Reuters - General Electric Co reported a drop in quarterly profit that matched its recent warning to Wall Street, and the U.S. conglomerate said the global credit crunch and slumping economies would continue to take a toll on its hefty finance arm.

Reuters - IBM posted a higher-than-expected preliminary quarterly profit and affirmed its full-year outlook, calming some fears that the financial crisis is sparking a meltdown in technology demand.

Reuters - IBM posted a higher-than-expected preliminary quarterly profit and affirmed its full-year outlook, calming some fears that the financial crisis is sparking a meltdown in technology demand.

Reuters - Costco Wholesale Corp reported a higher quarterly profit on Wednesday as price-conscious shoppers headed to the discount retailer's warehouse locations for bargains on food and gasoline.

Reuters - The U.S. Federal Reserve stepped forward as a commercial lender of last resort and signaled a readiness to cut interest rates as stocks spun lower for a fifth straight day and pressure mounted for a coordinated, international response to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

AP - Fast-food company Yum Brands Inc. said Tuesday its third-quarter profit grew 5 percent as surging sales in its overseas operations more than offset a sharp decline in U.S. results and the continued strain from high commodity costs.

Reuters - Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc said it was halting major capital projects in the face of uncertain markets, after it posted a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on softer demand in key sectors like the aerospace and auto industries.