*Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc: JP Morgan cuts target price to $83. *National Oilwell Varco Inc: JP Morgan cuts price target to $85 from. *Dresser-Rand Group Inc: JP Morgan cuts target price to $61 from $62;.
April 29- Ensco Plc, owner of the world's second-largest offshore drilling fleet, reported a larger-than-expected 20 percent rise in quarterly profit, helped by the deployment of new rigs over the past year. Net profit rose to $317 million, or $1.36 per share, from $265 million, or $1.20 per share, a year earlier.
April 29- Ensco Plc, owner of the world's second-largest offshore drilling fleet, reported a 20 percent rise in quarterly profit, helped by the deployment of new rigs over the past year. First-quarter net profit rose to $317 million, or $1.36 per share, from $265 million, or $1.20 per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 13 percent to $1.15 billion.
April 29- Hotel, energy and financial services conglomerate Loews Corp reported a 34 percent drop in first-quarter profit due to higher impairment charges and a sharp fall in investment income.
April 29- Hotel, energy and financial services conglomerate Loews Corp reported a 34 percent fall in quarterly profit due to lower revenue from its offshore rig contracting unit Diamond Offshore and a drop in investment income.
April 26- Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc:. *Susqueganna raises price target to $77 from $75; rating neutral. Reuters Station users, click. 1568.
Stocks rose, boosted by gains in shares of materials companies, including iron ore producer Cliffs Natural Resources, and by a drop in weekly jobless claims. **IMPERIAL OIL LTD, $39.78, up 1.6 pct.
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.
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.
**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.
April 25- DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING INC:. *Diamond offshore declares special cash dividend of $0.75 per share. *Source text for Eikon* Further company coverage.
April 25- Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc, one of the world's top five offshore rig contractors, reported a 4 percent fall in first-quarter profit. Net income fell to $176 million, or $1.27 per share, from $185.2 million, or $1.33 per share, a year earlier. Total revenue fell 5 percent to $729.7 million.
*4th- qtr earnings $1.12 per share vs $1.36 year earlier. The company, controlled by hotels, energy and financial services conglomerate Loews Corp, which reported stronger-than-expected quarterly profit, also said it had won a three-year $439 million contract from Royal Dutch Shell Plc for work in the North Sea.
*4th- qtr earnings $1.12 per share vs $1.36 year earlier. Feb 5- Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc, the world's fourth-biggest offshore driller by market value, reported a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit as contract drilling expenses fell.