3M Co. said Thursday it acquired Polyfoam Products Inc., which makes foam adhesives for tile roofing.

Shares of heavy machinery companies could see increased activity Wednesday as the government releases data expected to show demand for big-ticket manufactured goods grew slightly in July, after a big jump the previous month.

Stocks ended sharply lower Thursday as the market got a triple whammy: Oil resumed its ascent, major earnings reports sparked a fresh wave of concern about corporate profits and home sales hit a 10-year low. All three major indexes lost at least  2 percent.

Stocks declined as oil resumed its ascent and investors braced for the next batch of corporate earnings.  A drop in home sales and a jump in jobless claims above the key 400,000 mark added some pressure.

Stocks declined as oil resumed its ascent and investors braced for the next batch of corporate earnings.  A drop in home sales and a jump in jobless claims above the key 400,000 mark added some pressure.

Stocks declined as oil resumed its ascent and investors braced for the next batch of corporate earnings.  A drop in home sales and a jump in jobless claims above the key 400,000 mark added some pressure.

See what Beijing is doing to tackle its air pollution problems and listen to a CEO's comments on New York's real estate business. Following are today's top videos:

This week, with quarterly losses expected from Wachovia  and Washington Mutual due to defaulting mortgages, the market will also get data on existing home sales and new home sales.

Stocks turned higher Thursday afternoon as the dollar strengthened against the euro, pushing the Dow to its highest level since January. Ford jumped as investors cheered a profit from a U.S. auto maker. Shares of 3M skidded.

Stocks turned higher Thursday afternoon as the dollar strengthened against the euro, pushing the Dow to its highest level since January. Ford jumped as investors cheered a profit from a U.S. auto maker. Shares of 3M skidded.

3M, a diversified manufacturer whose products include Scotch tape and Post-It notes, reported better-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday as strong international sales more than offset economic weakness in the United States.

Futures pared losses Thursday as upbeat economic reports helped offset disappointment in a pair of earnings reports from the tech sector.

Jason Trennert expects a short-run rally -- but he's also warning investors that it won't last. The chief investment strategist of Strategas Research Partners calls it a "Michael Jordan head-fake." He compiled two lists of companies for investors to consider: the "Thrifty 50" versus the "Iffy 50."