COMPANIES

Diversified U.S. manufacturer 3M Co reported a 48 percent drop in quarterly profit and cut its full-year earnings forecast, citing falling demand as its customers reduce inventories.

Xerox Corp flipped to a profit in the first quarter, but the leading provider of digital printers and document management services forecast a second-quarter profit weaker than analysts' views and cut its full year earnings outlook nearly in half.

Diversified U.S. manufacturer 3M Co reported a 48 percent drop in quarterly profit and cut its full-year earnings forecast, citing falling demand and its customers' efforts to cut inventory.

Ford Motor Co posted a smaller-than-expected first-quarter loss and said it was on track to at least break even in 2011 and did not expect to seek U.S. government loans, sending its shares up more than 22 percent.

A powerful German labor leader poured scorn on the idea of a bid from Fiat for struggling German car maker Opel, saying on Friday he favored an investor such as Canadian car-part maker Magna.

Ford Motor Co posted a smaller-than-expected first-quarter loss on Friday amid the auto sector downturn and said it was on track to at least break even in 2011 and did not expect to seek U.S. government loans.

Ford Motor Co (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is expected to post a large first-quarter net loss amid the global economic downturn that has pressured results in the United States, Western Europe and other developed economies.

SunPower , an U.S. manufacturer of solar panels, reported an unexpected net loss for the first quarter, hit by the credit crisis and the difficult economic conditions, the company said Thursday.

The Treasury is preparing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing for Chrysler LLC that could come as soon as next week, The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.

The Treasury is preparing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing for Chrysler LLC that could come as soon as next week, The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.

EMC Corp. Chief Executive Joseph Tucci said Tuesday that Oracle Corp.’s deal to buy Sun Microsystems Inc. raises the stakes in the competition for control of corporate data center markets.

United Parcel Service Inc reported Tuesday that its first quarter profit plunged 56 percent, with results coming in below the average of analysts’ estimates.

Deflation has arrived but inflation could be flaring up in a couple years. The latest March consumer price index showed the first decline over a 12 month period since the Eisenhower administration. With rising unemployment and excess factory capacity there is virtually no pressure for wages or prices to rise.

United Parcel Service Inc reported a lower-than-expected profit and gave an outlook below analysts' views as the global economic downturn has caused fewer packages to be shipped, sending its shares down as much as 7.5 percent.

United Parcel Service Inc reported a lower-than-expected profit and gave an outlook below analysts' views as the global economic downturn has caused fewer packages to be shipped, sending its shares down as much as 7.5 percent.

U.S. newspaper publisher McClatchy Co reported a quarterly loss on Thursday because of layoff charges and falling advertising revenue.

General Motors moved closer to selling a majority stake in Opel, while the deadline for Chrysler to find a partner entered its final days, and Japan's Toyota kept its top global ranking even after reporting a 27 percent drop in sales.

U.S. mortgage rates fell in the latest week, nudging closer to a recent record low, helped by government efforts to bring rates down to levels that will spur demand and help the hard-hit housing market begin to recover.

Italian industrial group Fiat SpA said on Thursday it was still in talks to form a partnership with ailing U.S. carmaker Chrysler , adding that it aimed to reach a deal by an April 30 deadline.

Marlboro cigarette maker Philip Morris International Inc reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by its Asian, Latin American and Canadian markets, and backed its 2009 earnings forecast, sending its shares up more than 1 percent.

Two California lenders, First Regional Bancorp (FRGB.O) and Bank On It Inc (BKOT.OB), have entered agreements with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco designed to ensure they remain financially sound, the regulator said on Thursday.

US Airways Group on Thursday reported a quarterly net loss on weaker travel demand, but the loss narrowed 57 percent on capacity cuts and accounting gains for fuel hedge contracts related to cheaper jet fuel.

The pace of sales of existing homes in the United States fell 3.0 percent in March to a much lower-than-expected annual rate of 4.57 million units, the National Association of Realtors said on Thursday.

Manhattan office tower bought by property investor Harry Macklowe for $498 million nearly three years ago was taken over on Wednesday by one of its lenders, which made the only bid at an auction -- for $100,000.

Apple Inc. said Tuesday its second quarter results beats consensus forecasts but shares fell after it gave a conservative outlook for the current quarter.

Roche Acquired drug Avastin fails cancer study, shares fall Shares of Roche Holding’s were slammed Tuesday after its acquired Genentech Avastin drug for cancer failed study in an effort to lower the risk of the colon- cancer.

Plunging profit at Volkswagen (VOWG.DE), slumping sales at PSA Peugeot Citroen (PEUP.PA) and job cuts by Volvo (VOLVb.ST) on Wednesday highlighted the dire state of Europe's automotive industry.

Ford Motor Co said Tuesday it expects first quarter results to be lower, but shares jumped on as analyst upgraded the firm citing a brighter future.

Goldman Sachs upgraded the U.S. auto sector to