IBT Staff Reporter

The confusion surrounding adult vaccination help illustrates some of the big problems looming for Congress as it struggles with healthcare reform legislation, doctors and health officials said on Wednesday.

Diversified U.S. manufacturer 3M Co handily beat Wall Street's profit expectations and raised its revenue forecast, boosted by surprisingly strong demand for consumer electronics and for its respiratory masks, which were snapped up by people afraid of the swine flu virus.

President Barack Obama's drive to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system faces uncertain prospects as lawmakers struggle to find agreement on cutting costs and funding the $1 trillion program. The outcome is at a critical juncture in the U.S. Congress. Here are some possible scenarios involving shortfalls in reaching his goals as planned:

President Barack Obama said on Wednesday a broad healthcare overhaul was critical to a U.S. economic recovery and urged Congress to take advantage of momentum behind the reform package, despite doubts about the plan even among fellow Democrats.

A growing shortage of primary care doctors could place a major burden on the U.S. healthcare system if President Barack Obama succeeds in extending medical insurance to millions of Americans who currently lack it.

Award-winning travel journalist Bruce Northam has wandered freestyle in over 100 countries on seven continents, with experiences ranging from drifting with Burma's sea gypsies, playing naked Frisbee with New Guinea natives, and beholding the beguiling shores of Antarctica.

AT&T Inc on Thursday posted a smaller quarterly profit but revenue exceeded estimates as strong sales of Apple Inc's iPhone helped boost wireless subscriber growth, sending its shares up 4 percent in early trade.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc has expanded its laptop selection by 40 percent and will be aggressive in pricing the computers and the accessories to go with them as the discount retailer looks to win sales from frugal back-to-school shoppers.

Diversified U.S. manufacturer 3M Co reported a 17 percent drop in quarterly profit as the recession crimps demand for its Scotch tape, optical films for liquid crystal displays and other projects.

Stocks opened little changed on Thursday as investors digested a slew of quarterly results, including a brighter outlook and a forecast-beating profit from 3M Co and disappointing results from McDonald's Corp ahead of key housing market data.

Offshore oil and gas driller Ensco International Inc (ESV.N) on Thursday reported a 32 percent drop in quarterly earnings as more of its rigs were left unused, but it beat Wall Street forecasts and its shares firmed in premarket trading.

Weak prices and sagging demand could see gas supply most of Britain's electricity well into winter, sidelining coal plants and cutting Britain's carbon emissions as a welcome side effect.

Xerox Corp posted lower quarterly results, hurt by a slowdown in office equipment spending, and forecast a third quarter profit that fell shy of Wall Street analysts expectations.

Stocks were set to open slightly higher on Thursday as quarterly results, including a brighter outlook and a forecast-beating profit from 3M Co , gave investors confidence, ahead of key housing market data, that the earnings season will remain strong.

Aid of $10 billion from rich nations would be a good beginning to launch a U.N. climate treaty due to be agreed in Copenhagen in December, the United Nations' top climate official said on Thursday.

Natural Resource Partners LP, which leases coal reserves to miners, may see lower royalties as its clients find it increasingly difficult to obtain permits to mine, its chief operating officer said.

A plan to bring the ballooning U.S. deficit under control passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, requiring Congress to find savings to offset tax cuts or spending increases.

The advisers to the bondholders that provided lender CIT Group Inc with a $3 billion loan facility this week are recommending it be restructured through a bankruptcy following a debt tender in August, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The Treasury Department on Wednesday gave lawmakers proposals to dampen financial firms' appetites for growing to giant size and said it was one step away from giving Congress its full package of reforms.

South Korea's anti-trust agency on Thursday imposed a $208 million fine on Qualcomm Inc and ordered the U.S. wireless chip and technology company to stop discriminating against companies using competitor's products.

President Barack Obama said on Wednesday he realized Americans were skeptical about his healthcare overhaul, but that the country's economic recovery depended on implementing the $1 trillion plan.

Hyundai Motor Co is likely to struggle to replicate its record quarterly profit as the benefits from a weaker won and government stimulus fade but the popularity of its small, cheap vehicles will help it gain share in a weak global market.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Inc posted a higher net profit for the second quarter on Thursday, helped by broad cost cuts.

Ford Motor Co posted a $2.3 billion quarterly net profit, mainly due to debt restructuring, and said it was on track to at least break even in 2011, sending its shares up more than 7 percent.

Ford Motor Co posted a $2.3 billion quarterly net profit, mainly due to debt restructuring actions, with global markets still reeling from a recession that helped to push U.S. rivals General Motors and Chrysler into bankruptcy.

Sportscar maker Porsche conceded a months-long power struggle to mass-market rival Volkswagen by axing its CEO and said it would raise at least 5 billion euros ($7.1 billion) in equity as the two prepared for a merger.

Porsche's board of directors in an all-night meeting endorsed talks to sell a stake to the Gulf state of Qatar and to boost its finances with a capital hike of at least 5 billion euros.

South Korea's anti-trust agency imposed on Thursday a $208 million fine on Qualcomm Inc and ordered the U.S. wireless chip and technology firm to end discriminatory licensing practices and rebates.

Stock index futures rose on Thursday as quarterly results, including a brighter outlook from 3M Co, gave investors confidence that the earnings season will remain strong ahead of key jobs and housing market data.