CISCO SYSTEMS

U.S. stocks gained sharply on Thursday after an expansion in business productivity and a fall in jobless claims boosted investor confidence about the economy, while Cisco led gains in tech shares.

U.S. stocks gained sharply on Thursday after an expansion in business productivity and a fall in jobless claims boosted investor confidence about the economy, while Cisco led gains in tech shares.

U.S. stocks jumped on Thursday after strong results from Cisco lifted technology stocks, and an expansion in business productivity and a fall in jobless claims encouraged investors about the economy.

U.S. stocks rallied on Thursday as business productivity grew at the fastest pace in six years and applications for jobless insurance fell to a 10-month low, and Cisco Systems Inc gave an extra boost to the market after posting upbeat results.

Wall Street was set for a higher open on Thursday as data showed a steep pickup in productivity and a decline in applications for jobless insurance.

Wall Street was set for a higher open on Thursday as data showed a steep pickup in productivity and a decline in applications for jobless insurance.

Stock index futures rose on Thursday on upbeat results from Cisco Systems and ahead of an expected pickup in October same-store sales as well as jobless claims data.

Stock index futures rose on Thursday on upbeat results from Cisco Systems and ahead of an expected pickup in October same-store sales as well as jobless claims data.

Stock index futures rose on Thursday on upbeat results from Cisco Systems and ahead of an expected pickup in October same-store sales as well as jobless claims data.

Cisco Systems Inc posted a stronger-than-expected profit for its fiscal first quarter and said business was recovering as customers are buying more network equipment again after cutting back for the past year.

Cisco Systems Inc posted a stronger-than-expected profit for its fiscal first quarter and said a recovery in business was well under way because customers are investing in network equipment again after cutting back for the past year.

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Cisco Systems, the largest maker of networking equipment, reported profit that beat analysts' estimates after the company cut back on hiring, closed offices and cut down on travel costs.

Cisco Systems, the largest maker of networking equipment, reported profit that beat analysts' estimates after the company cut back on hiring, closed offices and cut down on travel costs.

Cisco Systems Inc's quarterly results this week are expected to reflect some recovery in tech spending, but it may be hard to get investors to commit more money to a stock that is already up 40 percent this year.

A consultant's report commissioned by Tandberg said on Monday Cisco's $3 billion takeover bid for the Norwegian video conferencing equipment maker was fair.

Cisco Systems Inc and EMC Corp are teaming up to sell a new line of networking gear, computers and storage equipment designed for use with cloud computing, according to sources familiar with their plans.

Cisco Systems is buying privately held Web security company ScanSafe for about $183 million, a move that will intensify its battle with security giants Symantec Corp and McAfee Inc.

U.S. network equipment maker Tellabs Inc said on Thursday that it planned to buy wireless infrastructure gear manufacturer WiChorus for $165 million to bolster its next-generation mobile Internet technology.

Polycom Inc is expected to post strong third-quarter results, but investors will be more keen on gauging the impact of Cisco's planned acquisition of Tandberg on the U.S. videoconferencing company.

Investors holding 24 percent of shares in videoconferencing firm Tandberg snubbed a $3 billion bid from Cisco Systems Inc, raising prospects of a higher offer from the U.S. network equipment maker.