Genentech Inc. and partner Biogen Idec Inc. said Wednesday the Food and Drug Administration is withholding a decision to expand approval of Rituxan as a leukemia treatment, pending further discussion.

Stocks retreated Tuesday after several earnings reports beat expectations but economic numbers missed their targets.  The Dow shed more than 50 points, or 0.5 percent, but still held above 10,000. The S&P and Nasdaq each lost about 0.6 percent.

Stocks retreated Tuesday after several earnings reports beat expectations but economic numbers missed their targets.  Apple and Caterpillar surged after their earnings blew past forecasts.

Futures were poised for a modestly higher open on the strength of more earnings surprises from some of Wall Street's leading companies.

A bitter Congressional fight over the cost of superexpensive biotechnology drugs has come down to a single, hotly debated number: How many years should makers of those drugs be exempt from generic competition?