Nokia phones in profit | Wireless - CNET News

Nokia's earnings returned to the black in the third quarter thanks to smartphone sales, but it also announced 1,800 layoffs. The Finnish mobile phone maker said today that it took home a profit of 529 million euros ($741 million) in the third quarter compared with a loss of 559 million euros in the year-ago quarter. Revenue rose almost 5 percent to 10.3 billion euros from 9.8 billion euros a year back earlier.

Surpassing analyst expectations, the third-quarter results were boosted by higher selling prices on Nokia smartphones. For the quarter, the company's Devices and Services unit pulled in sales of 7.2 billion euros, an increase of 4 percent from a year ago.

Harley Profit Rises as Finance Unit Makes Up for Slumping Motorcycle Sales

Harley-Davidson Inc., the biggest U.S. motorcycle maker, said third-quarter profit more than doubled as earnings in its finance unit made up for declining sales worldwide.

Net income rose to $88.8 million, or 38 cents a share, from $26.5 million, or 11 cents, a year earlier, Milwaukee-based Harley said today in a statement. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Bloomberg was 36 cents. Revenue fell 1.9 percent to $1.09 billion, and the shares dropped 6.8 percent.

Chief Executive Officer Keith Wandell, who has cut costs by renegotiating labor contracts, said Harley is transforming itself to “succeed at today’s volumes.” The financial-services unit, which makes loans to motorcycle buyers, had operating income of $50.9 million compared with a $31.5 million loss a year earlier. Harley’s retail sales slid 7.7 percent.

Stocks down sharply amid mixed earnings reports

NEW YORK (AP) -- Investors pushed stocks down Tuesday as they digested news from a flurry of earnings reports from corporate heavyweights.

Disappointing news from Apple Inc. and IBM Corp. pushed the technology-heavy Nasdaq down about 0.8 percent. Both companies beat earnings forecasts when they reported results late Monday, but each delivered news that investors didn't like. Apple Inc. didn't sell as many iPads as analysts had hoped and a measure of profitability was lower than expected. IBM Corp.'s outsourcing business didn't do as well analysts predicted.

Shares of Apple fell almost 2 percent, to $311.80, as traders backed off of a rally that has sent the broad market up 3 percent this quarter. Apple's shares have gained nearly 10 percent in the same timeframe.

"On average, the earnings reports have beaten expectations, but now investors are asking, 'What's next?'," said Jonathan Satovsky, the head of Satovsky Asset Management. "Even Apple reduced guidance for the fourth quarter of the year."

Also weighing on stock prices was an announcement that China raised a key interest rate to slow rising inflation. The market has reacted negatively throughout the year to any moves by China's government that are perceived as an effort to slow down its economy. American companies view China as an important growth market.

Financial 'Uh-Oh' ? No Problem

When everything's going well in your life, finances aren't usually a big problem. But inevitably, something unplanned happens that ends up costing you a bunch of money. That kind of "uh-oh" has spelled disaster for many people's promising new financial plans.

But if you're prepared for life's little surprises, that big problem turns into no problem at all. All you need to do is set up a cash cushion that will get you through the worst financial problems you're likely to face.

How much is enough?
The amount you squirrel away in safe, liquid investments is ultimately a personal decision (just like whether you should dye your hair, marry the boring investment banker or the sparkly English teacher, or choose butter over margarine). However, we certainly can provide some Foolish guidelines. How much you should set aside depends on the following factors:

10 health conditions on insurers' radar

Life insurance rates are determined by a combination of factors, including your age, gender, occupation, financial status, risky pastimes, lifestyle (particularly tobacco, alcohol and drug consumption), face amount of the policy and your health.

Armed with actuarial tables and company history, a life insurance underwriter will place you in a risk class based on the likelihood that you will expire before your life insurance policy matures, thus forcing the company to take a loss on your policy. Naturally, the higher the face value of your policy, the closer the underwriter will scrutinize your health.

Universal Currency Converter

Perform currency and foreign exchange calculations using live, mid-market rates. The Universal Currency Converter® contains the top 85 currencies listing the top 10 first. Special units & precious metals are listed alphabetically and at the end. For every world currency, use the Full Universal Currency Converter. Learn about currency codes, or view our list of currency symbols.

Industrial production falls 0.2 percent in Sept

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sluggish spending by businesses and consumers is causing factories to cool their production after they helped lift the economy out of recession.

Companies have slowed their rebuilding of stockpiles and replacement of worn-out equipment. And consumers are cautiously spending at a time of 9.6 percent unemployment and slow job growth. That combination led to the first decline in output at the nation's mines, factories and utilities since the recession ended in June 2009.

Factory output, the largest element of industrial production, fell 0.2 percent in September. So did overall industrial production.

In the year after the recession ended, manufacturing surged ahead at an 8.8 percent annual rate. That was the strongest year-over-year gain since the 1983-84 economic recovery. But the growth has been more or less flat over the past two months.

Without consumer demand to take up the slack, industry can't maintain its strong growth.

7 Ways to Save Money on Car Insurance

Today's guest post comes from Joel Ohman, a certified financial planner and owner of a number of different consumer financial education websites, including a website to compare car insurance rates and a website with many different auto insurance FAQ for learning even more ways to find the best auto insurance.

What would you say if I told you that you might be able to save over $500 on car insurance in less than an hour? And that you could complete the entire process from home?

Here are seven different ways that you just might be able to save hundreds of dollars on your car insurance if you simply take a few minutes to put these tips into action:Drop Coverage You Don't Need. Search for Discounts. Improve Your Credit Score. Pay Your Premiums With a Credit Card.
Tell Your Kids to Keep Their Grades Up. Take a Driving Course. See If Your Occupation Can Save You Money

Facebook employees must pay big to cash out

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Although Facebook isn't yet public, employees and other insiders have been able to cash out some of their equity through private stock-sale deals. But the company is trying to dump cold water on that rapidly heating up market: Facebook recently began charging employees a $2,500 fee if they sell their private stock.

Social-game developer Zynga has followed suit, introducing a $6,000 charge for private stock sales. First reported by Bloomberg BusinessWeek, the fees were confirmed by SharesPost chief executive Greg Brogger, whose company runs an exchange for private company shares.