| Commentary Stocks May See Early Strength Amid Optimism About Europe - U.S. Commentary Stocks are likely to extend their recent upward move in early trading on Wednesday, as traders continue to express optimism about the European debt crisis. The major index futures are currently pointing to a notably higher open, with the Dow futures up by 107 points. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article    Economic News Japan Core Machine Orders Up 11% In August Core machine orders in Japan surged a seasonally adjusted 11.0 percent in August compared to the previous month, the Cabinet Office said on Wednesday - suggesting that the recovery from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami may be back on track. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article Slovakia Resists Bailout Fund Expansion; Eurozone Rescue In Doubt The Slovak Parliament on Tuesday blocked the expansion of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), potentially hurting Eurozone's rescue from the lingering debt crisis. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article U.K. Unemployment Highest In 17 Years U.K. unemployment increased to the highest level since October 1994 as caution over the economic outlook prompted companies to be more reluctant to increase headcount. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article Eurozone Industrial Output Growth At 9-Month High Eurozone industrial production increased at the fastest pace in nine months in August, contrary to economists' expectations for a decline. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article Earnings News Alcoa Q3 Profit Soars Alcoa Inc. (AA) Tuesday posted a sharp rise in third-quarter profit thanks to "strong" revenue growth in its end markets. Adjusted earnings fell short of the Street view, while revenues exceeded market expectations. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article Infosys Q2 Profit Edges Up; Raises FY EPS View India-based Infosys Technologies Ltd. (INFY, 500209, INFOSYSTCH) reported Tuesday a higher second-quarter profit as the addition of new clients pushed revenues upward. The results beat analysts' estimates. The company also issued its third-quarter guidance, with an earnings estimate above analysts' consensus. Additionally, it revised its full fiscal year guidance, raising the earnings view, but trimming the revenues forecast. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article ASML Holding Q3 Profit Jumps; Reaffirms 2011 Sales Outlook Netherlands-based ASML Holding NV (ASML.AS, ASML) Wednesday said third-quarter profit increased year-over-year on the back of a rise in net system sales. The company also issued its fourth-quarter sales forecast and reaffirmed its 2011 sales guidance. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article Host Hotels & Resorts Q3 FFO Rises; Trims 2011 FFO Outlook Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. (HST) Wednesday posted a jump in third-quarter funds from operations, or FFO, with increases in average room rate and occupancy drove revenues up 14 percent. FFO per share was on par with the market view, but revenues topped. The company also trimmed its full-year FFO per share forecast. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article PepsiCo Q3 Profit Inches Up PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) said Wednesday third-quarter profit went up year-over-year thanks to gains across its snacks and beverages businesses and the acquisition of Russian diary and juice company Wimm-Bill-Dann. Both core earnings and revenues beat the Street view. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article Johnson Controls Reiterates Q4 EPS View Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) Wednesday reported reiterating its fourth-quarter 2011 earnings guidance, with an estimate below analysts' consensus. The company also guided on fourth-quarter revenues, and announced its fiscal 2012 financial forecast. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article Progressive Q3 Profit Slumps The Progressive Corp. (PGR) reported Wednesday a drop in third-quarter profit primarily reflecting a reversal to net realized pretax losses compared to last year's pretax gains and a higher combined ratio. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article Corporate News Sony Locks 93 Thousand Accounts After Fresh Unauthorized Sign-in Attempts Sony Corp. (SNE, SON.L) Wednesday reported discovering a "large" number of unauthorized sign-in attempts on its PlayStation Network and also on the Sony Entertainment Network and Sony Online Entertainment services, consequent to which the company "temporarily locked" 93 thousand accounts. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article Teekay LNG Partners Says JV with Marubeni To Buy 8 LNG Carriers From Maersk Teekay LNG Partners LP (TNG) announced Wednesday that its joint venture with Japan-based Marubeni Corp. (MARUF.PK) agreed to acquire 8 LNG carriers from Danish transportation firm AP Moller-Maersk A/S (MAERSK-A.CO, AMKAF.PK) for a total of approximately $1.40 billion. The transaction is expected to close by early 2012. (Oct 12, 2011) Full Article Broker Ratings Changes RBC Capital Markets Initiates Altera Corp. (ALTR) At Sector Perform With $41 Price Target (Oct 12, 2011) RBC Capital Markets Initiates Sandisk Corp. (SNDK) At Top Pick With $66 Price Target (Oct 12, 2011) RBC Capital Markets Starts Analog Devices (ADI) At Outperform With $43 Price Target (Oct 12, 2011) RBC Capital Markets Starts Broadcom Corporation (BRCM) At Sector Perform With $42 Price Target (Oct 12, 2011) RBC Capital Markets Starts Cypress Semiconductor (CY) At Outperform With $23 Price Target (Oct 12, 2011) RBC Capital Markets Starts Freescale Semiconductor Inc. (FSL) At Sector Perform With $15 Price Target (Oct 12, 2011) RBC Capital Markets Starts Intel Corporation (INTC) At Outperform With $28 Price Target (Oct 12, 2011) RBC Capital Markets Starts Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (MRVL) At Outperform With $21 Price Target (Oct 12, 2011) RBC Capital Markets Starts Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN) At Outperform With $35 Price Target (Oct 12, 2011) Todays WS Events Ford Motor To Present At Deutsche Bank Conference; Webcast At 12:55 PM ET Ford Motor Co. (F) CFO Michael Seneski, will present at the Deutsche Bank 2011 Leveraged Finance Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. The event is scheduled to begin at 12:55 PM ET on October 12, 2011. To listen to the webcast, log on at www.shareholder.ford.com (Oct 12, 2011) Host Hotels & Resorts Q3 11 Earnings Conference Call At 10:00 AM ET Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (HST) will host a conference call at 10:00 AM ET on October 12, 2011, to discuss Q3 11 earnings results. To access the live webcast log on to www.hosthotels.com To listen to the live call, dial (719) 325-4891. For a replay call, dial (888) 203-1112 with reservation number 3922490. (Oct 12, 2011) Infosys Q2 Earnings Conference Call At 8:30 AM ET Infosys Technologies Ltd. (INFY) will host a conference call at 8:30 AM ET on October 12, 2011 to discuss its Q2 earnings results. To access the live webcast, log on at www.infosys.com To hear the live call, dial 1-866-746-2133 or 1-800-930-4048. A replay of the call can be heard by dialing +1-877-344-7529 (US) or +1-412-317-0088 (International) with passcode 4637# . (Oct 12, 2011) Oracle Annual Meeting Of Shareholders At 1:00 PM ET Oracle Corp. (ORCL) will hold its Annual Meeting of Stockholders in the Oracle Conference Center, located at 350 Oracle Parkway, Redwood City at Oracle's headquarters. The event is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM ET, October 12, 2011. To access the live webcast, log on to www.oracle.com/investor (Oct 12, 2011) Pepsico Q3 11 Earnings Conference Call At 8:00 AM ET PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) will host a conference call at 8:00 AM ET,October 12, 2011 to discuss its Q3 11 earnings results. To access the live webcast, log on at www.pepsico.com (Oct 12, 2011) Pioneer To Present At Canaccord Genuity Conference; Webcast At 3:40 PM ET Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (PXD) will present at the Canaccord Genuity Energy Conference. The event is scheduled to begin at 3:40 PM ET on October 12, 2011. To access the live webcast, log on at www.pxd.com (Oct 12, 2011) | 
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