updated Thu December 13, 2007

Fitch Stands Behind Assured Guaranty Ratings, Citing Underwriting Policy, $300M Stock Offer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Fitch Ratings on Wednesday backed its credit ratings for Assured Guaranty Ltd., citing the financial insurance company's "disciplined underwriting strategy," improving financials and stockpiles...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Consumer Groups Ask FTC Chair to Recuse Herself on Antitrust Review of Google-DoubleClick Deal

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two consumer groups Wednesday asked a federal official to recuse herself from an antitrust review of Google Inc.'s $3.1 billion purchase of Doubleclick.John M. Majoras, a partner who speciali...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Sikorsky Gets $7.4 Billion Government Deal to Deliver 537 Helicopters to Army and Navy

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) -- Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp., said Wednesday it signed a five-year, $7.4 billion deal with the U.S. government to deliver 537 Black Hawk helicopters for the Ar...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Manitowoc Shares Get a Boost From Better-Than-Expected Outlook

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Manitowoc Co. soared Wednesday, after the diversified manufacturer boosted its 2007 profit prediction and released a 2008 estimate above current Wall Street expectations.In Wednesday ...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Delphi to Sell Steering Business to Private Equity Firm

TROY, Mich. (AP) -- Auto suppler Delphi Corp. has agreed to sell its $2.5 billion global steering and halfshaft business to a Los Angeles-based private equity group.Delphi would get approximately $447 million f...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Coca-Cola Enterprises Shares Climb After Company Increases 2007 Guidance, Offers 2008 View

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., the largest bottler of Coca-Cola drinks, rose Wednesday after the company raised its 2007 profit outlook above Wall Street analysts' expectations. Shares r...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Schering-Plough Shares Fall on Congressional Committee Inquiry Into Vytorin Study Data

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of drug developer Schering-Plough Corp. fell Wednesday after a Congressional committee asked for more information on delayed trial results for the cholesterol drug Vytorin.Merck & Co...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Panera Bread Shares Fall President Resigns, but Analysts Say Long-Term Value Intact

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Panera Bread Co., a bakery and cafe chain operator, declined on Wednesday following President Neal Yanofsky's resignation, but analysts still remained upbeat on the company's prospect...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Quiksilver Shares Rise a Day Before 4th-Quarter Earnings; Analyst Praises Business Strategy

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Quiksilver Inc. rose on Wednesday, a day before it reports fourth-quarter earnings, as an analyst said the company's strategy to focus on outdoor apparel rather than equipment will he...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

FuelCell Shares Drop on Profit Taking After Tuesday Rally; Analyst Expects Further Volatility

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of FuelCell Energy Inc. fell Wednesday as investors took profits following a big rally a day earlier.FuelCell shares fell 35 cents, or 2.9 percent, to close at $11.50 Wednesday. The stoc...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Buyout of Sallie Mae Appears Unlikely As Student Lender Lowers Profit Forecast; Stock Slumps

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sallie Mae's stock price sank more than 10 percent Wednesday after the student lender cut its 2008 profit forecast and said it failed to revive interest from an investor group that once offer...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Common Childhood Vaccine Recalled Over Contamination Concerns; US Says 'Not Health Threat'

ATLANTA (AP) -- More than a million doses of a common vaccine given to babies as young as 2 months were being recalled Wednesday because of contamination risks, but the top U.S. health official said it was not ...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

FCC's Democrats Call Media-Ownership Proposal "Huge Mistake," Criticize Chairman Martin

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Communications Commission media-ownership proposal is a "a huge mistake" and voting on it next week would be premature, the agency's two Democratic commissioners said in statement...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Shares of Cummins Get a Boost After Company Announces Plans for Stock Split, Buyback

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Cummins Inc. rose Wednesday, after the diesel engine maker declared a two-for-one stock split -- its second of the year -- and said it will repurchase $500 million in shares. In Wedne...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

EnCana Stock Rises on Dividend Hike; Analysts Say Production Outlook Doesn't Beat Expectations

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of EnCana Corp. rose Wednesday after the oil and gas company said it would double its dividend next year, though analysts indicated its production growth forecast did not surpass expecta...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Cisco's Stock Rises After Analysts See Growth Potential Despite Economic Downturn

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Cisco Systems rose after analysts praised its growth potential Wednesday, a day after the Internet router and switch maker held its annual industry meeting, where it said video produc...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Climbs After Analyst Upgrades Stock Due to Schizophrenia Drug Data

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. rose Wednesday after a JMP Securities analyst upgraded the stock to "Strong Buy," saying trial data for Acadia's schizophrenia drug candidate pimavanserin ...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Ulta Salon Shares Fall Despite Analysts Comments on Company's Strong Business Model

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. continued to fall Wednesday, following a brief rise after two analysts said the newly public beauty-products retailer has a strong business ...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Nuance Communications Shares Fall on Offering of 15M Shares, but Analysts Remain Unfazed

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Nuance Communications Inc. fell Wednesday morning after the maker of speech recognition and digital imaging software said late Tuesday it will offer 9.6 million shares of common stock...

updated Thu December 13, 2007

Mexico's Cemex Said Workforce Reductions Part of Plan to Cut Costs 10 Percent

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexico's Cemex, one of the world's top cement makers, will cut overall costs by 10 percent, including a reduction of its work force, following its June takeover of Australia's Rinker Group L...