21.   Household International Inc., a favorite of analysts because of consistent earnings gains, also hopes to market its array of lending services to customers.

22.   In the broader market, U.S. stocks rose for the fifth consecutive session on optimism that lower interest rates will spur steady earnings gains in coming months.

23.   In that environment, I think the companies, these commodities cylical companies, are going to have huge earnings gains.

24.   Instead they reflect the emergence of a new economy capable of generating earnings gains that justify the higher valuations.

25.   Investors might already be looking ahead to smaller earnings gains for Exxon in future quarters, said Michael Young, an analyst with Deutsche Morgan Grenfell.

26.   Investors this year got used to phenomenal earnings gains.

27.   Investors are betting the changes will help cement earnings gains for future quarters.

28.   Investors are betting the changes will help cement future earnings gains for a company that now has recorded profits for six straight quarters after four years of losses.

29.   It was not enough that IBM continued its string of double-digit earnings gains in the quarter, despite its sales problems.

30.   Japanese stocks traded mixed as declines by exporters amid pessimism a weaker dollar will hurt earnings offset gains by Minebea Co. and DDI Corp.