Kirkland''s, Inc., (KIRK: chart), specialty retailer of home decor, reported Q4 net income was 51 cents a share, down from 59 cents per share in the year-ago period. Net sales rose and comparable store sales declined 5.0% compared with a 4.2% decrease for Q4 of 2004.

Superior Industries International Inc, (SUP: chart), designer and manufacturer motor vehicle parts and accessories, reported a Q4 loss of 72 cents a share, reversing from a net income of 45 cents a share in the year-earlier period on 6.7% revenue decline, missing analyst estimate for earnings of 22 cents a share before items. Superior reported that Q4 of 2005 loss incorporates $45.7 million in charges for writing off assets in its suspension components and wheels businesses. The company said that its industry was still in the midst of a transformation that had to fully run its course, that was why, the uncertainty about the outlook was unusually high.


8:00AM The Bank of Japan abandoned easy monetary policy.
Asian-Pacific benchmarks closed mixed. The Nikkei extended yesterday’s gains, rising 0.5% to 16,115.63, supported by optimism in domestic economy after the Bank of Japan said it would end its five-year-old quantitative easing, but retain its zero-interest rate. The Japanese index advanced despite a weaker close of U.S. markets and disappointing economic data. Leading gainers were autos and banking issues. Across the region, South Korea’s Kospi climbed 0.7%, ending a three-day losing streak, helped by stronger tech stocks, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 0.4% on interest-related uncertainty. Indian stocks surged to 1.8%.

European stocks dropped at mid-day dealings, reflecting lower close on Wall Street, interest-rate concerns and cautiousness ahead of non-farm payrolls data release. Decliners included miners like Anglo American, down 2.1%, banks such as ABN Amro, down 0.5%, and aerospace defense contractor Thales, falling 0.7%. The German DAX 30 fell 0.3%, the French CAC 40 declined 0.1%, and London FTSE 100 lost 0.1%. The euro rose 0.2% versus the dollar to $1.1918.