TOP STORIES 
 
U.S. STOCKS RISE ON EARNINGS REPORTS

U.S. stocks rallied, boosted by strong third-quarter earnings from Caterpillar and other companies. The Dow industrials were up about 250 points, with the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 also showing hearty gains.

 
GENERAL MOTORS PROFIT FALLS 14%

GM reported a 14% drop in its 3Q profit but beat analyst expectations as strength in North America offset weaker results in other regions. Earnings equaled $1.47 billion. Excluding items, EPS was 97c, beating the 95c analysts expected. Shares rose 1%.

 
AIRLINES POST STRONG PROFITS; OUTLOOKS BULLISH

Several U.S. airlines posted stronger 3Q profits and expressed bullish sentiments for the fourth quarter, based on falling fuel prices, strong holiday bookings, domestic capacity discipline and a slight easing of Ebola jitters.

 
CATERPILLAR'S RESULTS STRONG; RAISES OUTLOOK

Caterpillar posted stronger-than-expected results for its 3Q and raised its profit outlook for the year. Caterpillar posted a profit of $1.02 billion, or $1.63 a share, on revenue of $13.55 billion. Shares rise 5%.

 
3M PROFIT INCREASES ON STRONG SALES GROWTH

3M posted a profit of $1.3 billion, or $1.98 a share, driven by sales growth of items including water purification systems and industrial adhesives and tapes. Revenue increased 2.8% to $8.14 billion.

 
U.S. JOBLESS CLAIMS REMAIN NEAR 14-YEAR LOWS

Initial claims for unemployment benefits increased to a seasonally adjusted 283,000 in the week ended Oct. 18, but remained near fourteen-year lows. That was slightly above the 282,000 claims forecast by economists.

 
APPLE, GT ADVANCED AGREE ON SAPPHIRE MATERIALS

GT Advanced Technologies and Apple announced they reached an agreement on terms for the wind-down of sapphire materials production in GT's Mesa, Ariz. and Salem, Mass. locations.

 
AUDI RECALLS 850,000 A4S FOR AIR-BAG FIX

Audi has issued a world-wide recall of 850,000 Audi A4 sedans, urging their owners to bring their cars in to repair a software glitch that can prevent the air bags from opening in a collision.

 
COKE REPLACES MARKETING CHIEF

Coca-Cola is replacing its chief marketing officer with a veteran company insider, the latest bid by the world's largest beverage maker to revive flagging sales. Shares rose 1%.

 
COMCAST PROFIT RISES 50%

Comcast's 3Q profit rose 50% to $2.59 billion, or 99c a share, as it benefited from a one-time income-tax adjustment and a boost in earnings at its NBCUniversal entertainment arm. Revenue increased 4% to $16.79 billion.

 
ISLAMIC STATE RECAPTURES HILL NEAR KOBANI

Islamic State fighters recaptured a critical hill near the besieged city of Kobani, dealing a blow to Syrian Kurdish forces in what has been a seesaw battle for small patches of territory in and around the northern Syrian city.

 
 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
Heard on the Street 
EUROZONE PMI: PRICE MOVES IMPORTANT

As ever with Europe, there is good news, and there is bad news. The good news is that eurozone growth isn't collapsing. The bad news is that the prospects for inflation to rise seem distant, writes Richard Barley.

 
BOJ Watch 
BOJ SEES BIGGER CHANCE OF INFLATION SLIPPING

The Bank of Japan now sees a much bigger possibility of inflation slipping below 1%, pushed down by falling crude oil prices, a development that could rekindle market speculation for additional easing.