Alcoa to sell Australian natural gas pipeline stake for $154 million

Alcoa Inc. said late Wednesday it will sell its stake in the operator of an Australian natural gas pipeline for about $154 million. The aluminum producer said it will sell its 20% stake of DBP, which owns and operates the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline, to Duet Group, which controls an 80% stake, for $205 million Australian. The sale, which is expected to close in early April, will add 1 cent a share to earnings, Alcoa said. Alcoa shares were flat at $9.68 after hours.

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From:: Stock Market News

Freddie Mac unveils ‘game-changing’ tools to boost mortgage lenders

Freddie Mac is set to unveil a suite of new tools providing lenders with “actionable feedback” throughout the loan production process, thereby helping lenders lend more often and with more confidence. “We think it’s going to a game-changer for the industry,” Chris Boyle, senior vice president and head of single-family sales & relationship management at Freddie Mac, told HousingWire in an interview. …read more

From:: Real Estate Wire

PepsiCo brings its three North American divisions under one CEO

Pepsico Inc. said late Wednesday the CEO of its Frito-Lay North America division, Tom Greco, has left the company to become a CEO elsewhere. The beverage and snack maker has promoted Al Carey, CEO of its North America beverages division, to CEO of Frito-Lay North America and Quaker foods divisions as well. “Bringing the company’s three North America businesses under a single leader will enable PepsiCo to further leverage its complementary brand portfolio across snacks, beverages and nutrition to unlock new growth opportunities,” Pepsico said. Carey will continue to report to PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, the company said. Pepsico did not disclose the company Greco will lead. Shares of Pepsico were flat in late trading Wednesday after ending the regular trading day up 1.3%.

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From:: Stock Market News

PepsiCo brings its three North American divisions under one CEO

Pepsico Inc. said late Wednesday the CEO of its Frito-Lay North America division, Tom Greco, has left the company to become a CEO elsewhere. The beverage and snack maker has promoted Al Carey, CEO of its North America beverages division, to CEO of Frito-Lay North America and Quaker foods divisions as well. “Bringing the company’s three North America businesses under a single leader will enable PepsiCo to further leverage its complementary brand portfolio across snacks, beverages and nutrition to unlock new growth opportunities,” Pepsico said. Carey will continue to report to PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, the company said. Pepsico did not disclose the company Greco will lead. Shares of Pepsico were flat in late trading Wednesday after ending the regular trading day up 1.3%.

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From:: Stock Market News

Progress Software shares fall on weak outlook, retiring CFO

Progress Software Corp. shares dropped in the extended session Wednesday after the software company reported an outlook and quarterly results that fell short of Wall Street estimates, and announced its financial chief was retiring. Progress Software shares fell 12% to $22.50 after hours. The company expects adjusted second-quarter earnings of 26 cents to 29 cents a share on revenue of $93 million to $96 million. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had estimated 36 cents a share on revenue of $102.5 million. Progress Software reported adjusted first-quarter earnings of 27 cents a share on revenue of $90.2 million. Analysts had forecast earnings of 28 cents a share on revenue of $93.1 million. Separately, the company said its chief financial officer, Chris Perkins, plans to retire following a transition period while a replacement is found.

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From:: Stock Market News

Micron rallies on a smaller-than-projected quarterly loss

Shares of Micron Technology Inc. climbed in Wednesday’s extended session after ​the chip maker turned in a narrower-than-expected loss. Micron reported it swung to a loss of $97 million, or 9 cents a share, in the second quarter from a year-earlier profit of $934 million, or 78 cents a share. On an adjusted basis, the company would have posted a loss of 5 cents a share. Revenue fell 12% to $2.93 billion. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had forecast Micron to report a loss of 9 cents a share on revenue of $3.05 billion. Micron is the last U.S. supplier of dynamic random access memory chips used in personal computers. Shares rose 4.8% in after-hours trading.

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From:: Stock Market News

U.S. stocks log 3rd straight advance as Yellen euphoria lingers

U.S. stocks finished higher Wednesday for the third straight session, driven higher by dovish comments from Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen and a rise in oil prices. The S&P 500 closed 8.99 points, or 0.4%, higher at 2,063.97. The Dow industrials gained 83.90 points, or 0.5%, to 17,716.80, led by strong gains from Apple Inc. and Visa Inc. The Nasdaq Composite closed 22.67 points, or 0.5%, higher at 4,869.29.

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From:: Stock Market News

BlackRock to cut 400 jobs in coming weeks: report

BlackRock Inc. intends to reduce its workforce over the coming weeks, according to Bloomberg News Wednesday, citing unnamed sources. Bloomberg said 400 jobs are expected to be eliminated, which would be the largest round of layoffs in BlackRock’s history. The cuts will be broad-based with an aim at streamlining operations, but hiring will continue as the money manager expects total headcount to be higher by the end of the year. BlackRock representatives were not immediately available to comment on the report.

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From:: Stock Market News