Earnings

Soft drink maker Coca-Cola says it posted a profit in the fourth quarter, boosted by strength in emerging markets like China and India. The only region that did not experience growth: North America.

Shares of video game maker, whose games include the popular "Madden" series, plunge after the company issued a disappointing outlook -- a sign that big cost-cuts and layoffs have not ended the company's slump.

Disney is expected to show improvement in its first quarter as the entertainment giant's cable channels such as ESPN post better results. The first-quarter report will be especially telling as it includes income from the Disney parks during what's usually their best quarter.

Although Electronic Arts' fundamentals look solid, analysts have not been upbeat about the games giant's upcoming results, citing a "low pick-up" in video game sales. At the end of November, total video games sales were $14.1 billion, down 12% from the same time a year ago.

Toyota is reportedly preparing to recall at least 311,000 2010 Priuses to fix a problem with their brakes. Unlike the mechanical issues which led to the two recent recalls of 8 million Toyotas for unintended acceleration, the problem with the Prius is apparently a software issue.

If Dow 10,000 really is a key psychological level, then traders best call their shrinks. The major averages, already on a four-week losing streak, face anxiety over the Euroland debt debacles and waning earnings momentum. In other words, brace yourself for Dow 9,000 and change.

Part of the market run up between Labor Day and mid-January was based on the belief that corporate revenue and earnings would increase in the fourth quarter of 2009. At first blush, they have, but only at first blush. A study by Reuters shows that corporate sales among the S&P 500 companies are up only 2% based on numbers release so far when the financial sector is taken out of the figures. With financial firms added in, the improvement is 7%.

Cisco's positive earnings reflected a broader good news story among technology companies, which seem to be enjoying a recovery. During the second quarter, the networking gear maker's revenue climbed to $9.8 billion -- up 8% from the year-ago quarter. But will the tech rebound last?

Bond sales surged 41% to $1.2 trillion last year as companies rushed to take advantage of thawing credit markets. That means demand for ratings has also boomed, and both Moody's and S&P delivered solid results recently. But that doesn't mean all the damage to their names has been undone.

A major flood at one Kellogg facility and scheduled repairs at others led to a big decrease in the U.S. waffle supply, which in turn took a bite out of the breakfast food giant's fourth-quarter profits.