U.S. News
-
Stocks surged, almost erasing the 2011 loss in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, as Europe made progress in debt-crisis talks, Caterpillar Inc.’s earnings beat forecasts and takeovers lifted health-insurance and software companies. Commodities rose on signs of Asian growth.
-
Texas Instruments Inc., the largest maker of analog semiconductors, forecast lower fourth-quarter sales than some analysts had estimated, indicating that demand for electronic components remains sluggish.
-
Netflix Inc., the video-rental service, posted third-quarter customer losses that were worse than its September forecast and predicted more cancellations over a price hike. The shares plunged 27 percent.
-
Amgen Inc., the world’s largest biotechnology company, said it set aside $780 million to resolve civil and criminal investigations into whether it engaged in improper sales of drugs, including its Aranesp anemia medicine.