Industrials

Whirlpool unveiled on Wednesday a 20% jump in fourth-quarter profits amid higher North American sales and projected 2012 results that would blow away Wall Street’s expectations.

Domino's Pizza reported a 28% increase in fourth-quarter profit on stronger same store sales.

General Mills has reportedly agreed to buy Brazilian food company Yoki for approximately $1.16 billion.

GE will hire 5,000 veterans over the next five years as part of its “Hire our Heroes” partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and invest $580 million to expand its aviation business.

Despite higher prices that boosted revenues, Martin Marietta Materials revealed a flat fourth-quarter profit that missed Wall Street expectations.

Coca-Cola suffered a 71% plunge in fourth-quarter profits due to a number of charges, but the world’s largest beverage maker’s adjusted profits and sales beat Wall Street’s expectations.

General Electric said its business in China is growing at a significant double-digit rate and expects the trend to continue.  

Exxon Mobil is reportedly in talks to sell most of its 50% stake in TonenGeneral Sekiyu KK back to its Japanese refining partner and unload other assets.

General Electric's profit fell 20% in the fourth quarter, hurt by the lingering impact related to the sale of its majority stake in NBC Universal to Comcast last year.

Led by growth in its industrial North America business, Parker Hannifin reported an increase in both second-quarter sales and earnings. 

Just months after emerging from bankruptcy, Hostess Brands again filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday.

A government inspection into suspected identity thieves filing tax returns stopped $1.4 billion in bad refunds being sent out in 2011.

Swiss engineering group ABB has agreed to buy electrical components maker Thomas & Betts for $3.9 billion to grow its portfolio of low-voltage products and further expand its geographic scope.

Eastman Chemical unveiled a deal on Friday to acquire specialty chemical maker Solutia for $3.38 billion.

Procter & Gamble posted a fiscal second-quarter core profit of $1.10 a share that edged just ahead of Wall Street expectations. 

Honeywell International swung to fourth-quarter loss on pension-related charges. 

Carried by stronger profits at its Pratt & Whitney aircraft division, United Technologies posted an 11% jump in fourth-quarter profits on Wednesday.

Eastman Kodak, a pioneer in the photography and technical realms, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.  Read: Full Text of Kodak's Bankruptcy Filing

The coffee giant, which signed a pact with Tata Coffee in early 2011 to buy coffee from India and explore opening retail stores in the country, is said to be finalizing its retail partnership and hopes to announce the deal by the end of January.

Kraft Foods said splitting into two companies will result in the loss of about 1,600 jobs in North America this year.