General Business News - Microsoft profit rises, outlook disappoints (Reuters) Reuters - Microsoft Corp.
Microsoft profit rises, outlook disappoints (Reuters)
Reuters - Microsoft Corp. posted a 16 percent rise in quarterly profit on Thursday but missed Wall Street expectations and set a disappointing profit target due to increased costs on products from Windows to the new Xbox 360 game console.
Bank of Japan Keeps 0 Percent Rate Policy (AP)
AP - Japan’s central bank decided kept its easy money policy in place Friday, cooling jitters about a possible interest rate hike in the face of fresh economic figures that show Japanese inflation is picking up.
Constellation Energy quarterly earnings fall (Reuters)
Reuters - Constellation Energy Group Inc. , which is being bought by rival FPL Group Inc. , on Friday posted lower first-quarter earnings as the effect of mild weather drove down results at its regulated utility.
Nasdaq falls 1 percent at open on Microsoft (Reuters)
Reuters - The Nasdaq Composite stock index fell 1 percent at the market opening on Friday after disappointing Microsoft Corp. results.
Coventry Health earnings rise (Reuters)
Reuters - Health insurer Coventry Health Care Inc. on Friday posted a rise in quarterly earnings as revenue from premiums increased.
Avon quarterly profit plunges due to restructuring (Reuters)
Reuters - Avon Products Inc. , the world's largest direct seller of cosmetics, on Friday said first-quarter profit fell 67 percent, weighed down by restructuring charges and stock option expensing.
S.Korea Retailer to Buy Carrefour Unit (AP)
AP - The South Korean retailer E.Land Group has agreed to buy the South Korean unit of French retailer Carrefour SA for 1.75 trillion won ($1.9 billion), the companies said Friday.
March Fund Inflow Jumps To $34 Bil (Investor’s Business Daily)
Investor’s Business Daily - Investors poured $34.04 billion into mutual funds in March, the biggest month for the industry since January 2004, when $42.981 billion in new money went into funds.