31.   Chief Executive Robert Davies said earnings rose while the company significantly increased investments in advertising and test marketing.

32.   Coca-Cola Co. reported a decline in earnings for the second quarter Thursday and, in a burst of corporate competitiveness, Pepsico said its earnings rose.

33.   Coca-Cola had advised analysts in August that it expected earnings to rise only slightly from the same quarter last year.

34.   Companies whose earnings rise and fall most as the economy changes, or so-called cyclical stocks, dropped after a report indicated that the French economy is slowing.

35.   Connecticut stocks rose as shares of National Re Corp. surged amid expectations that revenue and earnings will rise at the reinsurance company.

36.   Connecticut stocks rose for a fourth week as shares of Gartner Group Inc. rose amid expectations that earnings will rise for the information technology research and consulting firm.

37.   Connecticut stocks rose for a third week as United Waste Systems Inc. rallied amid expectations that earnings will rise for the waste management company.

38.   Coca-Cola then said its third-quarter earnings will rise slightly with the help of a gain from selling stakes in several bottlers.

39.   Corporate earnings are rising ahead of expectations, interest rates are stable to improving, and investors continue to pour billions of dollars into stock mutual funds.

40.   Corporate earnings will rise moderately, and interest rates will continue to decline.