On the Watch: Fluor posts higher 1Q profit

The Irving, Tex., company said late Monday it earned $1.50 per share in the first quarter, up from 94 cents per share a year ago. It was also awarded $5.7 billion in new projects, a 28 percent increase from the year-ago quarter.

Meanwhile, shares of China's LDK Solar Co. could fall after the solar wafer maker posted a first-quarter profit only slightly higher than last year and warned of rising tax rates.

LDK Solar said late Monday its income rose a penny to 45 cents per share, ahead of Wall Street estimates. But it said one of its Chinese subsidiaries is now subject to a 12.5 percent tax rate following two years of exemptions.

And software maker Nuance Communications posted a wider fiscal second-quarter loss Monday due to several large one-time charges, which could pressure shares.

The Burlington, Mass., company said its loss grew to 13 cents per share from a penny per share in the quarter last year on hefty charges related to acquisitions and noncash assets.