rules Proposed for Kids' Food Marketing

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 04:24 PM PDT

The Obama administration on Thursday asked food makers that market to children to sharply limit advertising of foods high in sodium, saturated fat and added sugars, in an effort to curb obesity.

Inflation? Numbers Show Faith in Fed

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 05:37 PM PDT

While investors and the public have concerns about short-term price increases, long-term inflation-expectation gauges show they appear to have confidence in Ben Bernanke's ability to control inflation over the long-term.

Banks Rush to Improve Foreclosure Practices

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 05:32 PM PDT

Under orders from U.S. regulators, 14 financial institutions have until mid-June to lay out plans to clean up their mortgage-servicing operations—and another 60 days to make the changes.But progress is uneven.

U.S. Officials Unfazed by Dollar's Slide

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 05:29 PM PDT

The U.S. dollar fell Thursday to its lowest point since the summer of 2008, but officials aren't showing signs that they are alarmed by the currency's descent or acting to stem it.

Three Top Builders Post Bigger Losses

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 04:49 PM PDT

Pulte, Meritage and Ryland report bigger losses and lower revenue as closings and prices remain weak.

No Silver Lining Left for Users of the Metal

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 05:40 PM PDT

Silver's surge is hurting major users of the precious metal and even a few miners, including some blindsided by the relentless climb.

Buffett's Silence on Sokol to End

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 05:36 PM PDT

At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway this weekend, Warren Buffett is expected to say he doesn't condone the conduct of David Sokol, one of his former top lieutenants, in purchasing stock in a company that Berkshire eventually bid for.

Harbinger Discloses 'Market Manipulation' Probe

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 03:47 PM PDT

Hedge-fund manager Philip Falcone told investors that regulators are investigating whether his firm, Harbinger Capital Partners, engaged in "market manipulation."

Study Compares Lucentis, Avastin

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 03:55 PM PDT

Both sides in a debate over eye treatment took solace from a study that said Genentech drugs Lucentis and Avastin are equally effective in the eye but Avastin had a slightly higher rate of serious events.

Warner Bros., CBS Work to Save 'Two and a Half Men'

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 03:18 PM PDT

The companies behind "Two and a Half Men" are making progress on ways to keep their cash cow alive for the fall TV season, even after firing star Charlie Sheen from the show last month.

Profits Point to a Record Quarter

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 07:46 PM PDT

With first quarter results out at slightly more than half of the S&P 500-index companies, profits at America's biggest corporations are running 26% higher than a year ago and on track to post a quarterly record.

Cellphone Companies Defend Privacy Practices

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 05:25 PM PDT

Wireless phone companies defended their privacy practices Thursday as lawmakers continued to ramp up scrutiny of data gathering and location tracking practices in the mobile phone industry.

Geithner Sees Action on Budget Deficit

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 03:01 PM PDT

Treasury Secretary Geithner sees broad agreement emerging on scale of deficit reduction needed to address U.S. budget woes.

For Citic Securities, Yuan Moves Offer Path to Growth

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 05:24 PM PDT

China's effort to promote wider use of its currency will be the wedge that opens the door to a bigger role in foreign markets for Citic Securities, a top executive at the brokerage said.

Exxon, Shell Profits Soar On Higher Oil Prices

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 05:50 PM PDT

Exxon Mobil said first-quarter earnings surged 69% as it benefited from high oil prices, stronger refining margins and a jump in natural-gas production. Royal Dutch Shell and Occidental Petroleum also posted soaring profits.

Microsoft Net Up, but Windows Sales Down

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 06:12 PM PDT

Microsoft's profit rose sharply, powered by sales of its Office software and Xbox system, though the company also saw declining sales of its flagship Windows software.

RIM Warns of Weak BlackBerry Sales

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 06:46 PM PDT

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion cut its earnings guidance for its fiscal first quarter, blaming slower-than expected smartphone shipments. Shares plunged 11% in late trading.

SAC Ex-Manager Pleads Guilty

Posted: 28 Apr 2011 11:52 AM PDT

Former SAC Capital hedge-fund manager Donald Longueuil, whose friend secretly taped him describing how he destroyed evidence of insider trading, pleaded guilty.