Archive for July 21st, 2008

Widespread earnings woes reflect consumer fears

Monday, July 21st, 2008

NEW YORK - The deepening plight of the American consumer has started to take a large bite out of corporate earnings.

American Express profit falls as credit losses rise

Monday, July 21st, 2008

NEW YORK - American Express Co , a credit card issuer and processing network, reported a steeper-than-expected 38 percent drop in quarterly profit as it set aside more money to cover credit losses and its shares fell sharply after hours.

Merck withholds forecasts after cholesterol study

Monday, July 21st, 2008

NEW YORK - Merck & Co Inc cut its sales outlook on two key medicines on Monday and indicated its financial forecasts were in doubt after a mostly negative study of cholesterol treatment Vytorin, sending its shares down 7 percent.

SanDisk posts sharp quarterly loss; shares tumble

Monday, July 21st, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO - SanDisk Corp quarterly results swung sharply to a loss in on Monday amid an unexpected decline in sales and warned worse was in store as it further slashes the prices of its memory chips in the current quarter, sending its shares down 14 percent after-hours.

Texas Instruments outlook weak on economy concerns

Monday, July 21st, 2008

NEW YORK - Texas Instruments Inc posted disappointing quarterly results and gave a weak third-quarter outlook, blaming a broad-based slowdown in customer orders due to economic concerns, sending shares down almost 13 percent late Monday.

Stocks slip on oil, drugs; Apple, Amex drop late

Monday, July 21st, 2008

NEW YORK - Stocks slipped on Monday, as oil turned higher after last week’s sharp drop and Merck and Schering-Plough hurt the pharmaceuticals sector.

Yahoo and Icahn settle, Microsoft deal seen adrift

Monday, July 21st, 2008

NEW YORK - Yahoo Inc will appoint activist investor Carl Icahn and two of his nominees to its board, defusing a proxy battle showdown and making an immediate deal with Microsoft Corp less likely.

American Express profit down on credit losses

Monday, July 21st, 2008

NEW YORK - American Express Co, a credit card issuer and processing network, has said on Monday its quarterly profit fell 38 percent as it set aside more money to cover credit losses.