Java Jolt: Starbucks Earning Jump 44%

Starbucks Corp. says its growing popularity with coffee drinkers around the world helped boost its first-quarter net income nearly 44% . The Seattle-based coffee giant reported after the market closed Wednesday that it earned $346.6 million, or 45 cents per share, for the quarter that ended Jan. 2. That's up from $241.5 million, or 32 cents per share, earned in the same quarter last year.