Applied Materials Inc. said Thursday it has launched its $364 million tender offer to buy all the outstanding shares of Montana-based Semitool Inc.

Nine chief executives and chairmen from around the world have signed up for an exclusive CNBC initiative, "The Carbon Council", aimed at identifying opportunities in clean technology and the larger business of sustainability. 

Stocks struggled Thursday as investors juggled a weak holiday outlook from Wal-Mart and a drop in jobless claims. Techs clawed higher, with huge gains in JDS Uniphase and AMD.

Stocks struggled Thursday as investors juggled a weak holiday outlook from Wal-Mart and a drop in jobless claims. Techs clawed higher, with huge gains in JDS Uniphase and AMD.

Stocks wobbled Thursday as investors juggled a weak holiday outlook from Wal-Mart and a drop in jobless claims. Techs clawed higher after some big news out of the sector.

U.S. futures remained slightly lower ahead of the open Thursday after Wal-Mart posted a 1.1 percent rise in third-quarter U.S. sales, compared to the same quarter last year, and U.S. mortgage applications pushed higher last week. 

Applied Materials shares rose in after-hours trading after the company reported earnings and revenue that beat analysts' expectations, and said it planned to cut jobs globally.

The Dow rose for a sixth straight session Wednesday as the dollar hit a new 15-month low after Fed comments and strong Chinese economic data. Financial, material and IT stocks were the biggest gainers.

Stocks opened higher Wednesday as the dollar fell to its lowest level in 15 months and economic data out of China was strong.

Stock index futures pointed to another higher open on Wall Street Wednesday as the dollar hit a new 15-month low after Federal Reserve officials reinforced the view that rates will remain low for some time.

What follows is a roundup of corporate earnings reports for Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The drive for Dow 10,000 hit a bump in the road Monday as investors took a breather, sending stocks down more than half a percent at the open. Stocks remained lower after a report showed leading indicators rose for a fifth straight month.

The drive for Dow 10,000 hit a bump in the road Monday as investors took a breather, sending stocks down more than half a percent at the open. Stocks remained lower after a report showed leading indicators rose for a fifth straight month.

The drive for Dow 10,000 hit a bump in the road Monday as investors took a breather, sending stocks down more than half a percent at the open. Stocks remained lower after a report showed leading indicators rose for a fifth straight month.

The drive for Dow 10,000 may experience an interruption Monday, if U.S. stock index futures are any indication. Any selloff notwithstanding, the Dow is within 180 points of the 10,000 mark after its best weekly gain in nearly two months.