Better-than-expected | featured news

Dell reported a 5% drop in fourth-quarter earnings Thursday, but the computer maker beat Wall Street's expectations on solid sales across all its segments as businesses started spending on IT again.

Retail sales posted a better-than-expected increase in January, a welcome development that could mean stronger economic growth in coming months.

Rising oil prices and better-than-expected earnings from Exxon Mobil boosted energy companies.

U.S. stock futures rose as better-than-expected earnings reports from Research In Motion and Oracle late Thursday reinforced confidence in the ability of companies to increase profits next year.

Construction spending in September posted a better-than-expected performance, powered by the largest jump in housing construction in more than six years.

The economy sank at a pace of 0.7 percent in the spring, a better-than-expected performance that provided more evidence that the recession was ending.