By Michael Erman and Euan Rocha

Chemical company FMC Corp. said Friday it named Pierre Brondeau as its president and CEO, effective Jan. 1.

Dow Corning Corp. said Thursday it bought a Brazilian silicon metal manufacturer plus a half interest in a West Virginia silicon production facility for about $175 million.

BEIJING (Reuters) - Dow Chemical Co <DOW.N> and Shenhua Group, China's largest coal miner, will reportedly move ahead with their planned $10 billion coal-to-chemical project in Shaanxi province after a delay of at least one year.

Dow Chemical Co. on Tuesday said chief financial officer Geoffery Merszei will leave that post and take on the roles of president of Dow Europe, Middle East and Africa, chairman of Dow Europe and executive vice president of The Dow Chemical Co.

Stocks advanced Thursday as investors seemed to focus more on some big-name earnings beats and a rise in leading indicators instead of a disappointing jobless report. Travelers and MMM led the Dow.

Stocks advanced Thursday as investors seemed to focus more on some big-name earnings beats and a rise in leading indicators instead of a disappointing jobless report.

Stocks slipped Thursday as investors weighed a disappointing jobless-claims report and some encouraging earnings reports.

Earnings continue to come in largely above expectations, but other factors are waylaying the stock market's recent advances - ranging from Walmart's price cuts to analyst Richard Bove's downgrade of Wells Fargo to rising oil prices. 

What follows is a roundup of corporate earnings reports for Thursday, Oct. 22.

Stocks rallied Thursday, logging the highest close since November, despite a late-afternoon pullback.

Stocks rallied Thursday as investors were encouraged by the latest jobless report and round of corporate earnings.

Stocks rallied Thursday as investors were encouraged by the latest jobless report and round of corporate earnings.

Dow Chemical reported a surprise quarterly profit, excluding special items, Thursday and also said that the U.S. economy has bottomed.

Futures indicated a higher open for Wall Street on Thursday as investors were encouraged by the latest jobless report and round of corporate earnings.