In European trading the U.S. dollar lost ground against its other major counterparts. The euro was quoted at $1.1939, up from $1.1909. The dollar changed hands at 114.12 yen, down from 114.20. The British pound was trading at $1.7613, up from $1.7540.

EARNINGS NEWS

Stolt-Nielsen S.A. (SNSA: chart), specialty liquids services company, reported Q3 net income (and income from continuing operations) of $53.1 million, up from net income of $17.5 million ($12.2 million from continuing operations) for the same period last year. Operating revenue was $384.0 million for the quarter, down from operating revenue of $407.9 million for the same period last year (which included $84.8 million of Stolt Sea Farm (SSF) operating revenue from operations contributed to the new Marine Harvest).

CMGI Inc. (CMGI: chart), a provider of electronic business services, reported a quarterly profit of $274,000, or break-even per share, up vs. a loss of $6.8 million, or 2 cents per share in the year-ago period on sales growth. The latest results incorporate $10.4 million in charges related to regulatory compliance, amortization of intangible assets and stock-based compensation.

Weider Nutrition International (WNI: chart), seller of vitamins and other various nutritional supplements, posted Q1 earnings of 18 cents a share, up from a year-earlier profit of 14 cents a share on an increase in demand for branded products. Sales increased to $48 million from $43.7 million in the same period a year ago. No estimate has been published for the company's results. The company added though that gross margins declined by higher raw material costs.

CRYO-CELL International (CCEL: chart), cord blood bank, announced Q3 net income of 5 cents per share, down from 16 cents per share in the year-ago period. Consolidated revenues for the quarter were approximately $3.8 million, up 17% from approximately $3.2 million for the comparable quarter last year. Net income for the 2004 period included $1.6 million from the reversal of all prior accruals related to the PharmaStem litigation during the third quarter
of 2004, as a result of the favorable ruling by the Court on post-trial motions in that case.
Without the accrual reversal, net income in the third quarter of 2005 increased approximately $300,000 compared to the 2004 period due to a 17% increase in revenue.

CORPORATE NEWS

Fox & Hound Restaurant Group (FOXX: chart), operator of the Fox and Hound and Bailey's restaurant chains, said Tuesday it has signed a letter of intent to be acquired by Los Angeles private equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners for $14 per share. The offer is valued at the total price of $145.6 million based on 10.4 million shares outstanding.

Chesapeake Energy has agreed to buy Columbia Natural Resources from Triana Energy Holdings for $2.2 billion in cash and $75 million in debt. The deal will amass the third largest gas reserves in the U.S. after Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips.

The second-largest global oil company BP warned it won't meet 2005 production targets. The disappointing forecast and the expected profit decline of $700 million are largely due to Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

Adidas-Salomon said its $3.8 billion deal to acquire Reebok International won't require any more antitrust scrutiny in the U.S. after the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period ended. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2006.

Citigroup Smith Barney cut household products maker Procter & Gamble Co to hold from buy, citing concerns over raw material pricing. The broker said it will limit upside to earnings-per-share estimates. In addition, Citigroup also cut its price target to $59 from $61.

JP Morgan cut Eastman Kodak to underweight from neutral, saying it is concerned that digital profitability remains weak and its traditional business is declining rapidly.