“Reuters) – Southwest Airlines Co topped Wall Street estimates with a 42 percent rise in quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by higher fares, and said demand was solid despite the fragile economy.

U.S. airlines have merged, raised ticket prices and shown discipline in cutting back flights to match demand to return to stability over the past two years.

“Southwest and the rest of the airlines are really focusing in on the routes that are higher-yielding and more profitable, and as a whole that has helped the industry,” saidMatthew Jacob, an airline analyst with ITG Investment Research.”

Full article

“Verizon Communications reported quarterly earnings in line with forecasts on Thursday, but revenue topped Wall Street’s expectations.”

Full report

$MS missed by $0.09 per share….

Full report

“UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH), the biggest U.S. health insurer, boosted its profit outlook for this year on the strength of rising enrollment for government-backed Medicare and Medicaid policies.

UnitedHealth forecast profit of $4.90 to $5 a share for 2012 in a statement today, the second time this year the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based insurer raised the guidance. The company reported second-quarter net income rose 5.5 percent to $1.34 billion, or $1.27 a share, beating analyst estimates.”

Full report

Full report

Full report

“International Business Machines (IBM) this afternoon reported Q2 revenue that missed analysts’ estimates, but earnings per share that beat consensus.

Revenue in the three months ended in June rose to $25.8 billion, yielding EPS of $3.51.

Analysts on average were expecting $26.3 billion and $3.43 per share.

For the full year, the company raised its outlook to EPS of “at least $15.10″ from a prior $15 per share. That is slightly ahead of consensus of $15.05.

IBM shares are up $1.24, or half a percent, at $189.49  in late trading.”

Full report

Both revs and eps were light vs consensus…

Full report

Full report

“Reuters) – BlackRock Inc, the world’s largest money manager, said on Wednesday its second-quarter profit fell 11 percent as tumultuous market conditions cut into fee income.

Net income at New York-based BlackRock dropped to $554 million, or $3.08 per share, from $619 million, or $3.21 per share, a year earlier.

Investor interest in BlackRock’s iShares unit, the top manager of U.S. exchange-traded funds, saved the firm from an even deeper profit decline. Investors added a net $6.1 billion into iShares funds in the quarter, while withdrawing $2.3 billion combined from BlackRock’s other long-term funds.”

Full report

“DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines is reaping higher fares and record revenue but still losing money.

AMR Corp. said Wednesday that it narrowed its second-quarter loss to $241 million mostly because of $230 million in costs tied to its bankruptcy restructuring. A year ago, it lost $286 million.

There are glimmers of hope for a turnaround at American.

Without restructuring costs and other special items, AMR would have earned $95 million, its first operating profit for the early-summer quarter since 2007. Revenue climbed 5.5 percent to $6.46 billion, a record for any quarter. And between American and regional affiliate American Eagle, planes averaged 85.1 percent full at the start of summer, also a company record.”

Full report

“Bank of America swung to a profit from April through June and beat Wall Street expectations. It set aside the least money to cover bad loans since 2007, well before the financial crisis.

The bank said Wednesday that it made $2.1 billion in the second quarter, or 19 cents per share. Analysts polled by FactSet, a provider of financial data, had expected 16 cents.

Bank of America stock climbed 11 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $8.03 in premarket trading.

The bank set aside $1.8 billion in the quarter to cover bad loans, down 46 percent from a year earlier and a sign that the bank expects more customers to repay loans on time. It was the lowest figure since the first quarter of 2007.

Revenue was $22.2 billion, lower than analysts’ expectation of $22.8 billion. Revenue last year was $26.5 billion after excluding mortgage-related charges.”

Full report

“(Reuters) – Bank of New York Mellon Corp said on Wednesday that second-quarter net income had fallen 37 percent on lower foreign exchange revenue and after it paid $212 million to settle aninvestor lawsuit.

The world’s largest custody bank reported net income of $466 million, or 39 cents a share, compared with $735 million, or 59 cents a share, a year earlier.

As announced earlier this month, the results included an after-tax charge of $212 million to settle an investor lawsuit accusing the bank of imprudently investing their cash in a risky debt vehicle that collapsed in 2008.

Quarterly revenue fell to $3.62 billion from $3.85 billion.”

Full article

“(Reuters) – Honeywell International Inc posted an 11.7 percent rise in quarterly profit, topping Wall Street forecasts, as strong U.S. demand for building-control systems and specialty chemicals offset weakness in Europe.

The company on Wednesday also raised the low end of its full-year profit forecast by 5 cents, and now anticipates 2012 earnings of $4.40 to $4.55 per share, representing growth of 9 percent to 12 percent.”

Full report

“BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP)’s fourth-quarter iron ore production gained 15 percent as the world’s largest mining company expands operations in Australia’s Pilbara region, setting a 12th consecutive annual record.

Output was 40.9 million metric tons in the three months ended June 30, from 35.5 million tons a year earlier, Melbourne- based BHP said today in a statement. That beat the 37.3 million ton median estimate of five analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

Full article

“European stocks advanced for the third time in four days after lenders including Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN) reported profits that beat estimates, while minutes showed the Bank of England may reconsider the case for an interest-rate cut.

Credit Suisse, the second-biggest Swiss bank, jumped 4.6 percent after announcing a higher cost cutting-target and boosting capital. Bankia SA (BKIA) surged 10 percent after Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said Spain will block banks selling preferred stocks to retail investors. Ericsson AB, the biggest maker of mobile network equipment, slid 2.9 percent after missing estimates for second-quarter profit.”

Full article

ABT, AXP, BAC, DAL, EBAY, HON, IBM, QCOM, USB, YUM,

Full article

Look into their guidance to get a handle on the future of the economy.

Full report

Full report

Company guided lower both quarterly and on the full year range.

Full report