Jobless claims, leading index fall

(Reuters) - First-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell to 301,000 in the week ended July 14 from an upwardly revised 309,000 claims the prior week, the Labor Department said. Economists had expected them to rise slightly.




It was the second consecutive weekly decline and took initial claims to their lowest level since mid-May.


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VF Corp. posts higher operating profit

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 19 - Apparel maker VF Corp. on Thursday posted better-than-expected quarterly profit from continuing operations, on higher sales across all its segments and the sale of a trademark of one of its brands in Europe.



Income from continuing operations rose 18 percent, to $105.8 million, or 93 cents per share, compared with $89.6 million, or 80 cents, a year earlier.


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Honeywell profit up 17 percent, beats forecasts

(Reuters) - BOSTON, July 19 - Diversified manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. said on Thursday quarterly profit rose 17 percent, beating Wall Street expectations, boosted by strong demand from the aerospace and construction industries.



Honeywell, the world's largest maker of cockpit electronics, reported second-quarter profit of $611 million, or 78 cents per diluted share, compared with $521 million, or 63 cents per share, a year earlier. Analysts, on average, had expected 76 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates.


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Dow Jones quarterly profit falls, hurt by charges

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 19 - Dow Jones & Co. Inc. , which soon could be bought by News Corp. for $5 billion, said one-time charges lowered quarterly profit, while its digital business pushed up revenue despite lower ad sales at its flagship Wall Street Journal.



Second-quarter profit fell to $21 million, or 25 cents a share, from $28.8 million, or 34 cents a share, a year earlier.


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UPDATE 1-Avici posts higher Q2 profit, doubles '07 revenue view

(Reuters) - The North Billerica, Massachusetts-based company said it
raised its revenue outlook based on final orders for its router
products.




The company, which provides Internet infrastructure
equipment that enables network service providers to transmit
data, now sees 2007 revenue of $110 million to $125 million, up
from its April view of $50 million to $60 million.


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IGT sees earns slightly below Wall Street

(Reuters) - Wall Street analysts are expecting earnings per share of 41
cents for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, which ends in
September, and 40 cents and 42 cents per share respectively for
the first two quarters of fiscal 2008.




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UPDATE 1-OptionsXpress 2nd-qtr profit rises 29 pct

(Reuters) - OptionsXpress reported net income of $23.2 million, or 37
cents a share, from $18 million, or 29 cents a share a year
earlier.




Analysts on average expected the Chicago-based brokerage to
earn 35 cents per share, excluding items.


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