UPS POSTS 3Q GAINS, SEES 11% JUMP IN DECEMBER SHIPMENTS

UPS's revenue rose 5.7% to $14.29 billion in the latest quarter, helped by higher daily package volumes and strength overseas. It posted a profit of $1.21 billion, or $1.32 a share. Results beat expectations, and shares rose 1% premarket.

FORD PROFIT FALLS AS PRODUCTION SLIPS IN N. AMERICA

Ford's 3Q net income fell to $835 million from $1.27 billion a year ago as lower production, and warranty and recall costs led to lower profits in North America, and losses in Europe hurt results. Ford's results were a bit better than analysts expected.

P&G TO EXIT DURACELL BATTERY OPERATIONS

Procter & Gamble reported fiscal 1Q profit of $1.99 billion as sales edged down to $20.79 billion. The company also said its plans to exit its Duracell battery business and will likely split the operation off into a separate company.

SHIRE RAISES EARNINGS GUIDANCE AFTER RECORD SALES GROWTH

Shire raised its earnings guidance again after delivering record sales growth, demonstrating the attractive prospects of the Dublin-based drug maker after AbbVie pulled out of a $54 billion takeover of the company last week.

BRISTOL-MYERS SALES, PROFIT BEAT ESTIMATES

Bristol-Myers Squibb's 3Q profit rose to $721 million. Revenue decreased 4% to $3.92 billion, but the fall was less than expected by analysts. The company also affirmed its earnings outlook for the year.

MOODY'S REVENUE RISES 16%

Moody's said its revenue jumped 16% to $816.1 million in the latest quarter, driven by strong gains in debt-rating and analytics. Results sharply outpaced analysts' expectations. It posted earnings of $215.2 million, or $1 a share.

NASDAQ PROFIT CLIMBS 8.9%

Nasdaq said its earnings rose 8.9% to $123 million, or 71c a share, as the firm's focus on expense control helped offset the effect of foreign exchange pressures. Profit beat analysts' expectations.

CHIQUITA TO VOTE ON FYFFES DEAL FRIDAY

Chiquita Brands International Inc. said it plans to continue with its scheduled shareholder meeting Friday to vote on its deal with Irish food company Fyffes PLC, despite a raised offer from Cutrale-Safra.

ERICSSON'S REVENUES BEAT VIEWS

Ericsson's revenue grew more than expected in the third quarter, but uncertainty about North American operators' mobile network spending threw a wet blanket over the Swedish company's earnings.

BASF LOWERS 2015 FORECAST

Germany's BASF lowered its outlook for 2015 and reported a 4.8% decline in third-quarter profit, hurt by the slowing global economy and weaker demand in Europe.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE EARNINGS FALL AS FOREIGN EXCHANGE WEIGHS

Colgate-Palmolive said its 3Q earnings fell 17% to $542 million, warning that deteriorating foreign exchange rates are weighing on its results. Net sales edged down 0.5% to $4.38 billion.

GERMAN AUTO SUPPLIER HELLA EYES $5B IPO

Hella KGaA Hueck & Co is preparing to list its shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange later this year in an initial public offering that could value the family-run company at EUR4 billion ($5.06 billion).

SWISS RAID BANK OFFICES IN GERMAN TAX PROBE

Swiss authorities raided the offices of Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG in connection with a German tax probe, an official from the Zurich Public Prosecutor's Office said.

BANKIA BOOSTED BY LOWER BAD LOAN PROVISIONS

Bankia said 3Q net profit rose compared to a year earlier as Spain's largest nationalized bank reported lower costs and fewer provisions to cover soured loans.

PENSION FIRMS ACCUSE EIOPA OF OVER-REACHING AUTHORITY

Europe's pensions industry has accused its European Union regulator of overreaching its authority by pursuing plans to develop what amounts to a new and onerous capital regime that could hurt their investing decisions.

VOLVO TO CUT COSTS AS NET PROFIT RISES

Swedish commercial vehicle maker Volvo said it will cut costs further while it reported an increase in third-quarter net profit as good momentum in North America and Japan offset slow development in emerging markets.