margins

Is the American recovery fast or slow? Depends on who you ask. The Wall Street Journal sees corporate America merrily rolling along while Main Street suffers. The New York Times warns that Wall Street is about to feel the pinch too. But nobody is all that optimistic about Greece today.

While the grocery store business is intensely competitive, Safeway's margins should increase in 2011, due to an improved product mix and, hopefully, a rebounding economy.

The luxury homebuilder reported earnings of $27.3 million for the third fiscal quarter, topping Wall Street expectations. CEO Douglas Yearley said the company is "pleased to return to profitability," even though revenues and deliveries were relatively flat.

Money transfer giant Western Union reported a 6.6% profit decline from a year ago, but its uninspired outlook for 2010 scared investors most, sending its stock price down more than 9.5% in early morning trading.