Financial News

LONDON (ShareCast) - US shares have maintained most of their early gains with nearly all the constituents of the Dow Jones (news) rising. Positive economic indications are encouraging investors.

Initial jobless claims fell by 20,000 to 512,000 in the week ended 31 October, which was a bigger fall than expected. The number of continuing claims fell by 68,000 to 5.8 million, as forecast.

Tomorrow, monthly non-farm payrolls figures are due and another 175,000 jobs tipped to have been lost during the month. The rate of unemployment could reach 10%.

The Dow is currently 166 points ahead at 9,968. Nasdaq (NASDAQ: news) has added 42 at 2,097 while the S&P 500 gained 13 at 1,060.

Cisco announced better than expected figures after the bell on Wednesday. First-quarter profits still fell from $2.2bn to $1.8bn. Cisco also plans to buy back up to $10bn worth of its shares.

General Motors (NYSE: GM - news) will cut some 10,000 jobs as part of the planned restructuring of its European arm. The car giant said Wednesday night that jobs will have to go after its surprise decision to abandon the sale of Opel and Vauxhall. John Smith, GM's group vice president, said a new business plan would be put before European governments 'very shortly', but did not give any further details.

US retail chains reported a recovery in October sales from low levels one year ago. It appears that consumers are still spending selectively.

Prescription drugs data provider IMS Health (NYSE: RX - news) has agreed a $22 a share bid, valuing the company at $5.2bn.

Drugstore chain CVS Caremark lost contracts worth $3.7bn in its pharmacy benefits division.

S&P 500 - Risers Ims Health Inc. (RX) $20.78 +23.62% Dynegy Inc (NYSE: DYN - news) . Holdings Co (DYN) $2.05 +9.63% Eastman Kodak Co (EK) $4.03 +8.63% Microchip Technology Inc. (MCHP) $25.65 +5.08% N Y Times Class A (NYT) $7.99 +4.44% Monster Worldwide Inc (NASDAQ: MNST - news) . (MWW) $14.66 +4.42% Micron Technology (NYSE: MU - news) (MU) $7.02 +4.31% Medtronic Inc. (MDT) $38.05 +4.10% QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM) $43.30 +4.09% Expedia Inc (NASDAQ: EXPE - news) . (EXPE) $23.33 +4.01%

S&P 500 - Fallers CVS Caremark Corp. (CVS) $28.67 -20.69% Whole Foods Market Inc. (WFMI) $27.87 -13.07% CF Industries Holdings Inc. (CF) $79.44 -8.04% M B I A Inc (NYSE: MBI - news) . (MBI) $4.08 -7.69% Penney J C Co Holdin (JCP) $29.97 -6.58% Kimco Realty Corp. (KIM) $11.73 -6.01% Allstate Corp. (ALL) $27.84 -6.01% Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (DPS) $26.15 -6.00% Pulte Homes Inc. (PHM) $9.07 -5.03% Murphy Oil Corp (NYSE: MUR - news) . Holdings (MUR) $60.45 -4.46%

Dow Jones I.A - Risers Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $28.94 +3.25% Du Pont E I De Nemours and Co. (DD) $33.06 +2.70% Boeing Co (NYSE: BA - news) . (BA) $49.35 +2.66% Home Depot Inc (NYSE: HD - news) . (HD) $25.62 +2.64% American Express Inc. (AXP) $36.85 +2.47% Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT - news) . (MSFT) $28.67 +2.17% Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) $60.28 +2.12% Intel Corp (NASDAQ: INTC - news) . (INTC) $18.95 +1.95% United Technologies Corp. (UTX (A045880.KQ - news) ) $64.73 +1.81% Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ: CSCO - news) . (CSCO) $23.70 +1.76%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers Microchip Technology Inc. (MCHP) $25.65 +5.08% Echostar Communications Corp. (DISH) $18.28 +4.46% Garmin Ltd (NASDAQ: GRMN - news) . (GRMN) $28.03 +4.43% Flextronics International Ltd. (FLEX) $7.02 +4.31% Liberty Global Inc (NASDAQ: LBTYA - news) . Series A (LBTYA) $21.91 +4.29% QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM) $43.30 +4.09% Expedia Inc. (EXPE) $23.33 +4.01% Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) $32.18 +3.81% Network Appliance Inc (NASDAQ: NTAP - news) . (NTAP) $28.70 +3.76% Joy Global Inc (NASDAQ: JOYG - news) . (JOYG) $53.72 +3.68%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers Sears Holdings Corp (NASDAQ: SHLD - news) . (SHLD) $66.70 -2.08% Express Scripts Inc (NASDAQ: ESRX - news) . (ESRX) $82.49 -2.08% Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) $31.66 -2.04% Hansen Natural Corp. (HANS) $36.41 -0.73% Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) $58.62 -0.32% Ryanair Holdings Plc Adr (RYAAY) $26.39 -0.08% Apollo Group Inc. (APOL) $56.77 -0.05% Maxim Integrated Prod Comm Stk (MXIM) $17.08 -0.03% First Solar Inc (NASDAQ: FSLR - news) . (FSLR) $121.56 -0.03%