8:30 AM Ann Taylor Turns Tides, Crosstex Energy in the Green, Young Broadcasting Loss Deeper
Young Broadcasting, (YBTVA: chart), media firm, reported a Q4 net loss of 71 cents a share, much wider than loss of 6 cents a share a year-ago on revenue decline. Station operating performance dropped to $12.4 million from $22.9 million. The company’s loss was wider than the predicted by analyst loss of 63 cents a share.

Ann Taylor Stores Corp, (ANN: chart), apparel retailer, reported Q4 net income of 38 cents a share, swinging from a loss of 18 cents a share year-ago. If not for special items, the company would have reported income of 43 cents a share for Q4. Sales grew up 17.8% from the prior year, and comparable-store sales rose 6.8%. The company missed analysts’ forecasts for earnings of 40 cents a share.

Crosstex Energy Inc, (XTXI: chart), natural gas company, reported Q4 net income of 33 cents a limited partner unit, up from 23 cents a unit. Net income in Q4 of 2005 was influenced by a $2.3 million gain from the mark-to-market valuation of the derivative financial instruments purchased to protect against liquid prices fluctuations in conjunction with the South Louisiana processing business. The corporation reported Q4 net income of $3.47 a share, up from 19 cents a share a year ago. Q4 net income included a non-cash gain on issuance of units of the partnership of $65.1 million connected with the partnership'soffering of 6.6 million units during Q4.

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.


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.