U.S. stocks higher after economic data, Monsanto outlook

Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:06:06 (GMT)

U.S. stocks higher after economic data, Monsanto outlook

U.S. stocks were higher on Thursday, casting aside two sessions of
losses after economic data offered stronger-than-expected readings on
the labor and manufacturing fronts and agricultural giant Monsanto Co.
hiked its yearly forecast.

Futures Movers: Crude little changed on inventories, weak jobs data

Crude-oil futures swung between gains and losses on Thursday, after
touching $100 a barrel in the previous session, as traders pondered a
larger-than-expected drop in U.S. inventories and the weakest jobs
report in four months.

Monsanto's shares rally; results get a Latin America boost

Monsanto Co. said Thursday it almost tripled its fiscal first-quarter
profit from a year ago thanks in part to strong Latin America demand for
its Roundup herbicide and seed trait products.

Auto makers seen posting worst sales year since 1998

Major auto makers on Thursday will close their books on what is expected
to be the worst year of car sales in almost a decade, as buyers were too
busy dealing with ballooning gas prices and persistent housing woes to
flock to showrooms.