International Business Machines Corporation (IBM: chart) said Wednesday its third-quarter profit rose 36%, on the back of software and services acquisitions. The world's largest computer company based in Armonk, New York, posted net earnings of $1.8 billion, or $1.02 a share, up from $1.3 billion, or 76 cents a share in the same period last year. Earnings from continuing operations were $1.8 billion, or $1.02 cents a share, a 6% increase from $1.7 billion, or 99 cents a share a year ago. Results were in line with analysts’ forecasts. IBM said revenue for the quarter was $21.5 billion, compared with $19.8 billion a year earlier.

IBM shares closed Wednesday at $92.74, up 2 cents. The stock dropped 3.49% to $89.50 in after-
hours trading.

After market close Wednesday, Apple Computer, Inc. (AAPL: chart) reported for its fourth quarter ended September 27 net earnings of $44 million, or 12 cents a share, on revenue of $1.72 billion, compared with a net loss of $45 million, or 13 cents a share, on revenue of $1.44 billion, a year ago. Excluding items, profit came in at $29 million, or 8 cents a share, topping average analysts’ estimates by a penny. Cupertino, California-based Apple attributed the better results in the quarter to strong back-to-school sales of its Macintosh computers and a demand for its iPod digital music players.

Apple shares rose 1.10% to $24.82 on Wednesday. The stock slipped 4.11% to $23.80 in after-hours trading.

Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT: chart) posted after market close Wednesday a drop in its third-quarter profit of $810 million, or 47 cents a share, on higher marketing costs. Results were 7% down from $869 million, or 50 cents a share, in the year-earlier period, but 1 cent above analysts’ expectations. The biggest North American food company based in Northfield, Illinois, said sales for the quarter ended September 30 were up 3.7% to $7.48 billion.

The stock closed Wednesday up 14 cents at $29.49. Kraft shares fell 0.14% to $29.45 in after-hours trading.

The Allstate Corp. (ALL: chart) of Northbrook, Illinois said Wednesday its third-quarter profit more than doubled on higher premiums. The second biggest US home and auto insurer earned $691 million, or 97 cents a share, up from $248 million, or 35 cents per share, a year ago. The company now views full-year earnings at $3.65 to $3.80 a share, excluding charges.

The Allstate shares rose 1.21% to $39.17 at market close Wednesday. The stock added 8 cents to $39.25 in after-hours trading.

Before market open Wednesday, General Motors Corporation (GM: chart) posted third-quarter profit of $425 million, or 79 cents a share, compared with a loss of $804 million, or $1.42 a share a year ago. The No.1 automaker in the world based in Detroit, Michigan, beat analysts’ projections for profit of 66 cents a share.

GM shares closed Wednesday down 42 cents at $43.55. The stock inched up 0.05% to $43.57 in after-hours trading.

Harley-Davidson, Inc. (HDI: chart) said Wednesday profit for its third quarter was $190 million, or 62 cents a share, up 15% on flat sales from $165 million, or 54 cents a share, generated a year earlier. Results of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based motorcycle maker were above Wall Street forecasts for earnings of 56 cents a share.

Shares of Harley-Davidson slid $3.30 to close at $49.15 on Wednesday. The stock dropped 0.20% to $49.05 in after-hours trading.

Transmeta Corporation (TMTA: chart), the microprocessor maker based in Santa Clara, California, said Wednesday its third-quarter net loss was $23.7 million, or 17 cents a share, wider than last year’s same period net loss of $22 million, or 16 cents a share, due to weaker-than-expected demand from notebook manufacturers.

The stock closed Wednesday at $4.96, up 6.67%. Shares of the company dropped 21.57% to $3.89 in after-hours trading.

E*TRADE Financial Corp. (ET: chart) of Menlo Park, California, posted Wednesday a 47% growth in its third-quarter operating profit, on increased customer stock trading. The online bank and brokerage company said operating earnings were $63 million, or 17 cents a share, against operating income of $43 million, or 12 cents a share, in the same quarter a year ago.

E*TRADE shares fell 5 cents to close Wednesday at $11.13. The stock slipped 1.71% to $10.94 in after-hours trading.

Boosted by strong sales in Europe, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (CCE: chart) said before market open Wednesday its third-quarter net earnings increased 36% to $259 million, or 56 cents a share, from $191 million, or 42 cents a share, in the same period a year earlier. The Atlanta, Georgia-based bottler topped analysts’ expectations for profit of 45 cents a share.

The stock closed Wednesday at $20.05, up 35 cents, or 1.78%.

Monsanto Company (MON: chart) of St.Louis, Missouri, announced Wednesday a wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss of $188 million, or 72 cents a share, against last year’s fourth-quarter loss of $27 million, or 10 cents a share, on a litigation settlement charge. The agriculture biotechnology leader said sales for the quarter ended August 31 increased 10% to $1.31 billion, from $1.19 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Company shares plunged 4.73% to $24.78 at market close Wednesday.