Altera profit climbs slightly as costs fall

(Reuters) - Net income was boosted, in part, by a reduction in costs
from the year-ago quarter and a rise in interest and other
income.




The company also said sales of its new products climbed 26
percent from the previous quarter. Revenue declined 4 percent
to $319.7 million a year ago.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

American acceptance of nuclear power grows

(Reuters) - The survey by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found 35 percent of people in the United States favored increasing the nation's reliance on nuclear energy, up from the 28 percent who held that view five years ago.




The 35 percent who wanted to increase nuclear power usage exceeded the 28 percent who wanted to reduce its use, it said.


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US STOCKS-Wall Street indexes gain on M&A news, earnings

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 23 - U.S. stocks rose on Monday as
takeover news and strong profits from large caps, such as Merck
& Co. , reassured investors after a broad-based sell-off
at the end of last week.




Merck, a Dow component, reported quarterly results that
beat analysts' expectations while Halliburton Co. , the
world's second-largest oil services company, also topped
forecasts and its shares rose to their highest since June
2006.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Edwards Lifesciences posts lower quarterly profit

(Reuters) - Analysts on average expected 57 cents per share, according
to Reuters Estimates.




Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 2-XM, Sirius would offer low cost, a-la-carte option

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 23 - Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. said on Monday that if their proposed merger is approved, they will offer subscriptions priced 46 percent below current levels, and would let customers buy packages of their favorite channels.



Under one of several new plans announced on Monday, customers can pick 50 channels on either XM or Sirius' systems for $6.99. Additional channels can be added for 25 cents each. Currently, subscribers pay about $13 a month for more than 100 stations on either XM's or Sirius' systems.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Bausch & Lomb board to weigh bids Tuesday-sources

(Reuters) - By Jessica Hall



PHILADELPHIA, July 23 - The board of Bausch & Lomb, the eye-care company to be acquired by Warburg Pincus for $3.67 billion, will meet on Tuesday to decide whether to continue talks with unsolicited suitor Advanced Medical Optics Inc, sources familiar with the situation said on Monday.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Nymex Gas Falls to Lowest Since December on Mild Weather, Ample Supplies

(Bloomberg) -- Natural gas fell in New York to its
lowest closing price since December as a combination of mild
temperatures and high inventories served to undercut demand and
push down prices.

The potential for hot weather forecast last week for the
high-demand areas of the U.S. East Coast later this week is now
``diminished,'' and temperatures will be lower than normal, MDA
Federal Inc.'s Earthsat Energy Weather of Rockville, Maryland,
said today.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News