NEW YORK-- A Morgan Stanley analyst started coverage of Harley-Davidson with an "Overweight" rating on Monday, saying that the motorcycle company has managed to transform its business so that its production matches demand better.
*Morgan Stanley starts with overweight- Benzinga.com. Reuters Station users, click. 1568. Reuters Station users, click. 4899 (; ().
*JP Morgan raises price target to $62 from $59; rating overweight. Reuters Station users, click. 1568. Reuters Station users, click. 4899.
April 25- Harley-Davidson Inc sounded an upbeat note about the state of the global consumer on Thursday with a 34 percent increase in quarterly profit and a big jump in shipments of its iconic motorcycles ahead of the traditional spring selling season.
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 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.
April 25- Harley-Davidson Inc reported profits on Thursday that were in line with expectations and kept its full-year shipment forecast unchanged as its five-year-long restructuring effort continued to boost its financial performance.
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.
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- Harley-Davidson Inc reported a sharply higher profit on Thursday, in line with expectations even as sales to several key markets showed signs of weakness, and kept its full-year shipment forecast unchanged.
April 25- Harley-Davidson Inc reported a sharply higher profit on Thursday, in line with expectations even as sales to several key markets showed signs of weakness, and kept its full-year shipment forecast unchanged.
**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.