TOP STORIES 
 
U.S. GROWTH FALTERS AMID CONSUMER, BUSINESS CAUTION 

The U.S. economy stumbled out of the gate in 2016 as consumers and businesses showed renewed signs of caution, underscoring the uneven growth that has been a hallmark of the nearly seven-year expansion, the worst performance in two years.

ABBOTT AGREES TO BUY ST. JUDE IN $25 BILLION DEAL 

Abbott Laboratories agreed to acquire St. Jude Medical in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $25 billion that merges two of the leading makers of heart-related devices.

COMCAST TO BUY DREAMWORKS FOR $3.8 BILLION 

Comcast Corp. on Thursday said it agreed to buy DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. for about $3.8 billion, a deal that could make the cable giant a rival to Walt Disney Co. in the lucrative family-entertainment business.

U.S. STOCKS FALL AFTER BANK OF JAPAN INACTION 

U.S. stocks opened lower after the Bank of Japan left its policy unchanged, disappointing many investors who expected the central bank to launch fresh stimulus measures.

YEN RISES AFTER BANK OF JAPAN KEEPS POLICY UNCHANGED 

The Bank of Japan brushed aside calls for additional stimulus despite new data that showed falling prices, a decision that sent the yen up and Japanese stocks down.

FORD POSTS RECORD RESULTS AS TRUCK REVAMP PAYS OFF 

Ford reaped the benefits of its costly F-150 truck revamp, doubling net income in the first quarter and posting a North American operating margin rivaling those returned by high-end luxury brands.

UPS EARNINGS RISE AS DELIVERIES INCREASE 

United Parcel Service reported better-than-expected earnings in the latest quarter as growth in domestic and international package delivery drove profit.

AETNA TOPS EXPECTATIONS THOUGH MEMBERSHIP FALLS 

Aetna reported its profit fell 6.5% in the first quarter as a key measure of the company's medical costs rose and membership fell.

SANOFI MAKES $9.3 BILLION BID FOR U.S. CANCER-DRUG MAKER 

Sanofi said it has made an all-cash offer to acquire Medivation in a deal valued at $9.3 billion, the French drugmaker's latest effort to expand its cancer-treatment business.

PRICELINE CEO RESIGNS AFTER RELATIONSHIP WITH EMPLOYEE 

Priceline Chief Executive Darren Huston resigned after an internal investigation found that his relationship with a Priceline employee violated the company's code of conduct.

DEUTSCHE BANK PROFIT SINKS BUT BEATS EXPECTATIONS 

Deutsche Bank shares rose after profit beat estimates despite being pressured by difficult market conditions and the impact of the bank's decision to exit certain areas.

BARCLAYS TO SELL ASSETS IN SPAIN, PORTUGAL 

Barclays said it had agreed to sell its Portuguese and Spanish credit card business to local lender Bancopopular-e, the latest move by the British bank to pare down its European presence.

CONOCOPHILLIPS POSTS LOSS, CUTS SPENDING 

ConocoPhillips again reduced its 2016 capital spending plans as low commodities prices continue to take a toll on the energy sector.

POTASH CORP. PROFIT SLUMPS 80%, CUTS GUIDANCE 

Fertilizer giant Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan reported a nearly 80% decline in its first-quarter earnings and lowered its profit outlook for the year as prices and demand for its crop nutrients remain under pressure.

SYMANTEC SLASHES QUARTERLY GUIDANCE; CEO TO STEP DOWN 

Symantec Corp. shares dropped Thursday as the company slashed its guidance and said Chief Executive Michael Brown would step down once it finds a successor.

BURGER KING PARENT RESTAURANT BRANDS PROFIT CLIMBS 

Restaurant Brands International, owner of the Burger King and Tim Hortons chains, beat profit expectations in the quarter as it slashed costs and boosted sales with new products.

CME GROUP PROFITS RISE AS MARKETS STABILIZE 

CME Group said profit climbed in the first quarter as trading volume continued to snap back after a rocky end to 2015. Earnings met analysts' expectations, while revenue fell just short.

ABBVIE TO BUY CANCER-DRUG MAKER FOR $5.8 BILLION 

AbbVie agreed to acquire Stemcentrx in a roughly $5.8 billion cash-and-stock deal that expands its pipeline of cancer treatments.

BOMBARDIER CONFIRMS LARGE DELTA CSERIES ORDER 

Bombardier confirmed a significant order from Delta Air Lines for its new passenger jet, a much-needed boost for the Montreal company's struggling CSeries program, as first-quarter results fell shy of expectations.

TIME WARNER CABLE SEES SUBSCRIBER GAINS 

Time Warner Cable, which is set to merge with Charter Communications following regulatory approval this week, posted better-than-expected profit and revenue on subscriber growth.

 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
Technology 
AMAZON EARNINGS: WHAT TO WATCH 
 

Amazon is expected to report financial results for the first quarter after the close of trading Thursday. Here is what to expect.

 
Technology 
SMARTPHONE MARKET FEELS THE SQUEEZE 
 

Earnings reports this week may toll the bell for the decadelong smartphone bonanza, as makers come to grips with a market whose growth has cooled to a glacial pace-or even reversed-after a torrid decade.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 28, 2016 10:04 ET (14:04 GMT)

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