TOP STORIES 
 
U.S. GDP EXPANDS AT 3.5% RATE

U.S. GDP advanced at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.5% in 3Q, a sign of sustained growth fueled by American consumers and businesses despite mounting concerns about the health of overseas economies.

 
U.S. STOCKS TRADE MIXED

U.S. stocks traded mixed after a stronger-than-expected reading on 3Q GDP. The data came a day after the Fed announced the end of its bond-buying program and brightened its economic outlook.

 
WAL-MART WEIGHS MATCHING ONLINE PRICES

Wal-Mart Stores is testing a program to match online prices from rivals like Amazon.com this holiday season, a move that could make the discounter more competitive but also cut into profits.

 
TIME WARNER CABLE PROFIT DROPS AS SUBSCRIPTIONS WANE

Time Warner Cable, still awaiting regulatory approval for its deal to be bought by larger peer Comcast, said its 3Q profit fell 6% to $499 million, missing Wall Street expectations as the company lost subscribers.

 
CARDINAL HEALTH'S REVENUE EDGES LOWER

Cardinal Health said its revenue edged down 2% to $24.07 billion in its fiscal 1Q, hurt by the expiration of its contract with Walgreen. Overall, the company posted a profit of $266 million.

 
EUROZONE CONFIDENCE REVIVES, POINTS TO GROWTH

Businesses and consumers across the 18 countries that share the euro were slightly more upbeat about their prospects in October, a sign that the eurozone economy is unlikely to slide back into contraction.

 
KELLOGG SALES CONTINUE TO DECLINE

Kellogg reported a profit of $224 million, or 62 cents a share, as sales fell 2.1% in the latest quarter on declines at the cereal maker's morning foods and snack businesses.

 
BAD LOANS RISE AT CHINA'S BIGGEST BANKS

Sour loans on the books of China's biggest banks have risen 22% since the start of the year, as slowing economic growth and overcapacity in a number of industries take an increasing toll on the financial sector.

 
CONOCOPHILLIPS'S EARNINGS RISE ON HIGHER PRODUCTION

ConocoPhillips said its 3Q earnings grew 9% to $2.7 billion on increased oil and gas production, despite a drop in selling prices. For the full year, ConocoPhillips reaffirmed its outlook for 3% to 5% volume growth.

 
BARCLAYS TAKES $800M PROVISION RELATED TO FOREX PROBES

Barclays reported a fresh legal provision related to investigations into the alleged manipulation of the foreign-exchange market, weighing down what was otherwise a brighter quarterly performance.

 
CIGNA RAISES OUTLOOK AS RESULTS EXCEED EXPECTATIONS

Cigna's 2Q profit fell to $534 million, even as total operating revenue, which includes net investment income and mail-order pharmacy revenue, improved 8.7% to $8.73 billion. The firm again raised its guidance.

 
 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
The Wall Street Journal 
U.S. BOOM CAN STAND FURTHER FALL IN OIL PRICES

Oil prices would need to fall at least another $20 a barrel to choke off the U.S. energy boom, industry experts say, though some smaller American producers would face serious problems from a more modest decline.

 
Grand Central 
YELLEN SURPRISES WITH WILLINGNESS TO DISPLEASE DOVES

After Wednesday's policy decision, Janet Yellen has now run six policy meetings and experienced five dissents at those meetings. Sign up here for The Wall Street Journal's daily report on global central banks.