Citigroup reported better-than-expected earnings and bolstered its reserves in the first quarter of 2012.  The bank’s earnings were driven by steady demand for loans from international consumers and businesses and an improvement in economic conditions in the United States. Citi reported that net income decreased 2% to $2.93 billion, or $0.95 a share, from $2.99 billion, or $0.99 a share, for the... 

PepsiCo reported better than expected earnings for the first quarter and credited higher prices for its products for the rise.  Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo’s chief executive, said, “We’ve made good progress in Q1.  We expect momentum to continue building throughout the year.” The company reported earnings of $1.13 billion, or $0.71 a share, compared with $1.14 billion, or $0.71 a share, in the same... 

Altria Group Inc. announced that its first-quarter profit increased almost 4%.  The company reported net income of $973 million, or $0.48 per share, for the period ending March 31.  This was up from $937 million, or $0.45 a share, a year earlier.  Adjusted earnings were $0.49 per share, which matched analyst’s expectations. Higher prices and cost-cutting helped offset declines in cigarette volumes. ... 

Sony’s chief executive, Kazuo Hirai is under pressure to chart a turnaround for the company.  Mr. Hirai said during a news conference, “The time for Sony to change is now.  Sony will change.”  Sony has had four consecutive years of losses. Sony was once the epitome of Japanese innovation and technological prowess.  The company makes a wide-ranging lineup of devices, including camcorders,... 

Improving credit conditions among consumers and demand for new loans from businesses and home buyers helped JPMorgan Chase increase its revenue growth in the first quarter of 2012.  Recovering capital markets activity has benefited the company greatly and a steady resurgence in consumer credit and business lending has helped too.  JPMorgan is the nation’s largest bank. The Federal Reserve allowed... 

Goldman Sachs’ earnings results beat analysts’ estimates, but indicated that the bank is still being affected by the worldwide economic slowdown.  Revenue decreased in almost every unit when compared with the same period a year ago, with only two main business units, investment banking and fixed income, performing better than last year.  The first-quarter results reflected less spending on everything,... 

Morgan Stanley’s adjusted earnings for the first quarter beat analyst expectations.  The company reported a first-quarter loss of $94 million, or $0.06 a share, compared against a profit of $968 million in the same period a year ago.  Excluding one-time items, the company had a profit of $0.71 a share, beating analysts’ estimates of $0.44 per share. Revenue dropped 8% to $6.9 billion, down from... 

First Solar has announced plans to close the plant that the company built in Frankfurt to double its production in Germany.  The company plans to stop all of its German production as part of a broad restructuring plan.  This would cut its global work force by 30%, or 2,000 employees, and reduce its global production capacity considerably. Mark R. Widmar, the company’s chief financial officer, said,... 

Microsoft is determined to have a large amount of brand-name apps available for its Windows Phone app store and has announced a plan to persuade developers into making them.  Microsoft has come up with incentives to entice developers into creating apps for its devices, like offering developers free phones and promising prime spots in its app store and in Windows Phone advertising.  In some cases,... 

Yahoo recently warned that suing Facebook over intellectual property claims was an option being considered and followed through by filing a civil case in the federal district court in San Jose, California.  Yahoo’s lawsuit alleged that Facebook had violated 10 of its patents.  Facebook responded with a countersuit arguing that Yahoo violated patents and that the resulting activities accounted for...