MARKETS / FINANCE

Profit at Morgan Stanley's global wealth management division jumped in the first quarter as retail investors poured in $11.4 billion of new assets.

Factory activity in Middle Atlantic states braked sharply in April and the number of Americans claiming new jobless benefits fell less than expected, implying the economy was struggling to regain momentum.

U.S. stocks posted their first positive week in three as more healthy earnings news lifted Wall Street on Thursday, though gains were limited with another 180 S&P names due to report next week.

NYSE Euronext <NYX.N> directors rejected as too risky and lacking value a sweetened takeover offer from Nasdaq OMX Group <NDAQ.O> and IntercontinentalExchange <ICE.N>, the second time in 11 days the board unanimously backed a lower bid from Germany's Deutsche Boerse AG <DB1Gn.DE>.

Online coupon service Groupon has hired a Google Inc executive to be its new chief operating officer, filling a key slot in its management team ahead of a potential initial public offering, according to a media report.

NYSE Euronext directors rejected as too risky and lacking value a sweetened takeover offer from Nasdaq OMX Group and IntercontinentalExchange , the second time in 11 days the board backed a lower bid from Germany's Deutsche Boerse AG .

Citigroup Inc can be more than just a survivor of the financial crisis, Chief Executive Vikram Pandit told shareholders on Thursday.

U.S. stocks rose on Thursday as strong earnings reports lifted big names like Apple, but underwhelming economic data and caution ahead of the long weekend kept gains in check.

General Electric Co posted an 80 percent rise in profit that topped Wall Street's expectations, helped by a strong recovery in its finance arm.

General Motors Co Chairman and Chief Executive Daniel Akerson received $2.53 million in total compensation in 2010.

Raj Rajaratnam's lawyer took his last shot at a trial to keep his client out of prison, telling jurors on Thursday that phone taps and a parade of government witnesses did not prove that the hedge fund manager traded on material inside information about companies.

U.S. stocks rose on Thursday as a flurry of strong earnings reports lifted big names like Apple, but underwhelming economic data and caution ahead of the long weekend kept gains in check.

NextEra Energy Inc said its unit will sell 100.8 megawatts of wind energy to Google Inc's energy subsidiary, the companies' second such agreement that could help the Internet search giant power its data centers using renewable sources of energy.

New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, but held above the key 400,000 level, according to government report on Thursday.

Morgan Stanley's first-quarter profit fell nearly 50 percent, but the results were better than many analysts had forecast thanks to stronger-than-expected fixed-income trading revenue.

Skyrocketing fuel costs and disasters in Japan took a bite of out major U.S. airline earnings reported on Thursday, but higher fares helped the carriers, including United Continental Holdings , meet or beat Wall Street forecasts.

Morgan Stanley said first-quarter profit dropped nearly 50 percent, hurt by a decline in fixed income trading revenue. The investment bank and brokerage posted net income for shareholders of $736 million, or 50 cents per share, down from $1.411 billion, or 99 cents per share, in the same quarter last year.

Factory activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic braked sharply in April and the number of Americans claiming new jobless aid fell less than expected last week, implying the economy was struggling to regain momentum.

U.S. stocks rose on Thursday in a holiday-shortened week on earnings and outlooks, but the gains were tempered on signs of regional economic weakness.

U.S. stocks opened higher on Thursday in a shortened week as strong earnings and outlooks bolstered optimism about the pace of the economic recovery.

Glencore, the secretive commodities trader on the cusp of a record IPO, may pay a high price for its low profile, as corporate governance fears damage its ability to achieve a top price for its stock.

Capital One Financial Corp's first-quarter profit rose 60 percent as losses on bad loans fell and revenue rose.

U.S. stocks were set for a higher open on Thursday as strong corporate earnings and outlooks supported optimism about the pace of the economic recovery.

BlackRock Inc , the world's largest money manager, said first-quarter operating profit increased 13 percent as investors poured money into the firm's stock and bond funds.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week but held above the key 400,000 level, hinting at some loss of momentum in the labor market recovery.

Morgan Stanley's first-quarter profit dropped nearly 50 percent, hurt by a steep decline in bond trading revenue.

Stock index futures rose on Thursday, putting the S&P 500 on track for its first weekly gain in the last three, as strong corporate earnings and outlooks generated optimism about the economic recovery.

A Morgan Stanley securities joint venture in Japan with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group <8306.T> said it will lose nearly $2 billion after its fixed income traders took market positions which were larger than its financial fitness and then made wrong bets.

A Japanese securities joint venture between Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group <8306.T> and Morgan Stanley said it will report a net loss of 145 billion yen ($1.7 billion) for the year ended March due to trading losses.