TOP STORIES 
 
EXXON MOBIL POSTS SMALLEST PROFIT SINCE 1999 MERGER 

Exxon Mobil, the largest U.S. oil company, reported its smallest quarterly profit since 1999, a 63% plunge from a year ago, as oil prices remain depressed.

CHEVRON REPORTS WIDER-THAN-EXPECTED LOSS 

Chevron reported a wider-than-expected loss amid lower oil prices and the stronger dollar.

U.S. STOCK FUTURES SLIP 

U.S. stock futures were lower Friday on the last trading day of the month, following yesterday's late-day selloff in tech shares.

EMPLOYMENT COSTS IMPROVE AT MODEST RATE IN FIRST QUARTER 

Employers' personnel costs rose modestly during the first quarter, but broader trends show Americans aren't seeing larger raises.

U.S. INFLATION READING ADVANCES ONLY MODESTLY IN MARCH 

Inflation remained modest in March, a sign that pricing pressures are in check amid slow growth in the U.S. and overseas, and low oil prices.

VALEANT FILES OVERDUE ANNUAL REPORT, MAKES SWEEPING BOARD CHANGES 

Valeant filed its overdue annual report, resolving the looming danger of debt default and at revealing a number of new investigations into its business practices. It also outlined sweeping board changes as it seeks to change its tone at the top of the company.

PANDORA MEDIA LOSS WIDENS DESPITE AD SALES BOOST 

Web-radio-service Pandora Media Inc. on Thursday said its loss widened in the latest quarter although advertising sales climbed 23% allowing the company to raise its revenue guidance for the year.

ROVI TO BUY TIVO IN $1.1 BILLION DEAL 

Rovi Corp. said it would acquire TiVo Inc. for about $1.1 billion, a tie-up that comes as consumers are increasingly changing how they watch videos.

ITALIAN BACKSTOP FUND FOR BANKS RAISES NEARLY $5 BILLION 

Italy's backstop fund for banks, Atlante, has raised $4.80 billion from 67 Italian and international intuitions, the company managing it said.

PHILLIPS 66 RESULTS HURT BY LOW ENERGY PRICES 

Phillips 66 on Friday reported its profit dropped 61% in the first quarter as low commodity prices continued to drag on the energy giant's results.

CANADA GDP DECLINES IN FEBRUARY 

Canada's economic output shrank in February for the first time in five months, led by declines in wholesale trade and manufacturing, and tempering the recent string of encouraging economic data.

SHIRE POSTS FIRST-QUARTER PROFIT, REVENUE GROWTH 

Shire, the Dublin-based drugmaker, said profit and revenue climbed in the first quarter, thanks to strong sales of several rare disease medicines and its blockbuster pill for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

CBOE REPORTS HIGHER EARNINGS, REVENUE THANKS TO TRADING SHIFT 

CBOE Holdings said increased transaction fees pushed earnings and revenue higher, thanks to a shift in trading volume toward higher-margin contracts.

MOODY'S RESULTS HURT BY DECLINE IN BOND ISSUANCE 

Moody's Corp. on Friday slashed its guidance for the year and reported profit plummeted 20% as a decline in global bond issuance dented results in the most recent quarter.

AMC ENTERTAINMENT PROFIT CLIMBS 

AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc., in the midst of a deal to merge with Carmike Cinemas Inc., reported better-than-expected profit in the latest quarter as revenue rose sharply.

LEGG MASON SWINGS TO A LOSS, HURT BY VOLATILE MARKETS 

Legg Mason swung to a loss in its most recent quarter, the latest asset manager to report results bruised by volatile markets.

TRANSCANADA FIRST-QUARTER PROFIT FALLS 35% 

TransCanada Corp. on Friday said its first-quarter profit fell 35%, hurt in part by one-time costs related to its decision to cancel coal-power purchase deals in its home province of Alberta.

FED'S KAPLAN SAYS HE 'WILL ADVOCATE' RAISING RATES 

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan said Friday he will push for increases in short-term interest rates as the central bank nears its twin employment and inflation goals.

EUROZONE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PICKS UP 

Economic growth in the euro currency zone gathered pace in the first three months of the year, supporting a faster decline in the jobless rate, but without dispelling doubts about a slow overall recovery that has left the eurozone with persistently weak inflation and high debts.

BANK OF RUSSIA HOLDS INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED 

The Bank of Russia held interest rates unchanged and hinted it may cut borrowing costs in the near future if inflationary risks subside further.

 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
Election 2016 
TRUMP RALLY IN CALIFORNIA DRAWS SUPPORTERS, PROTESTERS 
 

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump made an appearance at a California at rally, drawing huge crowds of supporters and protesters.

 
Business 
OIL COMPANIES BEGIN TO BENEFIT FROM COST CUTS 
 

Big cost cuts in areas like staffing levels and exploration budgets helped some of Europe's biggest energy companies generate results that were an improvement on the past quarter.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 29, 2016 10:00 ET (14:00 GMT)

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