TOP STORIES 
 
JOHNSON & JOHNSON EARNINGS RISE 35% 

Johnson & Johnson earns $4.73 billion, or $1.64 a share, led by continued sales growth in its pharmaceutical business. Revenue increased 3.5% to $18.12 billion. It also lifted its EPS estimate range for the year.

 
U.S. CONSUMER PRICES RISE 0.2% IN MARCH 
 

The consumer-price index advanced a seasonally adjusted 0.2% in March from the prior month. Core prices, which strip out volatile food and energy costs, also rose 0.2%. Both gauges were expected to increase by 0.1%.

 
UKRAINE SAYS MILITARY OPERATION IN EAST HAS BEGUN 
 

A Ukrainian military operation to wrest control of cities in the east from pro-Russian militants has begun, Ukraine's acting president said, as Russia warned the use of force could derail international crisis talks.

 
YELLEN SEES ROOM FOR STRONGER CAPITAL RULES 
 

Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said the largest and most complex financial institutions may be able to strengthen their balance sheets further by raising more capital than regulators have required to date.

 
COKE'S PROFIT DECLINES THOUGH VOLUMES IMPROVE 
 

Coca-Cola's 1Q earnings fell to $1.62 billion, or 36c a share, from $1.75 billion a year ago, though volumes edged up. Excluding items, EPS came in at 44c. Coke's worldwide unit-case soda volumes rose 2%, with flat volumes in North America. Shares up 2%.

 
U.S. STOCKS TRADE HIGHER 
 

U.S. stocks gained at the open, extending the previous session's broad rally, as upbeat earnings reports from blue-chip companies helped offset disappointing regional manufacturing data.

 
ZEBRA TO BUY MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS' ENTERPRISE BUSINESS 
 

Zebra Technologies made a bid to substantially expand its business, agreeing to buy Motorola Solutions' enterprise business for $3.45 billion in cash. Deal represents a large expansion for Zebra, a barcode-printing and asset-tracking company.

 
CHARLES SCHWAB PROFIT RISES 58% 
 

Charles Schwab's 1Q profit rose 58% to $326 million, or 24c a share, helped by stronger trading revenue and asset-management fees. Revenue climbed 15% to $1.48 billion. Results topped expectations, and shares rose 2%.

 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES KEY BANKING RULES 
 

The European Parliament gave its final approval to an array of rules aimed at mending the EU's troubled financial sector and winding down banks while sparing taxpayer money.

 
NY FED MANUFACTURING INDEX DROPS TO 1.29 IN APRIL, BELOW EXPECTATIONS 
 

The Empire State's business conditions index slowed to 1.29 in April, from 5.61 in March, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Empire State Manufacturing Survey.

 
BLACKBERRY INVESTS IN HEALTH CARE IT STARTUP NANTHEALTH 
 

BlackBerry Ltd. Tuesday said it made an unspecified investment in NantHealth, a California-based health care IT startup, as part of the companies' plan to collaborate on secure mobile products.

 
 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
The Wall Street Journal 
GE RETHINKS THE 20-YEAR CEO 
 

Jeff Immelt may give up leadership of General Electric sooner than his expected 20-year tenure, as he and fellow directors re-evaluate the right term for its chief executive, people familiar with GE's thinking said.

 
Money Talks 
BOE TRAPPED BY LOW CPI AND SOARING HOUSE PRICES 
 

The Bank of England is on the horns of a serious dilemma: inflation has tumbled while house prices have rocketed. The latter puts in jeopardy its price stability remit, while the former risks another destabilizing bubble.