Earnings And Economic Data Roundup

Google Doesn’t Disappoint; Jobless Claims Drop but Remain High; Peabody’s Third Quarter Lights Out; Nucor Profit Doubles; Nokia’s Profit Dip; AMD Narrows Loss; Hershey’s Sweet Surprise; Citi’s Consumer Credit Woes

• Google Inc. (GOOG) said yesterday (Thursday) that profit climbed 26% to $1.35 billion, or $4.24 per share in the third quarter, up from $1.07 billion, or $3.38 per share, at the same time last year. Revenue soared 31% to $5.54 billion.

• Initial claims for unemployment insurance last week fell 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted level of 461,000 the Labor Department reported yesterday (Thursday). However, the four-week average, which is less volatile, increased slightly to 483,250 - a seven-year high. The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits rose 40,000 to 3.7 million.

• Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU), the St. Louis-based company that fuels about one-tenth of all U.S. electricity generation and more than 2% worldwide reported net income of $369 million, or $1.36 cents per share, in the third quarter. That compares with $32.3 million, or 12 cents per share, a year ago.

• Nucor Corp.’s (NUE) third-quarter profit nearly doubled, the Charlotte, N.C.-based steelmaker said yesterday (Thursday). The company reported profit of $734.6 million, or $2.31 per share, compared to $381.2 million, or $1.29 per share, in 2007. Quarterly sales jumped 75 percent to a record $7.45 billion.

• Nokia Corp. (NOK) announced yesterday (Thursday) that third quarter net profit dropped to $2.7 billion (1.09 billion euros) from 1.56 billion euros a year earlier. Net sales for the Finland-based cell phone maker declined 5% to $16.6 billion (12.2 billion euros) from 12.9 billion euros, BusinessWeek reported.

• Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) yesterday (Thursday) announced a third quarter loss of $67 million, or 11 cents per share. For the same period the year prior, the memory-chip maker lost $396 million, or 71 cents per share, MarketWatch reported.

• The Hershey Co. (HSY) yesterday (Thursday) announced that its third quarter profit was $124.5 million, or 54 cents per share, up from $62.8 million, or 28 cents per share, in the third quarter of 2007. The domestic candy maker’s revenue increased 6.4% to $1.49 billion due to 25% price increases to help offset higher raw ingredient costs, The Wall Street Journal reported.

• Citigroup Inc. (C) yesterday (Thursday) announced a $2.8 billion loss for the third quarter. North American credit-card loan charge offs increased by $311 million in the quarter, reflecting slower payment rates, higher bankruptcies, rising unemployment and lower recoveries on bad debt, Citigroup Chief Financial Officer Crittenden said on a conference call, Bloomberg News reported. Citi shares lost 33 cents each, or 2.03%, to close at $15.90.

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