Stocks edged higher on Thursday, as investors digested a raft of earnings and a drop in initial jobless claims, though declines in Dow components ExxonMobil and 3 M Co capped the advance. **IMPERIAL OIL LTD, $39.36, up 0.6 pct.
ConocoPhillips reported lower quarterly earnings on Thursday as oil and natural gas production edged down along with crude prices. **COLGATE-PALMOLIVE CO, Wednesday close $117.90. Colgate-Palmolive Co posted lower quarterly profit on Thursday as sales grew but the recent devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar led to a hefty charge.
Stocks edged higher on Thursday, as investors digested a raft of earnings and a drop in initial jobless claims, though declines in Dow components ExxonMobil and 3 M Co capped the advance. **IMPERIAL OIL LTD, $39.36, up 0.6 pct.
Stocks were poised for a higher open on Thursday, as investors dealt with a raft of earnings, including those of 3 M Co and ExxonMobil, with added support from a drop in initial jobless claims. **EXXON MOBIL CORP, Wednesday close $89.43. ConocoPhillips reported lower quarterly earnings on Thursday as oil and natural gas production edged down along with crude prices.
U.S. stock index futures were higher Thursday, lifted by a batch of better-than-expected earnings and after an upbeat jobless claims report.
April 25- Bristol-Myers Squibb's first-quarter earnings plunged 45 percent on generic competition for its drugs, but surprisingly low taxes enabled the company to meet Wall Street's forecast. The company said on Thursday that it earned $609 million, or 37 cents per share, compared with $1.1 billion, or 64 cents per share, a year earlier.
April 25- Bristol-Myers Squibb's first-quarter earnings plunged 45 percent on generic competition for its drugs, but surprisingly low taxes enabled the company to meet Wall Street's forecast. The company said on Thursday that it earned $609 million, or 37 cents per share, compared with $1.1 billion, or 64 cents per share, a year earlier.
ConocoPhillips reported lower quarterly earnings on Thursday as oil and natural gas production edged down along with crude prices. **COLGATE-PALMOLIVE CO, Wednesday close $117.90. Colgate-Palmolive Co posted lower quarterly profit on Thursday as sales grew but the recent devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar led to a hefty charge.
April 25- Bristol-Myers Squibb Co reported lower first-quarter earnings, in line with forecasts, thanks to unexpectedly lower taxes and sharply higher sales of its treatments for melanoma, leukemia and diabetes. Wall Street had been expecting a tax rate in about the 15 percent range.
April 25- Bristol-Myers Squibb Co reported lower first-quarter earnings, in line with forecasts, thanks to unexpectedly lower taxes and sharply higher sales of its treatments for melanoma, leukemia and diabetes. Wall Street had been expecting a tax rate in about the 15 percent range.
April 25- Bristol-Myers Squibb Co reported lower first-quarter earnings, in line with forecasts, thanks to unexpectedly lower taxes and sharply higher sales of its treatments for melanoma, leukemia and diabetes. The company on Thursday said it earned $609 million, or 37 cents per share, in the quarter.
April 25- Bristol-Myers Squibb Co reported lower first-quarter earnings, in line with forecasts, thanks to unexpectedly lower taxes and sharply higher sales of its treatments for melanoma, leukemia and diabetes. The company on Thursday said it earned $609 million, or 37 cents per share, in the quarter.
**COLGATE-PALMOLIVE CO, Wednesday close $117.90. Colgate-Palmolive Co posted lower quarterly profit on Thursday as sales grew but the recent devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar led to a hefty charge. Net income rose to $550 million, or 46 cents per share, in the first quarter from $412 million, or 35 cents per share, a year earlier.
*Verizon looking at bid for Verizon Wireless- sources. NEW YORK, April 25- U.S. stock index futures advanced on Thursday, ahead of a raft of earnings, including those of ExxonMobil and 3 M Co, along with data on the labor market.
*Verizon Communications Inc will be in focus after sources said it has hired advisers to prepare a possible $100 billion cash and stock bid to take full control of Verizon Wireless from joint venture partner Vodafone Group Plc.
April 25- Bristol-Myers Squibb reported disappointing first-quarter sales, prompting a drop in shares that have risen sharply this year on enthusiasm for its lineup of promising experimental drugs.
April 25- Bristol-Myers Squibb reported disappointing first-quarter sales, prompting a drop in shares that have risen sharply this year on enthusiasm for its lineup of promising experimental drugs.