Citigroup upgraded International Paper (IP: chart) to “buy” from “hold”. The company is expected to gain today.

ECONOMIC NEWS

Crude oil inventories advanced sharply in the latest week, according to government data released Wednesday, adding to a recent streak of gains. Stocks of gasoline climbed as well, though only slightly.

The Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration revealed that crude oil inventories climbed by 4.4 million barrels for the week ended October 21, rising to 316.4 million barrels from the 312.0 million barrels recorded in the previous week. This followed an advance of 5.6 million barrels for the prior week. Oil inventories are 12.3% higher than their levels of the same time last year.

Gasoline inventories posted a week-over-week advance of 200,000 barrels, the government said, adding to the previous week's advance of 2.9 million barrels. Gasoline stocks are now 3.9% below their levels of last year. Inventories of distillate fuel oil fell by 1.6 million barrels in the most recent week.

INTERNATIONAL MARKET NEWS

Asian-Pacific benchmarks ended mixed with the Nikkei rising 0.9% on the back of strong resource-related stocks like JG Corp. and Chyoda Corp. Among the other regional markets, Australia’s All Ordinaries climbed 1.1%, Hong Hong’s Hang Seng closed flat, while South Korea’s Kospi declined 0.2%.

European markets closed higher on resource stocks, upbeat forecast from DaimlerCrysler and Wall Street gains. The German DAX 30 gained 0.6%, the French CAC 40 added 0.4%, and London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.9%.

ENERGY, METALS, CURRENCIES

Crude oil futures rose with heating oil jumping sharply on oil inventory report. Light sweet crude December contract rose to $63 and then fell $1.78 to $60.66 a barrel on the Nymex. Heating oil climbed 2.5% before falling 3.4 cents to $1.898 a gallon. Gasoline lost 8 cents to $1.6211.

Gold was mixed in European trading. In London gold closed at $471.80 per troy ounce, down from $471.85. In Zurich it finished at $472, down from $472.35. In Hong Kong the precious metal rose $5.30 to close at $472.35. Silver closed at $7.83, up from $7.78. in New York gold closed lower $1.70 to $473 per ounce.

In European trading the U.S. dollar climbed against its major counterparts. The euro was quoted at $1.2071, down from $1.2096. The dollar changed hands at 115.76 yen, up from 114.88. The British pound was trading at $1.7749, down from $1.7844.

EARNINGS NEWS

Kerr-McGee Corp. (KMG: chart), oil and gas company, posted Q3 net income of $3.09 a share, up from 5 cents a share in the year-ago period on higher sales of oil and natural gas, beating analyst estimate of $2.64 a share. Excluding results from discontinued operations in the North Sea and elsewhere, earnings totaled $2.53 a share, up vs. 95 cents. Revenue advanced slightly to $1.208 billion from $1.202 billion.

Amerada Hess Corp. (AHS: chart), oil and gas exploration company, reported Q3 net income of $2.60 a share, up vs. $1.74 a share in the year-earlier period on revenue growth, missing analyst estimate of $3.31 a share. The company added that hurricane activity in the Gulf of Mexico reduced Q3 exploration and production earnings by around $25 million, and generated exceptional costs of $14 million, after tax.

WellPoint Inc. (WLP: chart), health insurer, announced net income advanced to $1.02 per share, up from 85 cents per share in the same period last year, beating analyst estimate, excluding special items, by a penny.

Sprint Nextel Corp. (S: chart), communication products and solutions provider, posted Q3 earnings of 23 cents a share, up from a loss of $1.32 a share in the year-ago period on 35% revenue growth, on a consolidated basis. On an adjusted basis, if not for certain items, the company gained 29 cents a share, topping its year-ago equivalent profit of 25 cents a share. On a pro forma basis, the company posted adjusted earnings of 25 cents a share.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (HOT: chart), hotel chain, announced that Q3 net profit dropped 64% compared with the year-ago period to 17 cents a share despite 11.9% revenue growth. Excluding a tax expense on repatriating earnings and a tax expense related to its 1998 sale of ITT World Directories, earnings would have been 58 cents a share, topping analyst estimate of 52 cents a share. Same-store revenue per available room rose 13.2% in North America and 11.9% worldwide, the company stated. Starwood is looking for EPS before items of $2.27 for 2005 and $2.70 in 2006, with $6 billion in 2005 revenue.

Cardinal Health Inc. (CAH: chart), health care industry company, posted Q3 net income of 53 cents a share, up from 49 cents a share in the same period last year on 9% revenue growth, missing analyst estimate of 72 cents a share. Earnings from continuing operations came in at 54 cents a share, up vs. 51 cents a share.

Pixar Inc. (PX: chart), specialty gases and surface coatings manufacturer, posted Q3 net income of 33 cents a share, down from 53 cents in the same period last year. Earnings for Q3 incorporated a charge of 28 cents a share, largely related to Praxair's plan to repatriate $1.1 billion of foreign profits under the federal Jobs Creation Act of 2004. Adjusted earnings per share of 61 cents a share were in line with analysts’ forecasts of 60 cents. The company announced that hurricanes Katrina and Rita reduced earnings by about 3 cents a share. Sales in Q3 totaled $1.89 billion, up 13% from the prior year's $1.67 billion.

EnCana Corp. (ECA: chart), natural gas producer, reported that Q3 net profit dropped 38% to 30 cents a share from the year- ago period. The company announced Q3 results incorporated a $604 million hedging hit and a $166 million gain from foreign exchange rates. Revenue net of royalties rose 33% to $3.09 billion.

Lear Corporation (LEA)), automotive interior systems supplier, reported Q3 a net loss of $11.17 per share, down vs. a net income of $1.26 per share for the comparable period in 2004. Excluding the impairment and restructuring charges, Lear would have reported a net loss of 10 cents per share.