U.S. ready to release stress-test methodology

Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:01:33 -0400

U.S. ready to release stress-test methodology

As the 19 largest U.S. banks pore over the preliminary results of
stress tests conducted by government officials, the Federal Reserve is
expected to publicly release its methodology for conducting the
reviews Friday afternoon.

FORD SHARES RALLY ON IMPROVEMENT IN CASH BURN

Ford Motor Co. shares rallied as much as 21% in early trading on
Friday after the No. 2 U.S. automaker reported improved cash flow and
a quarterly loss that wasn't as bad as Wall Street had expected,

AMEX TOPS ESTIMATES, WANTS TO REPAY TARP

American Express reports a 56% drop in quarterly net income as the
credit card giant sets aside more money to cover loan losses.

INVESTORS SHOW RELIEF AT MICROSOFT'S RESULTS

WASHINGTON
Microsoft Corp. posted a sharp drop in fiscal-third-quarter profit
Thursday, as sales of computers loaded with the
company's software fell and as it absorbed charges related to layoffs
and. declining investments.

3M'S FIRST-QUARTER NET OFF 48%; 2009 OUTLOOK CUT

3M lowers its 2009 profit outlook as first-quarter profit falls 48%, a
reflection of how the major industries that the blue-chip component
supplies have been busy reducing their inventories in light of the
global recession.