U.S. stocks rise helped by upbeat bank earnings

Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:01:04 (GMT)

U.S. stocks rise helped by upbeat bank earnings

U.S. stocks rise on well received earnings from State Street and other
regional banks, as well as data showing improving sentiment on the
economy and in-line core wholesale price growth.

Futures Movers: Oil futures up 1.5% after hitting record

Crude-oil futures soar to a new record of $113.93, temporarily boosted
by supply disruption in Mexico and Nigeria.

Bad loans paint grim landscape at regional banks
NEW YORK
Several of the nation's major regional banks, from the Deep South
through the Midwest, said on Tuesday that plummeting housing prices and
other financial strains on borrowers are forcing large loan write-offs
and provisions for bad loans, undermining quarterly profits.

Delta, Northwest deal reveals a desperate industry

Delta Air Lines' and Northwest's decision to go forward with
consolidation despite without the full approval of pilots indicates how
desperate the airline environment has become in the last month.

J&J reports 40% rise in quarterly profit, lifts estimates

Johnson & Johnson, the world's largest health-care group, reports a
40% increase in first-quarter earnings, due largely to higher sales, a
favorable foreign-exchange rate, and accounting charges in the
year-earlier quarter.