stocks Clearwire Corp

*Deal could lead to Sprint buying Clearwire- analysts. *Sprint, Clearwire soar in afternoon trade; MetroPCS down. The Japanese company might also be aiming to use Sprint as a vehicle to make a run at smaller Sprint peer MetroPCS Communications Inc, a two-step transaction that would potentially cost more than 2 trillion yen, according to a Nikkei report.

*Sprint volume surges, shares jump on Softbank deal reports. Traders have been bearish recently, with the S&P 500 down 2 percent in the last five sessions in anticipation of a weak earnings season. AT&T and Verizon also weighed after news that Japan's Softbank may buy a majority stake in their competitor, Sprint Nextel.

NEW YORK, Oct 11- U.S. stocks ended little changed on Thursday as gains brought by a sign of improvement in the labor market were capped by a drop in Apple shares after a legal setback in a court ruling. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 2.40 points, or 0.08 percent, at 3,049.38. ( (For multimedia versions of Reuters Top News: 3000 Xtra: visit BridgeStation: view story. 134==============================================================.

*Sprint, Clearwire soar in afternoon trade; MetroPCS flat. TOKYO/ NEW YORK, Oct 11- Japanese mobile carrier Softbank Corp may buy a majority stake in Sprint Nextel Corp to establish a foothold in the U.S. wireless market, in what could be the largest Japanese acquisition ever in America.

*Apple shares fall 1.4 percent after setback in Samsung case. *Sprint volume surges, shares jump on Softbank deal reports. NEW YORK, Oct 11- U.S. stocks erased most gains and were little changed on Thursday as a drop in Apple shares after a legal ruling dented broad market gains on a sign of improvement in the jobs market.

*Sprint, Clearwire soar in afternoon trade, MetroPCS sinks. TOKYO/ NEW YORK, Oct 11- Japanese mobile carrier Softbank Corp may buy a majority stake in Sprint Nextel Corp to establish a foothold in the U.S. wireless market, in what could be the largest Japanese acquisition ever in America.

*Sprint, Clearwire soar in early trade, MetroPCS sinks. TOKYO/ NEW YORK, Oct 11- Japanese mobile carrier Softbank Corp and U.S. operator Sprint Nextel Corp. are in talks about a deal that could see Softbank assume control of Sprint.

*Sprint volume surges, shares jump on Softbank deal reports. More than 320 million shares of Sprint Nextel changed hands in U.S. trading by 11:30 a.m. ET, making it the busiest day in the stock's history. Clearwire Corp, in which Sprint holds a majority interest, surged 38 percent to $1.79.

*Sprint, Clearwire soar in early trade, MetroPCS sinks. TOKYO/ NEW YORK, Oct 11- Japanese mobile carrier Softbank Corp is in talks to buy a majority stake in U.S. operator Sprint Nextel Corp for more than 1 trillion yen, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter, adding yet another potential shake-up to the fast-changing U.S. wireless market.

Oct 11- Sprint Nextel Corp confirmed that it is engaged in talks with Japan's Softbank Corp about a potential "substantial investment" in Sprint. This transaction could involve a change of control of Sprint, the company said in a statement. The company does not intend to comment on the matter further unless and until an agreement is reached, it said.

*Sprint, Clearwire soar in early trade, MetroPCS sinks. TOKYO/ NEW YORK, Oct 11- Japanese mobile carrier Softbank Corp is in talks to buy a majority stake in U.S. operator Sprint Nextel Corp for more than 1 trillion yen, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter, adding yet another potential shake-up to the fast-changing U.S. wireless market.

*Sprint jumps on reports of possible Softbank deal. NEW YORK, Oct 11- U.S. stocks advanced on Thursday after data showed initial jobless claims fell to the lowest level in more than four and a half years, suggesting improvement in a key factor for economic growth.

*Sprint jumps on reports of possible Softbank deal. NEW YORK, Oct 11- U.S. stocks were poised for a higher open on Thursday after data showed initial jobless claims fell to the lowest level in more than four and a half years.

*Sprint shares up 16 pct in premarket trade. TOKYO/ NEW YORK, Oct 11- Softbank Corp, Japan's third-largest mobile carrier, is in talks to buy a majority stake in U.S. operator Sprint Nextel Corp for more than 1 trillion yen, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

NEW YORK, Oct 11- Clearwire Corp:.

*Softbank to buy majority in Sprint- source. TOKYO, Oct 11- Softbank Corp, Japan's third-largest mobile carrier, is in talks to buy a majority stake in U.S. operator Sprint Nextel Corp for more than 1 trillion yen, said a source with direct knowledge of the matter, as it seeks to expand overseas.

October 3, versus 14.3% as of August 29- SEC filing.