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Sector Wrap: Insurance stocks rise (AP)
Shares of insurance companies rose Wednesday, along with the broader market, after a better-than-expected report on durable goods orders alleviated some of investors' concerns about the economy.

Sector Wrap: Regional bank stocks mostly rise (AP)
Shares of regional banks mostly rose Wednesday, after a better-than-expected report on durable goods orders helped boost investor sentiment.

Fannie Mae shakes up management team (AP)
Mortgage finance giant Fannie Mae shook up its executive ranks Wednesday, after shares in it and sibling company Freddie Mac rose for a third straight day as investors appeared less certain a government bailout of the two troubled companies is imminent.

Business Highlights (AP)
Mortgage finance giant Fannie Mae shook up its executive ranks Wednesday, after shares in it and sibling company Freddie Mac rose for a third straight day as investors appeared less certain a government bailout of the two troubled companies is imminent.

Sector Wrap: PC makers mixed (AP)
Shares of Dell Inc. closed Wednesday higher ahead of the computer maker's earnings report, scheduled for Thursday, as an analyst reiterated an "Outperform" rating on the stock.

Movers roundup: Talbots, Lehman Brothers (AP)
Shares of The Talbots Inc. surged nearly 30 percent on Wednesday, after the women's apparel retailer said its second-quarter loss widened, but added the cost of closing down some businesses will be much less than expected.

Movers roundup: J. Crew, AbitibiBowater (AP)
Shares of J. Crew Group Inc. hit an all-time low on Wednesday, after it reported its second-quarter profit fell and cut its full-year forecast and an analyst downgraded the apparel retailer.

Sector roundup: National banks, meat producers (AP)
Shares of national banks mostly rose Wednesday as a report showing a larger-than-expected increase in durable goods orders helped ease investors' concerns about the economy.

Stocks rise following gain in durable goods orders (AP)
Wall Street posted a sizable advance Wednesday after the government reported a larger-than-expected increase in orders for big-ticket manufactured goods that indicated the economy could be stronger than some investors thought.

Chico's shares rise on better-than-expected profit (AP)
Shares of women's clothing retailer Chico's FAS Inc. rose sharply Wednesday, a day after the company beat analyst expectations with its second-quarter earnings.

Brown Shoe shares fall on reduced outlook (AP)
Shares of Brown Shoe Co. Inc. fell Wednesday following the company's announcement that its second-quarter profits dropped almost 80 percent and that it was sharply reducing its outlook for the year.

Quiksilver shares up after group bids on Rossignol (AP)
Shares of clothing and shoe maker Quiksilver Inc. rose more than 11 percent Wednesday after the company announced it will sell its Rossignol ski gear business.

Mattel shares fall after ruling (AP)
Shares of Mattel Inc. fell on Wednesday after a jury awarded it $100 million in damages in its lawsuit against the maker of Bratz dolls, far short of the $1.8 billion it had asked for.

Bristol-Myers shares dip on failed drug study (AP)
Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. dipped Wednesday after the drug developer said its developing blood thinner apixaban failed in a late-stage study.

NexMed shares plunge on move to nix product filing (AP)
Shares of drug developer NexMed Inc. plunged Wednesday after the company said its development partner, Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG, will not ask for regulatory approval of a developing nail fungus treatment.

Standex shares rise on 4Q profit growth (AP)
Shares of Standex International Corp. rose Wednesday after the diversified manufacturer reported an 80 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit on strong results from its food service and engraving businesses.

Pilgrim's Pride shares drop after rival posts loss (AP)
Shares of the nation's largest chicken producer, Pilgrim's Pride Corp. tumbled Wednesday, one day after the top executive of another chicken producer said it would take "a miracle and an angel" to return to a profit in the next quarter.

Talbots shares rise on improved outlook (AP)
Shares of The Talbots Inc. surged nearly 30 percent on Wednesday, after the women's apparel retailer said its second-quarter loss widened, but added the cost of closing down some businesses will be much less than expected.

Volcom shares rise on bullish analyst comments (AP)
Shares of clothing company Volcom Inc. rose almost 4 percent Wednesday as analysts expressed confidence in the company's strategy and latest product lineup.

Lehman shares rise on deal talk (AP)
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. shares rose more than 5 percent Wednesday on reports that the investment banks is narrowing down possible acquirers for its investment management unit.