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SEATTLE, April 18- Microsoft Corp said on Thursday Chief Financial Officer Peter Klein would leave at the end of June after 3-1/ 2 years in the post, as the world's biggest software company struggles with sharply declining personal computer sales and a lukewarm reception for its new Windows 8 operating system.

Google, the world's largest Internet search engine, said it earned $3.35 billion in net income, or $9.94 per share, in the first three months of the year, versus $2.89 billion, or $8.75 per share, in the first quarter of 2012..

April 18- Verizon Communications Inc posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on the performance of its wireless business, which reined in costs without slowing growth. Verizon also ramped up the pressure on Vodafone Group Plc, which owns 45 percent of the Verizon Wireless unit.

April 18- Seven Mississippi River locks between Muscatine, Iowa, and Saverton, Missouri, were expected to close beginning on Friday as the rain-swollen waterway rises above flood stage, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said on Thursday.

WASHINGTON, April 17- This is the time of year when high school seniors start to calm down and their parents start to get anxious. The interest rates on federal student loans are slated to double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent come July 1, unless Congress acts before then.

April 18- Verizon Communications Inc posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on strength in its wireless operations, and it ramped up pressure on Vodafone Group Plc to sell Verizon its stake in that business.

NEW YORK, April 17- Omega Advisors, one of the biggest shareholders in Sprint Nextel Corp, on Wednesday joined a growing group of investors who say they favor Dish Network Corp's $25.5 billion bid for the company over SoftBank Corp's offer.

April 18- Freeport-McMoRan Copper& Gold Inc's first-quarter profit fell 15 percent, lagging analyst expectations, as higher costs and lower realized copper prices outweighed stronger copper production.

*Adj EPS 61 cents vs Street view 57 cents. April 18- Morgan Stanley reported a stronger-than-expected first-quarter profit of $958 million, compared with a year-earlier loss of $119 million, as its wealth management business grew.

April 18- Verizon Communications Inc posted a higher than expected quarterly profit driven by strength in its wireless business, sending its shares up 2 percent in early trade.

April 18- Morgan Stanley reported a first-quarter profit of $958 million, compared with a year-earlier loss of $119 million, driven by strong growth in its institutional securities business.

April 18- Verizon Communications Inc posted higher quarterly revenue on Thursday, driven by growth in its wireless business. Verizon Wireless, its venture with Vodafone Group Plc, added 677,000 retail subscribers in the quarter, above Wall Street expectations for about 634,000, according to eight analysts contacted by Reuters.

HELSINKI, April 18- Analysts' reactions to Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia's Q1 results. "They are on a right track and we can see a much better year for Nokia smartphones. "I think when Nokia gets to over 10 million of Windows phone 8... volume that will keep Nokia in the game."

HELSINKI, April 18- Analysts' reaction to Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia's Q1 results. MIKAEL RAUTANEN, ANALYST AT INDERES EQUITY RESEARCH. "The group result was a bit better than expected, but the outlook for the second quarter was more important this time, and that was a bit of a disappointment.

HELSINKI, April 18- Nokia's Chief Executive Stephen Elop said tougher competition was the main reason behind the fall in sales of regular mobile phones.

HELSINKI, April 18- A big fall in sales of Nokia's basic phones overshadowed a stronger performance from its Lumia smartphones in the first quarter, and it said it expected operating margins to deteriorate, sending its shares down 11 percent.

April 18- British insurer Aviva PLC will cut as many as 2,000 jobs worldwide in the latest cost-cutting drive aimed at revitalising its flagging fortunes, a source close to the company told Reuters on Thursday.

*Gold to revisit low of $1,321.35- technicals. LONDON, April 18- Gold rallied on Thursday morning in Europe after a volatile Asian session saw prices slide towards two-year lows hit earlier in the week, with strong physical buying set against exits from exchange-traded funds.