TOP STORIES
MORGAN STANLEY'S PROFIT RISES 56%
Morgan Stanley's profit rose to $1.51 billion as it posted
higher revenue in each of its major businesses, including
surprisingly good results from its fixed-income trading arm. Shares
rose 3% as results beat analyst estimates.
GOLDMAN SACHS PROFIT TOPS ESTIMATES
Goldman Sachs said first-quarter net income fell 10%, but
results comfortably topped analysts' estimates. The investment bank
saw a slump in trading that overshadowed a drop in expenses.
U.S. STOCKS FINISH MIXED
U.S. stocks ended mixed in relatively narrow trading, with the
Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 posting a fourth-straight day of
gains and the Dow industrials finishing slightly lower.
PUTIN KEEPS FORCE AS OPTION IN UKRAINE
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hoped not to send
Russian troops into Ukraine but didn't rule it out, even as his
foreign minister agreed with the Ukrainian government on the first
tangible steps to defuse the crisis.
OBAMA SAYS HEALTH-PLAN SIGN-UPS AT 8 MILLION
Enrollment for private health insurance through federal and
state exchanges has swelled to about 8 million, President Barack
Obama announced.
GE POSTS DECLINES IN PROFIT, REVENUE
General Electric's profit fell 15% to $3 billion, or 30c a
share, as revenue slipped to $34.18 billion. CEO Jeff Immelt said
GE saw strength in most markets, including power and water,
aviation and oil and gas. Shares rose 2%.
AMD'S LOSS NARROWS AS SALES JUMP
Advanced Micro Devices' first-quarter loss narrowed as the chip
maker reported a double-digit jump in sales, due to strong growth
from the graphics and visual solutions unit. Shares jump 5%
late.
U.S. JOBLESS CLAIMS RISE SLIGHTLY TO 304,000
Initial claims for jobless benefits rose 2,000 to a seasonally
adjusted 304,000 in the week ended April 12 but remained near a
seven-year low, indicating an improving labor market. Economists
expected 315,000 new claims last week.
PHILADELPHIA FED APRIL BUSINESS INDEX JUMPS
Manufacturers in the Mid-Atlantic region have reported
much-better business conditions this month, with the Philadelphia
Fed's index of general business activity in regional factory sector
coming in at 16.6 in April, from 9.0 in March.
JUDGE DENIES 'PARK IT NOW' REQUEST IN GM RECALL
A federal judge gave General Motors a pass, ruling against
forcing the auto maker to tell owners of the 2.6 million vehicles
covered in the ignition-switch recall to park their cars until they
are fixed.
BLACKSTONE'S EARNINGS RISE 58%
Blackstone Group said its first-quarter earnings rose 58% to
$814 million, or 70c a share. The results, the best quarter to
start a year since Blackstone became a public company, were largely
due to the buyout business. Shares rose 2%.
======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES =======
Analysis
MORGAN'S EARNINGS ROW AGAINST WALL STREET TIDE
While no sizable financial firm is immune to market malaise,
Morgan Stanley's results demonstrated it was able to make progress
even during a mostly lackluster quarter for rivals, writes John
Carney,
The Wall Street Journal
COMPANIES MAP CONTINGENCY PLANS
Escalating military action and sanctions are forcing executives
around the globe to map out scenarios to safeguard employees,
supply chains and assets within and beyond the borders of Ukraine
and Russia.