Alcoa Inc. plans to invest more than $110 million at its Cleveland plant in part to refurbish a forging press used in the production of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter plane.

U.S. companies hurt by the global credit crisis are continuing to hold more cash, even as the economy begins to show signs of improvement, the Wall Street Journal said, citing its analysis of company filings.

(Reuters) - U.S. companies hurt by the global credit crisis are continuing to hold more cash, even as the economy begins to show signs of improvement, the Wall Street Journal said, citing its analysis of company filings.

Among the stock activity stories for Thursday, Oct. 29, from AP Financial News:

Shares of Alcoa Inc. gained 9 percent on Thursday after the company said it was working with China on the development of a commercial jetliner that would compete in the international aviation market.

Alcoa Inc. said Thursday it is working with China on the development of the country's newest and biggest commercial jetliner.

Investors have bid up General Electric shares to almost triple their March lows but the largest U.S. conglomerate will have to deliver solid quarterly results for them to rise much further.

Stocks rebounded Thursday after jobless claims beat and Alcoa kicked off the earnings season with exactly what analysts wanted to see: revenue growth.

Stocks rebounded Thursday after jobless claims beat and Alcoa kicked off the earnings season with exactly what analysts wanted to see: revenue growth.

Stocks rebounded Thursday after jobless claims beat and Alcoa kicked off the earnings season with exactly what analysts wanted to see: revenue growth.

Painful cost-cutting and rising sales to automakers helped the nation's largest aluminum producer return to profitability for the first time in nine months.

Stocks appear set to resume this week's rally, after a Wednesday pause that saw the major averages move barely at all. The fresh round of optimism is being sparked by the unexpected profit from Dow component Alcoa, which kicked off third quarter earnings season on an upbeat note.

Alcoa beat the Street Wednesday when it reported a third-quarter profit after three consecutive quarterly losses, turning in a revenue number that also topped expectations. CNBC's Maria Bartiromo spoke with Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld after the announcement.

Third-quarter earnings got off to a positive start with Alcoa's surprising profit, but investors will be watching corporate results closely to see if they justify a continued stock market rally.