BUZZ-U.S. Stocks on the Move-3M, AT&T, Caterpillar, GM, Yelp

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Index futures pointed to a higher open on Thursday as a number of strong results, including from Dow components Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT - news) and 3M, reassured investors that corporations continued to fare well despite concerns about global economic growth: Dow Jones industrial average futures were up 0.91 percent at 16,575, S&P 500 futures were up 0.84 percent at 1,941.25 and Nasdaq 100 futures were up 0.77 percent at 3,979.75.

** CATERPILLAR INC, Wednesday close $94.57, +3.44 pct premarket

The world's largest maker of earth-moving equipment reported a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit and boosted its 2014 profit outlook, citing strong demand for its products in North America.

** 3M CO, Wednesday close $138.95, +3.87 pct premarket

The maker of adhesives, abrasives and other products for a variety of industries posted higher quarterly profit on Thursday that topped Wall Street's estimate, reporting improved performance across its business segments but narrowing its full-year financial targets as it pointed to bigger currency impacts.

** GENERAL MOTORS CO, Wednesday close $31.31, +1.53 pct premarket

The carmaker reported a higher-than-expected profit in the third quarter and said it had strong demand for its redesigned full-size pickup trucks in North America.

** AT&T INC (Sao Paolo: ATTB34.SA - news) , Wednesday close $34.5, -1.59 pct premarket

The telecom company posted weaker-than-expected third-quarter profit and revenue. Revenue rose 2.5 percent to $33 billion, just shy of the average analysts' estimate of $33.2 million.

** YELP INC (Xetra: A1JQ9H - news) , Wednesday close $70.23, -13.23 pct premarket

The operator of consumer review website Yelp.com forecast current-quarter revenue below analysts' average estimate.

At least 13 brokerages cut their price targets on the stock by as much as $17 to as low as $60. The stock has a median price target of $85.

** PFIZER INC (NYSE: PFE - news) , Wednesday close $28.3, +1.20 pct premarket

** MYLAN INC (NasdaqGS: MYL - news) , Wednesday close $50.36

A U.S. district court ruled in favor of Pfizer in a patent lawsuit it filed against Mylan alleging infringement of patents on its cancer drug, Sutent, Pfizer said.

** NOKIA CORP, Wednesday close $7.93, +5.17 pct premarket

Finland's Nokia beat market expectations as it reported strong third quarter profit growth and lifted the profitability outlook for its core network gear unit on the back of large network rollouts in North America and China.

** SEARS HOLDINGS CORP, Wednesday close $34.42, +0.74 pct premarket

The struggling retailer will lay off at least 5,457 employees and close over 100 stores, many before Christmas, according to a Seeking Alpha report, citing liquidation notices and employees.

** JAKKS PACIFIC INC (NasdaqGS: JAKK - news) , Wednesday close $7.96, +9.42 pct premarket

The toymaker raised its full-year net sales and profit forecast and reported a better-than-expected third-quarter sales, helped by higher demand for Frozen Snow Glow Elsa doll and Light Up Musical dresses.

** LAZARD LTD, Wednesday close $48.71, +2.36 pct premarket

The investment bank and asset manager reported better-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue due to a jump in merger and acquisition advisory fees and an increase in asset management revenue.

** FORTINET INC (NasdaqGS: FTNT - news) , Wednesday close $25.17, +3.34 pct premarket

At least five brokerages raised their price targets on the security software maker's stock by $1 to as much as $32. Fortinet on Wednesday reported better-than-expected third quarter profit and revenue as businesses spent more to protect their networks and data.

JANUS CAPITAL GROUP INC, Wednesday close $14.27, +1.33 pct premarket

The fund manager's third quarter profit rose 25 percent on higher asset management fees. Best known for its equity funds, Janus hired star bond fund manager Bill Gross in late September.

** NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORP, Wednesday close $14.9, -3.56 pct premarket

The business development company's portfolio company UniTek Global Services Inc will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

New Mountain estimated net asset value per share at about $14.35, as of Oct. 22, reflecting partial write-down related to debt restructuring of UniTek.

The company said it expects adjusted net investment income per share of 34-35 cents for the quarter ended Sept. 30.

** UNDER ARMOUR INC (NYSE: UA - news) , Wednesday close $66.05, -4.62 pct premarket

The sports apparel manufacturer and retailer reported slowing quarterly growth in its apparel business.

** ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD (NYSE: RCL - news) , Wednesday close $63.42, -2.95 pct premarket

** JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORP, Wednesday close $49.06, -3.55 pct premarket

The airlines operator reported an 11 percent rise in quarterly profit as it flew fuller planes.

** SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO (NYSE: LUV - news) , Wednesday close $34.2, +2.78 pct premarket

The airline company reported a 27 percent rise in quarterly profit as it boarded more passengers and benefited from lower jet fuel costs.

** DUNKIN' BRANDS GROUP INC, Wednesday close $46.79, -4.70 pct premarket

The coffee chain operator reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by a rise in sales at its Dunkin' Donuts chain in the United States, its largest market.

** PULTEGROUP INC (NYSE: PHM - news) , Wednesday close $19.18, -1.25 pct premarket

The No. 3 U.S. homebuilder reported a 4 percent rise in its quarterly revenue from home sales as the company raised prices for the twelfth straight quarter.

** NOVARTIS AG (Xetra: 904278 - news) , Wednesday close $88.2, +0.94 pct premarket

The Swiss drugmaker said on Thursday two late-stage trials showed its drug secukinumab improved symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, a debilitating joint condition of the spine.

** GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC (Other OTC: GLAXF - news) , Wednesday close $44.41, +1.35 pct premarket

Battered by weak U.S. drug sales and a bribery scandal in China, the company is looking to float its fast-growing HIV drugs business as part of a recovery plan that includes a fresh round of cost cutting.

** BIOGEN IDEC INC (NasdaqGS: BIIB - news) , Wednesday close $309.07, +1.28 pct premarket

The drug maker said on Wednesday sales of its big-selling new multiple sclerosis drug Tecfidera fell short of Wall Street's lofty expectations, and the company confirmed a serious brain infection in a patient who took the oral medication, sending its shares 7 percent lower.

** HUMANA INC (NYSE: HUM - news) , Wednesday close $131.47, +1.17 pct premarket

The health insurer is exploring a sale of its urgent care subsidiary Concentra in a deal that could value it at around $1 billion, according to three people familiar with the matter.

** BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORP, Wednesday close $12.32, +1.38 pct premarket

The medical device maker on Wednesday posted a third-quarter profit on increased sales of its implantable heart devices and raised its full-year revenue outlook.

** ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS INC (NasdaqGS: ALXN - news) , Wednesday close $173.27, +4.61 pct premarket

The drugmaker reported a better than expected adjusted profit on strong sales of its blood disorder drug Soliris, and raises its full-year profit forecast for the fourth time this year.

** BOEING CO (NYSE: BA - news) , Wednesday close $121.45, -0.18 pct premarket

The aircraft maker reported an 18 percent increase in quarterly profit and raised its full-year core earnings forecast for the third time, reflecting booming commercial aircraft demand and increasing profitability in its defense business.

** DOW CHEMICAL CO, Wednesday close $47.61, +1.74 pct premarket

The No. 1 U.S. chemical maker by sales, said it was looking to cut fixed costs by $1 billion over the next three years, building on reductions that have helped boost margins.

** CREDIT SUISSE GROUP AG, Wednesday close $26.01, -0.27 pct premarket

The Switzerland-based company reported a stronger-than-expected third quarter profit, bolstered by its investment bank, which benefited from a rise in bond-trading and fees from the multi-billion dollar listing of Alibaba.

** UNILEVER PLC (NYSE: UL - news) , Wednesday close $40.48, -2.12 pct premarket

The fast moving consumer goods company posted its weakest quarterly sales growth in nearly five years, as Europe's persistent woes and a slowdown in emerging markets including China crimped its performance.

** APPLE INC (NasdaqGS: AAPL - news) , Wednesday close $102.99, +0.80 pct premarket

Chief Executive Tim Cook said the iPhone maker is planning to open 25 retail stores in China within the next two years, according to a Chinese transcript of an interview posted by web portal Sina.com.

** MICROSOFT CORP, Wednesday close $44.38, +0.68 pct premarket

The Windows maker looks set to ditch the Nokia name from its Lumia range of smartphones just months after buying the Finnish company's handset business.

According to a post on Nokia France's Facebook (NasdaqGS: FB - news) page on Tuesday, the page will change its name to Microsoft Lumia "in the coming days." (https://www.facebook.com/NokiaFrance/posts/10152859354854703)

** ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LTD, Wednesday close $91.63, +1.54 pct premarket

The Chinese e-commerce giant is looking to expand its entertainment content offering on its Internet television set-top boxes through deals with studios in the United States, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

** GOOGLE INC (Xetra: A0B7FY - news) , Wednesday close $542.69, +0.77 pct premarket

The Internet giant launched an email service called "Inbox" on Wednesday that will better organize emails and display information such as appointments, flight bookings and package deliveries in a more user-friendly way.

** SELECT COMFORT CORP, Wednesday close $21.58, +13.53 pct premarket

The mattress maker raised its full-year profit forecast after its quarterly profit and revenue beat average analyst expectation, driven by demand for its Sleep Number adjustable mattresses.

** ACACIA RESEARCH CORP, Wednesday close $15.23, +1.18 pct premarket

The company, which buys and licenses patent rights, reported third-quarter profit and revenue that beat the average analyst expectation, helped by lower costs and increased license revenue.

** CHEESECAKE FACTORY INC, Wednesday close $44.5, -4.49 pct premarket

The restaurant and bakery operator posted a lower-than-expected third-quarter profit as a 6.3 percent rise in revenue was more than offset by a 7.9 percent increase in expenses.

** CORE LABORATORIES NV (NYSE: CLB - news) , Wednesday close $140.09, -7.20 pct premarket

The reservoir management company reported a lower-than-expected third-quarter revenue and gave a fourth-quarter profit outlook below the average analyst estimate.

** TRACTOR SUPPLY CO, Wednesday close $61.3, +15.74 pct premarket

The company, which operates U.S. retail farm and ranch stores, raised its full-year sales, profit forecast to high end of previous outlook after third-quarter profit and revenue beat the average analyst estimate.

** AIR METHODS CORP (NasdaqGS: AIRM - news) , Wednesday close $55.49, -16.76 pct premarket

The air medical transportation company's estimated its third-quarter profit of 83-87 cents per share, well short of the average analysts' estimate of $1.08.

** CITRIX SYSTEMS INC (NasdaqGS: CTXS - news) , Wednesday close $64.78, -4.83 pct premarket

The cloud-computing software maker said it expects 2014 revenue of $3.13 billion-$3.14 billion, below the average analyst estimate of $3.18 billion. The company's third-quarter revenue missed the average analyst estimate.

** FORTINET INC, Wednesday close $25.17, +3.34 pct premarket

The security software maker on Wednesday reported better-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue as businesses spent more to protect their networks and data.

** XEROX CORP, Wednesday close $12.21, +2.53 pct premarket

The copier and printer maker on Wednesday reported a 2 percent fall in third-quarter revenue due to tepid growth in its services business and slowing demand in the printing business.

** PHILLIPS 66 (NYSE: PSX - news) , Wednesday close $75.39

The U.S.-based refiner on Wednesday said it expected its facility capable of unloading 30,000 barrels of crude oil per day from trains at its Ferndale refinery in Washington state to be operational in November.

** OPEN TEXT CORP, Wednesday close $54.23

The Canadian business software maker's quarterly profit more than doubled, driven by demand for its cloud computing services. (Compiled by Shailaja Sharma in Bangalore; Editing by Joyjeet Das)