“Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) said it will consider buying assets similar to its purchase of Chrysler Financial Corp. to bolster U.S. operations amid signs of a “modest” turnaround in the world’s largest economy.

The $6.3 billion purchase of auto loans from Cerberus Capital Management LP last year is “a great example of an asset class that we really like,” Chief Financial Officer Colleen Johnston said yesterday in an interview at Bloomberg’s New York headquarters. “We’re continuing to think about acquiring assets and we continue to look.”

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“After its brutal initial public offering, the social networking company must show Wall Street it is serious about making money.

FORTUNE — Facebook will face a tough audience when the company reports its first quarter earnings on Thursday. After a theatrically disastrous initial public offering in May, the Menlo Park, Calif-based social network must now show Wall Street it can continue to grow both users and revenue at a brisk pace and has the discipline to deliver strong profits quarter after quarter to keep investors committed.

So far, it’s been a rough ride. The stock has been trading at around $29 this week — a 24% drop from the price at which it closed on its first day — as investors question the strength of its advertising business and fret over how the company will make money on mobile platforms. Here are three things to keep in mind for Thursday’s 5PM EST earnings call:”

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“In January 2008, then-FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair faced criticism for being too strict on financial regulation. By October, her critics complained that she hadn’t done enough to fix the financial crisis.

Such is the plight of financial regulators these days but Bair, who now chairs the Systemic Risk Council, a private sector group focused on monitoring and encouraging regulatory reform of the U.S. financial industry, says that is no reason for the “timidity” she sees in the regulatory response to the crisis.”

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“Former Citigroup Chairman & CEO Sanford I. Weill, the man who invented the financial supermarket, called for the breakup of big banks in an interview on CNBC Wednesday.

Getty Images

“What we should probably do is go and split up investment banking from banking, have banks be deposit takers, have banks make commercial loans and real estate loans, have banks do something that’s not going to risk the taxpayer dollars, that’s not too big to fail,” Weill told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

He added: “If they want to hedge what they’re doing with their investments, let them do it in a way that’s going to be market-to-market so they’re never going to be hit.”

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Gapping up 

RVBD +23.7%, ACOM +15.7%, USNA +14.3%, VHC +10%, ALTR +9.6%,

TPX +8.1%, IRBT +7.7%, PNRA +6.4%, UIS +5.8%, ARMH +5.1%,

SDRL +5.1%, JNPR +3.3%, MT +3.2%, OEH +2.9%, NOK +2.3%, TEF +2.3%,

HBC +1.8%, BRCM +1.6%, CMG +52.3%, RF +1.5%,  VHC +10%, SDRL +5.1%

Gapping down 

NFLX -18.8%, TRIP -14.9%, BWLD -11.3%, RCKY -8.1%, RFMD -6.5%,

IGT -6.1%, CMLP -5.3%, AAPL -4.8%, QCOR -3.2%, EXPE -2.7%, DB -2.7%,

PCLN -2.3%, SWKS -2.1%, NUAN -2.1%, WFT -1.6%,  UPS -0.6%, CMLP -5.3%,

NVAX -5.2%, GSK 1.2%, AZN -1.1%,

“Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), the world’s largest maker of construction and mining equipment, posted second-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates and raised its full-year earnings forecast as demand increased from North American builders and overseas miners.

Net income rose to $1.7 billion, or $2.54 a share, from $1.02 billion, or $1.52, a year earlier, the Peoria, Illinois- based company said in a statement today. Profit was more than the $2.28 average of 20 estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The shares rose 4.4 percent to $85.01 at 7:42 a.m. before the start of regular trading in New York.”

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“Boeing Co. (BA) boosted its full-year outlook for the second time this year after quarterly profit topped analysts’ estimates following 27 percent growth in commercial-jet deliveries and higher military-aircraft sales.

Net income rose to $967 million, or $1.27 a share, from $941 million, or $1.25, a year earlier, Boeing said today in a statement. The average of 24 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg was $1.13.”

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“Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) reported a second- quarter profit that fell less than analysts estimated as the company boosted sales of the antidepressant Cymbalta after its former top-selling drug Zyprexa lost patent protection.

Net income declined 23 percent to $924 million, or 83 cents a share, the Indianapolis-based company said today in a statement. Profit excluding one-time items beat by 6 cents the average of 15 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Revenue dropped 10 percent to $5.6 billion.”

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“PepsiCo Inc. (PEP), the world’s largest snack-food maker, reported second-quarter profit that fell less than analysts’ estimated after raising prices.

Profit excluding some items was $1.12 a share, Purchase, New York-based PepsiCo said today in a statement. That exceeded the $1.09 average of 15 estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Net income in the quarter fell 21 percent to $1.49 billion, or 94 cents a share, from $1.89 billion, or $1.17, a year earlier.”

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“Netflix Inc. (NFLX), the world’s largest video-subscription service, fell 20 percent in early trading after raising doubts about whether the company can meet its user-growth targets this year.”

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“Ford Motor Co. (F), the second-largest U.S. automaker, lowered its outlook for full-year profit while reporting second-quarter net income fell 57 percent as losses in Europe ballooned and overshadowed earnings in North America.”

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$AAPL guides slightly lower to $34 billion

26 million iPhones sold vs consensus of 30 million

17 million  iPads sold vs consensus of 16 million

Full report

“Call it a case of man bites dog. Since the start of the housing crash, millions of Americans have lost their homes to foreclosure. Many of them lived in homeowner or condo associations. 

These are organizations that collect monthly dues to pay for amenities, like added security, maintenance and recreational areas; one in five Americans currently lives in an association-governed community.

These associations have been hit hard by thehousing crisis, as many delinquent borrowers stopped paying their monthly HOA dues. In some cases, HOA’s, which do have the authority in many states, managed to foreclose on properties even before the banks, by using the back dues as liens.”

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“Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is set to report earnings after the close on Tuesday. With a great sell-through in iPads but a weaker iPhone demand ahead of the upcoming iPhone 5, everyone is looking for guidance, and it could boil down to the computer sales being the ultimate driver today. Of course, you better be looking for any hint and projection around the Apple television release.”

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“People aren’t going to buy cars every two or three years anymore, an automotive website says based on an unscientific poll it conducted online.

Now, 78% of the more than 4,000 people polled by AutoMD.com says they will keep their cars at least 10 years.”

Full article

“Cisco Systems is preparing to lay off about 1,300 workers just a few months after the world’s largest maker of computer networking equipment warned that growing economic uncertainty is making it tougher to close sales with its customers.

The cuts announced Monday represent about 2 percent of Cisco System payroll of 65,000 workers.”

Full report

Gapping up 

SANM +11.4%, BIDU +6.4%, JAX +5.1%, SOHU +2.3%, SINA +2.3%, ZION +1.2%,

GT +2.2%, PCS +1.0%,  EGO +2.6%, SRPT +98.8% , DANG +3.9%, SOHU +2.3%,  RENN +0.5%,

R +8%,  UA +3.8%, RF +3%, NXPI +2.8%, DPZ +1.6%, SAP +1.3%, ZION +1.2%,

Gapping down 

DV -22.4%, ELN -16.4%, VLTR -12.8%, ZGNX -12.7%, APOL -7.4%, ESI -5.8%,

STRA -5.1%, CMLP -3.9%, NOK -3.8%, BBVA -3.7%, VMW -3.7%, SAN -2.9%,

CE -2%, COCO -1.6%, TOT -1.4%, AMTG -1.3%, DB -1.3%,  ELN -16.4%,

ZGNX -12.7%,  LLY -3%,  AMTG -1.3% , PFE -0.8%, CECO-4.1%,

PT -4.3%, TEF -3.0%, ALU -2.7%, VOD -1.5%,

In Play ,

On the Wires 

Both top and bottom line missed expectations. Stock is off considerably in pre-market trade.

Full article

$T came in with $0.66 per share vs consensus of $0.63.

Full report