IBT Staff Reporter

The dollar hit a three-year low against a basket of currencies on Thursday as strong corporate earnings buoyed risk appetite in illiquid pre-Easter trade, threatening to drive the greenback to historic lows.

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.

Minnesota Senator Al Franken has called out Apple after reports emerged that the company's products were keeping detailed records of the location data of their users.

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.

Nokia Oyj warned operating profit margins at its key phone unit would slip through the rest of the year, taking the shine off higher-than-expected first-quarter earnings on Thursday.

The New York Times showed signs of early progress in attracting paying customers to its flagship website.

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.

Prince William's and Kate Middleton's big day is only about a week away. While the bride and groom and finalizing last minute details for their wedding, the entire city of London is also in preparation mode.

A slideshow which showcases Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Paul Allen's many indulgences:

Nokia's earnings fell less than expected in the first quarter and the company signed a final agreement to start using Microsoft software, sending its shares 3 percent higher.

Nokia's earnings fell less than expected in the first quarter and the company signed a final agreement to start using Microsoft software, sending its shares 3 percent higher.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said the radioactive contamination in the water that leaked into the ocean from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was more than 20,000 times the allowable annual limits.

Calling Samsung a valued component supplier, Apple's chief operating officer said that the South Korean company had gone too far.

After failing to throw the ball across the plate, the PhillieBot was greeted with a chorus of boos.

President Barack Obama is currently focused on reaching a deal with Republicans on lowering the nation's long term deficits, but said Wednesday that he is still urgent to make changes to the nation's immigration and energy systems.

Gold prices hit record highs for a fifth session on Thursday and silver rallied to its strongest since 1980 as the dollar slid to a three-year low against a basket of major currencies.

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.

McDonald's Corp reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday as the world's largest restaurant company posted March sales that topped analyst expectations.

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.

Nokia Oyj's earnings fell less than expected in the first quarter and the company signed a final agreement to start using Microsoft Corp software, sending its shares 3 percent higher.

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

A new report from the FTC says certain electronics manufacturers aren't doing as good a job preventing kids from buying R-rated content.

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.

General Electric Co posted quarterly results that blew past Wall Street's expectations, joining a wave of better-than-expected profit in the U.S. manufacturing sector.

General Electric Co posted quarterly results that blew past Wall Street's expectations on Thursday, joining a wave of better-than-expected earnings in the U.S. manufacturing sector.

In a two-page letter sent to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Franken discusses what he calls the worrisome existence of the iPhone's and iPad's extensive location data.

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.