2:30PM NY, U.S. Market Movers
Avici Systems jumps 14%, Ness Technologies expects higher earnings and Baidu lost 10.7%.

Armstrong World Industries (AWI), which makes flooring, ceilings and cabinets, said on Thursday it is considering its options, including a possible sale of the company. Its shares rose more than 11% on the New York Stock Exchange, pushing company’s market value to $2.1 billion, based on its most current count of shares outstanding.

Avici Systems Inc. (AVCI), jumping 14% after the networking-equipment company''s fourth-quarter results blew past Wall Street''s expectation. The company earned $3 million, or 21 cents per share, on revenue of $15.9 million. Excluding items, Avici earned $4 million, or 28 cents a share. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call expected earnings of 5 cents per share on revenue of $13.1 million. During the year-earlier period, the company posted a loss of $8.6 million, or 67 cents per share, on revenue of $6.1 million. Shares were trading up $1.09 to $8.63.

Capella Education (CPLA) said its fourth-quarter net profit increased to $5.7 million, or 39 cents per share, from $3 million, or 25 cents per share. Revenue at the online education services group rose 20.7% to $50.6 million in the quarter. The company said growth was driven by a rise in enrollments, with the number of active learners rising 23% to around 18,000 for the year as a whole. Shares went up 7.8%.

Chordiant Software Inc. (CHRD), maker of customer relationship software for businesses, reported a fiscal first-quarter net loss of $10.7 million, or 14 cents a share, versus a net loss of $1.77 million, or 2 cents per share, last year. Excluding certain items, the company posted a loss of $2.7 million, or 3 cents per share. Revenue climbed to $22.9 million against $22.6 million in the same period a year earlier. Shares climbed 12.7%.

FTI Consulting Inc. (FCN), provides problem-solving consulting and technology services to major corporations, financial institutions, and law firms, said that its fourth-quarter net earnings declined to $17.4 million, or 42 cents per share compared with $18.3 million, or 46 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Revenue climbed to $216.8 million versus $165.7 million in the same period a year earlier. Shares were up 15%.

Guess Inc. (GES) surged 10% after the clothing seller posted strong fourth-quarter results, set a stock split and declared its first dividend. For the fourth quarter, the company earned $45.7 million, or 99 cents a share, on revenue of $346.4 million. Analysts expected earnings of 93 cents a share and revenue of $330.1 million. During the year-earlier period, the company earned $25.8 million, or 57 cents a share, on revenue of $276.6 million. Shares were trading up $7.33 to $81.91.

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (LH), laboratory testing provider, said that its fourth-quarter earnings rose 17% to $103.7 million, or 81 cents per share compared with $88.9 million, or 64 cents per share, a year earlier. The Burlington, N.C., provider of clinical laboratory services said that exluding $7.7 million in restructuring charges and other charges related to the retirement of the company''s chief executive, the company earned $108.4 million, or 85 cents per share, compared with $93.1 million, or 67 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue for the quarter climbed 9.3% to $898.6 million versus $822.3 million a year ago. Shares climbed 7.3%.

Medimmune (MEDI) climbed Thursday after company-sponsored research showed that the FluMist nasal-spray flu vaccine outperformed a traditional flu shot in young children. Shares rose 7%.

Ness Technologies Inc. (NSTC), which provides information technology services, said its expects earnings of $1 to $1.05 per share in 2007. The company also said it anticipates revenue of $560 million to $570 million. Last year, the company earned 82 cents per share on revenue of $474.3 million. In the first quarter, Ness looks for earnings of 21 cents to 23 cents per share and revenue of $123 million to $129 million. Ness shares rose 7.2%.

Nutrisystem (NTRI) shares were leaping after the Horsham, Pa., weight-loss services company more than tripled its fourth-quarter income to $19.6 million, or 53 cents a share, on revenue that nearly doubled to $133.6 million. Wall Street sought 51 cents a share on $130.9 million revenue. The company also announced it will buy back up to $200 million worth of its shares. NutriSystem stock was gaining $6.03, or 13.7%, to $49.91.

P.H. Glatfelter Co. (GLT), engages in the manufacture and marketing of specialty papers and engineered products, reported fourth-quarter earnings of $15 million, or 33 cents a share, down from a year-ago profit of $26.9 million, or 61 cents a share. Excluding items, such as gains from the disposition of timberlands and shutdown and restructuring charges, the company posted a non-GAAP profit of $10 million, or 22 cents a share, in the latest quarter. Revenue climbed to $268.6 million from $143.2 million in the same period a year earlier. Shares climbed 6%.

Spartan Motors Inc. (SPAR), car-parts maker, said that its fourth-quarter net earnings increased to $3.28 million, or 16 cents per share compared with $986,000, or 5 cents per share, last year. The 2006 fourth quarter included a non-cash charge of $2.1 million, 10 cents per share, related to a write-off of goodwill for Spartan''s ambulance subsidiary, Road Rescue. Revenue jumped to $123.6 million versus $75.5 million in the same quarter a year earlier. Shares gained 31%.

Stratasys Inc. (SSYS), maker of rapid prototyping systems, said that its fourth-quarter net earnings increased to $3.65 million, or 35 cents per share compared with $3.15 million, or 30 cents per share, last year. Excluding stock-based compensation expense, profit came in at 38 cents per share. Revenue jumped to $29.7 million versus $23.5 million in the same period a year earlier. Shares climbed 14.4%.

Baidu.com Inc. (BIDU) sank the Beijing-based search engine''s shares and dragged other Chinese Internet stocks lower on a disappointing outlook. Baidu posted strong fourth-quarter results Wednesday after the market closed, with profit up fivefold and online marketing revenue more than doubling from year-ago results. Shares were down 10.7%.

1:00PM NY, European markets closed near multi-year highs.
European stocks finished mixed on Thursday, holding near multiyear highs. Markets were lifted by solid gains for Belgian-Brazilian brewer InBev on merger speculation and Reed Elsevier on a plan to sell off a division. Shares of brewer InBev rallied 4% on reports that it''s held preliminary merger talks with Anheuser-Busch Cos.to create what would be a worldwide brewing giant. Other beer producers also gained. SABMiller rose 1.9%, Carlsberg rose 2.7%, Heineken added 2.3% and Scottish & Newcastle moved 2.3% higher. A batch of earnings from companies also provided a boost. Diageo climbed 2.4% in London after the maker of Johnnie Walker lifted its operating profit forecast for the year. In the autos sector, French tire maker Michelin''s rose 6.7% on a positive 2007 outlook. Among other gainers, Germany''s DaimlerChrysler advanced 3.7% on the restructuring moves detailed on Wednesday. In the financial sector, Swiss banking group Credit Suisse added 3.5% after it said Q4 net profit advanced fourfold. Media sector performance was helped by publishing group Reed Elsevier which rose 6.6% after the Anglo-Dutch group reported a 35% increase in annual profit. Britain''s FTSE 100 closed 0.2% higher at 6,433.30, while the German DAX 30 declined a fraction of a percentage point at 6,958.62 and the French CAC-40 lost 0.1% at 5,720.88.

Crude oil prices extended decline on Thursday. Light, sweet crude March delivery fell 74 cents to $57.26 a barrel. Heating oil slipped to $1.6231. Natural gas lost 4 cents to $7.20 per 1,000 cubic feet. London Brent gained 38 cents to $56.98. The U.S. dollar lost ground against its major currency rivals. The euro was quoted at $1.3138, up from $1.3128. The dollar bought 119.57 yen, down from 120.78. The British pound was quoted at $1.9540, down from $1.9625.


11:30AM NY, U.S. market averages traded mixed. Caterpillar boosted the Dow.
U.S. stocks kept showing a mixed performance, with investors cautious on Fed Reserve Chairman''s second day of testimony to Congress and digesting mixed economic data. Caterpillar (CAT) supported the Dow, rising 2% after its board announced a $7.5 billion stock repurchase plan. Qualcom (QCOM) gave the tech sector a boost with a 2.6% gain on brokerage upgrade to buy from neutral. Among disk drive stocks, shares of Network Appliance (NTAP) rose 3.9% on stronger-than-expected Q3 earnings. Semiconductor, airline, and brokerage stocks also moved to the upside, while oil service stocks showed considerable weakness amid lower oil price.

Some healthcare provider stocks posted significant strength in morning trading, with LabCorp (LH) rising 7% after on better-than-expected Q4 earnings growth and full-year earnings forecast. Shares of Sunrise Senior Living (SRZ) moved 4.4% higher after Health Care Property (HCP) offered to acquire the senior living services provider for $1.2 billion, outbidding a rival Ventas (VTR). Health insurance stocks also moved to the upside, with Amerigroup (AGP) helping to lead the sector higher. Shares of Amerigroup are currently up 8% after the company reported strong Q44 earnings growth and raised its full year 2007 earnings outlook.