This is the first split in 16 years….

Source

Aflac Inc. (AFL) : The world’s biggest seller of supplemental health insurance said first-quarter profit doubled as investment results improved.

Amgen Inc. (AMGN) gained 3.8 percent to $71.23. The world’s largest biotechnology company reported first-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates as sales increased of its drugs to treat infections in cancer patients.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) surged 8.8 percent to $609.40. The world’s largest company by market value posted profit that almost doubled last quarter, reflecting robust demand for the iPhone in China as well as purchases of a new version of the iPad tablet.

Baidu Inc. (BIDU) declined 6.8 percent to $126.60. The owner of China’s dominant Internet search engine forecast second-quarter revenue will be no more than $867 million, falling short of the average analyst estimate of $869.2 million.

Boeing Co. (BA) rose 2.1 percent to $74.77. The world’s biggest aerospace company reported first-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates as it delivered more commercial jets while pushing production to record levels.

Dana Holding Corp. (DAN) increased 4.3 percent to $14.50. The maker of vehicle axles and other driveline components reported first-quarter earnings excluding some items of 44 cents a share, beating the average analyst estimate of 41 cents.

GNC Holdings Inc. (GNC) climbed 4.3 percent to $37. The operator of health and wellness stores reported first-quarter earnings excluding some items of 60 cents a share, exceeding the average analyst estimate of 53 cents.

International Game Technology (IGT) rose 4.7 percent to $16.65. The world’s biggest maker of slot machines forecast profit in 2012 of 99 cents to $1.04 a share, compared with the average analyst estimate of 99 cents.

Life Technologies Corp. (LIFE) : The provider of gene- analysis tools reported first-quarter earnings excluding some items of 99 cents a share, topping the average analyst estimate by 6 cents.

Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) : The second-biggest eastern U.S. railroad posted first-quarter profit that topped analysts’ estimates as increasing automotive deliveries helped counter falling coal shipments.

Panera Bread Co. (PNRA) : The bakery chain based in St. Louis reported first-quarter earnings of $1.40 a share, beating the $1.34 projected by analysts on average.

RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD) : The maker of chips and radio systems for mobile phones reported fourth-quarter revenue of $187.9 million, exceeding the average analyst estimate of $185.2 million.

Super Micro Computer Inc. (SMCI) : The maker of computer servers and accessories reported third-quarter earnings excluding some items of 19 cents a share, missing the average analyst estimate by 15 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

USANA Health Sciences Inc. (USNA) : The vitamin maker lifted its profit forecast for 2012 to at least $3.60 a share from an earlier projection of no more than $3.45, topping the average analyst estimate of $3.44.”

In Play 

On the Wires

A new definition of insanity has emerged…..

Source

“The first criminal charges in connection with the BP oil spill have been filed in Houston, Texas against a former BP engineer named Kurt Mix,” NPR’s Carrie Johnson reports exclusively.

Carrie just told our Newscast unit that Mix has been charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly deleting text messages after the spill. The texts were related to the amount of oil gushing onto the Gulf. Mix will make his first appearence in court today.

Carrie adds that there has been an expectation that criminal charges would be brought against individuals, but this is the first person charged since the spill happened two years ago.

These are preliminary charges and a law enforcement official says there are more charges to come, Carrie reports.

We’ll have more on this story as it develops.”

Have a look at today’s design.

Click on picture and unzip the zipper.

Hope it is not like Google plus….

down 13+ ahead of earnings this afternoon.

Source

“3M Co. (MMM) increased 3.2 percent to $89.89. The maker of Post-It notes and fuel system tune-up kits reported first- quarter earnings excluding some items of $1.63 a share, beating the average analyst estimate of $1.49.

AT&T Inc. (T) rose 0.5 percent to $30.77. The largest U.S. phone company posted first-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ estimates after wireless subscribers spent more on browsing the Web, downloading video and sending e-mail.

Big Lots Inc. (BIG) plunged 14 percent to $39.20. The discount retailer cut its U.S. comparable-store sales forecast for the fiscal first quarter to “slightly negative,” compared with a previous estimate for an increase of as much as 4 percent.

Health Management Associates Inc. (HMA) : The operator of acute-care hospitals had first-quarter adjusted earnings and revenue that exceeded the average analyst projection.

Illumina Inc. (ILMN) : The U.S. maker of DNA-mapping tools that fought off a hostile takeover bid from Roche Holding AG had first-quarter adjusted earnings and revenue that exceeded the average projection of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. The company also said it would repurchase $250 million of its shares.

Netflix Inc. (NFLX) plunged 15 percent to $86.74. The world’s largest video-subscription service projected a slowdown in growth of U.S. streaming customers.

Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN) gained 3.6 percent to $33.05. The largest maker of analog semiconductors forecast second-quarter earnings that may top some analysts’ estimates as customers stock up on electronic parts ahead of a projected rise in demand.

United Stationers Inc. (USTR) : The Deerfield, Illinois- based distributor of business products had first-quarter adjusted earnings of 45 cents a share, surpassing the 42-cent average projection of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

United Technologies Corp. (UTX) advanced 1.4 percent to $80.85. The jet engine maker said first-quarter profit exceeded analysts’ estimates as earnings at its climate, controls and security unit increased and the company received a larger tax settlement than it predicted from the U.S. government.”

In Play

On the Wires 

A great story in light of earth day….

Source

“In a little over a month, the risk of the 30 most systemically important global banks has jumped an impressive 45%. At 235bps, the FSB30 stands just shy of the peak levels that were seen in the initial March 2009 crisis moment – though remains below Q4 2011 peak crisis levels. Perhaps, despite all the protestations of ‘zee stabilitee’, self-sustaining record-profit-margin-driven recovery, and Chinese soft-landing, the vicious circles of austerity in Europe (and perhaps the US) and financials squandering their newly-found liquidity (and certainly not capital) is becoming too large to ignore?

What is intriguing is how absolutely end-of-the-world the situation felt heading into Q1 2009 and yet – with banks’ risk considerably higher now, we have become so much more ‘used’ to this state of chaos that our anchoring bias says – all is well?

Chart: Capital Context”

“Facebook Inc. (FB), the social network that plans an initial public offering, said sales rose 45 percent to $1.06 billion in the first quarter, a slowdown from the growth pace in the preceding period.

Sales climbed from $731 million a year earlier, according to a regulatory filing by Menlo Park,California-based Facebook. Net income fell 12 percent to $205 million from $233 million. Sales had risen 55 percent to $1.13 billion in the fourth quarter, and net income had climbed 20 percent.

Facebook also disclosed details of its plan, unveiled April 9, to buy Instagram. The company financed the $1 billion deal with 23 million shares and $300 million in cash. Facebook valued its shares at $30.89 apiece as of Jan. 31.

Facebook is rolling out new advertising services to step up competition with Google Inc. (GOOG) and Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO)During the first quarter, Facebook said it would add mobile advertising along with new ads to reach users when they log off the company’s website. Facebook aims to raise $5 billion in what will probably be the largest Internet IPO in history. The company might seek a valuation of $75 billion to $100 billion, people familiar with the matter have said….”

Source

Facebook on a spending spree….

Full article

Full article

“Doug Welborn, state district court clerk of Baton Rouge, and Jeff L. Thigpen, register of deeds in Guilford County, North Carolina, are doing what millions of recession-weary Americans wish they could do: they are suing large banks and mortgage companies in court, alleging that their creation in 1995 of the Mortgage Electronic Registrations Systems, Inc., (MERS), to replace local county recording of property transfers, led to billions of dollars of fraud, victimizing not only millions of homeowners but state and local governments across the country. MERS, not coincidentally, was a key factor in the growth of the real estate bubble whose crash precipitated the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009.

Shareholders are pushing for $GS to reveal their lobby tie. Good going shareholders! 

Gapping up

RDEA +51.2%, AMLN +12.4%, PHG +4.6%, DHI +3.4% HAR +1.0%,

Gapping down

The entire universe……