Telecommunications, consumer goods, banking and the drinks business have quarterly earnings in common, as a flurry of companies, such as Deutsche Telekom, Unilever, UniCredit and Diageo all reported results Thursday.

Stocks finished slightly lower Wednesday as another rate cut and no indication from the Federal Reserve that it plans to stop anytime soon killed an earlier rally.

Stocks advanced Wednesday after a slightly better-than-expected report on economic growth. General Motors shares jumped after the auto maker posted a smaller-than-expected loss.

Stocks advanced Wednesday after a slightly better-than-expected report on economic growth. General Motors shares jumped after the auto maker posted a smaller-than-expected loss.

Procter & Gamble Wednesday posted higher quarterly profit as cost controls helped offset soaring prices for oil and other commodities.

Colgate-Palmolive posted higher quarterly profit before one-time items on Wednesday, boosted by strong sales outside the United States and higher prices that helped offset soaring commodity costs.

Procter & Gamble Wednesday posted higher quarterly profit as cost controls helped offset soaring prices for oil and other commodities.

Stocks advanced Wednesday after a slightly better-than-expected report on economic growth. General Motors shares jumped after the auto maker posted a smaller-than-expected loss.

Europe kicked off the week with mixed earnings Monday, with Spanish bank BBVA matching estimates, but Dutch logistics group TNT falling short of expectations.

Niche companies, such as alternative energy or unconventional products, are becoming more attractive as stock markets volatility continues, Alexis Dawance, fund manager at Global-Cap, told CNBC Europe.

The economic news was hardly encouraging. Yet somehow, investors managed to look beyond the headlines and buy stocks.

Down times are signals of opportunity, a chance to capitalize on the irrational panic of headline-sensitive chicken-hearts.

U.S. office goods supplier Staples proposed a 7.25 euros per share cash offer for Dutch peer Corporate Express, valuing it at around 2.5 billion euros ($3.7 billion) and sending its shares soaring.

Hasbro posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit Monday, boosted by strong demand for its Transformers, Nerf and Furreal Friends product lines, helping to send shares up as much as 4 percent.

A new WHO report does not single out tobacco companies by name, but anti-tobacco groups have sounded the alarm about aggressive expansion in emerging markets by cigarette makers like Altria's Philip Morris International unit, which is set to be spun off as an independent company in March.