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Pfizer Inc. (PFE) reported a drop of 70% in its fourth-quarter net income. Pfizer (PFE) also posted its first yearly sales decline with its top drug, Lipitor. The world’s largest drug maker recorded a net income of $2.88 billion (42 cents a share). This is down from the prior year’s recorded net income of [...]

During the fourth quarter, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) had a 9.5% rise in net income due to the foreign exchange rates, fervent consumer-products sales and a year-earlier charge.
The company’s revenue for medical-devices rose 11.3% due mainly in part to currency impacts. However, sales from the Cypher, which is the company’s drug-coated stents has declined. The [...]

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. (AMTD) said its quarterly net income jumped 65% as volatile markets contributed to higher client trading, while the online broker also lifted its profit outlook.
The company said its fiscal first-quarter earnings rose to $240.8 million, or 40 cents a share, from $145.6 million, or 24 cents a share, a year earlier, [...]

Motorola (MOT) lost a significant amount of stock investing value over the past year. Globally, it fell to third place. This is due to a lack of new handsets. Analysts predict it could take the entire year of 2008 to show any signs of progress due to the fact that it can take several years [...]

Investors, stock investing in Apple Inc. (AAPL) were disappointed because the iPod and Macintosh PC maker’s stock went down as much as 18%.
Apple’s (AAPL) stock investing shares fell almost $28 to $127.90 in the company’s earnings report for December quarter. Apple (AAPL) delivered a 58% growth in net income for the period. But it [...]

U.S. Stocks had a six-session losing streak, especially in the stock investing and stock trading areas. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) bounced back from 325-point deficit to end nearly 300 points ahead. Many investors chose to bet on another rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

General Electric Co. (GE) fourth-quarter net income rose 4%, amid continuing strength in its infrastructure and commercial finance divisions.
The Fairfield conglomerate reported net income of $6.7 billion, or 66 cents a share, versus $6.44 billion, or 62 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding discontinued operations, earnings from continuing operations rose to 68 cents a [...]

BlackRock Inc.’s (BLK) fourth-quarter earnings jumped 90% as the investment-management firm benefited from strong demand for its advisory and alternative-investment services.
Net income at the New York company rose to $322.4 million, or $2.43 a share, from $169.4 million, or $1.28 a share, a year earlier. The latest quarter’s results include a 1-cent integration charge associated [...]

A new investment strategy is sweeping developing countries, such as China and the Middle East. This investment strategy is the investment of gold. A new class of investors is adding a twist to the market. The rush to invest gold has helped in the increasing prices. This week, gold crossed $900 an ounce. It [...]

IBM (IBM) reported a better-than-expected 24 percent rise in preliminary quarterly earnings on Monday on strong sales in overseas markets. In the third quarter, IBM posted higher earnings as continued strength in the consulting and services unit offset a slide in hardware sales.