Category: General

By The Associated Press

Here are highlights of recent quarterly earnings reports from selected Internet and media companies and what they say about the state of spending on advertising:

April 12: Google Inc. says its revenue, after subtracting ad commissions, totaled $8.14 billion in the first quarter. Analysts were expecting revenue of $8.09 billion on this basis. Google's revenue was helped by a 39 percent increase in "paid clicks," but the prices of its search-driven text ads continued to decline. The so-called "cost-per-click" for these ads declined 12 percent from the same time a year earlier.

April 16: Gannett Co. reports a 25 percent drop in first-quarter net income, as advertising in its newspapers continued to decline. Broadcasting revenue rose, helped by advertising related to autos, the Super Bowl and political campaigns.

April 17: Yahoo Inc. says that after subtracting commissions paid to its advertising partners, revenue was $1.08 billion in the first quarter, up slightly from last year. It marked the first time since the third quarter of 2008 that Yahoo's quarterly net revenue has increased from the previous year. Continue reading "What earnings reports have revealed about ads" →

(AP:NEW YORK) The Nasdaq composite index shot 2 percent higher Wednesday, powered by a surge in Apple. The iPhone maker's stock climbed more than $50 after the company once again blew past Wall Street's profit forecasts.

The technology-focused Nasdaq was headed for one of its best days this year.

Apple, by far the biggest component of the index, climbed 9 percent after reporting that its earnings doubled from January through March. The company sold 35 million iPhones, twice as many as in the same quarter a year ago.

The surge made back about half of what Apple lost in the two weeks before its earnings announcement late Tuesday. One reason for the slump was an analyst's suggestion that Apple could not keep up the momentum in iPhone sales.

Stock in Apple, the most valuable public company in the world, hit $644 in intraday trading on April 10. It slid as low as $555 on Tuesday. In late morning trading Wednesday, it was up $50 at $611.

The gain helped power the Nasdaq up 56 points to 3,017. Apple makes up 12 percent of the Nasdaq, by far the biggest component. Continue reading "Apple's blowout quarter propels Nasdaq to big gain" →

(AP:NEW YORK) Solid earnings reports lifted U.S. stock market futures Wednesday, after boosting stocks around the world.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 0.29 percent at 12,996. Standard & Poor's 500 futures are gaining 0.63 percent to 1,378.80 and Nasdaq 100 futures are up 2.02 percent at 2,685.75.

Nasdaq is getting a big boost from Apple Inc., whose second quarter results topped Wall Street expectations as iPhone sales soared. Apple shares gained more than 10 percent in premarket trading, setting the stock up to resume trading above $600. Several analysts raised their price targets on the stock, with $800 becoming common.

Also turning in strong earnings reports. Boeing Co. exceeded analyst estimates on the strength of commercial airplane sales. Caterpillar posted a 29 percent jump in first-quarter profit as U.S. construction firms replaced old gear and global mining companies purchased equipment. Harley-Davidson Inc. reported a 44 percent rise in profit on a 20 percent jump in sales of motorcycles and related products. Continue reading "US stock futures buoyed by strong earnings data" →