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Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest publicly traded oil company, says record crude prices helped its net income grow 17 percent in the first quarter.

Exxon Mobil said Thursday its earnings for the first three months of the year rose to $10.9 billion, or $2.03 per share, up from $9.3 billion, or $1.62 per share, a year ago.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were looking for a slightly larger profit of $2.13 per share.

"We can't tell you any more about it right now, but stay tuned."

- Improvements in fundamentals across the board helped major telecom firm Rogers Communications Inc.

(TSX:RCI.B) more than double first-quarter profits and the company said it's finally bringing Apple's long-awaited iPhone to Canada, though it didn't say when.

Rogers reported Tuesday net earnings of $344 million or 54 cents per share on a diluted basis, compared with a profit of $170 million, 26 cents per share in the year-earlier period.

Verizon Communications Inc.'s first-quarter earnings rose 9.8 percent as its wireless division attracted more customers than other carriers.

The country's second-largest telecommunications company earned $1.64 billion, or 57 cents per share, in the quarter that ended March 31, compared with $1.50 billion, or 51 cents per share, a year ago.

Revenue rose 5.5 percent to $23.8 billion from $22.6 billion.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. says it swung to a profit on higher revenue in the first quarter, reversing last year's loss by focusing on higher-priced tires and international markets.

The biggest U.S.-based tiremaker said Friday that it earned $147 million, or 60 cents per share, on sales of $4.94 billion in the three months that ended March 31.

A year earlier, Goodyear lost $174 million, or 96 cents per share, in sales of $4.5 billion.

- Heavy equipment maker Caterpillar says demand for its global mining and energy products pushed its first-quarter earnings up 13 per cent.

Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar Inc. said Friday it earned US$922 million, or $1.45 per share, in the January-March period compared with $816 million, or $1.23 per share, in the year-ago quarter.

Revenue rose 18 per cent to $11.8 billion from $10.02 billion a year earlier.

Bank of New York Mellon says its first-quarter earnings rose 72 percent due to fee and net interest growth.

The New York-based bank says it earned $746 million, or 65 cents per share.

It earned $434 million, or 60 cents per share, during the year-ago period.

Excluding merger costs and other special charges, the bank says it earned 78 cents per share.

Thomson Financial reports analysts expected earnings of 73 cents per share.

Shares of IBM Corp. surged to a six-year high after the technology company surprised analysts by reporting a 26 percent jump in quarterly earnings and boosting its full-year forecast.

The provider of technology services, software and server computers said it earned $2.32 billion, or $1.65 per share, in the first quarter.

That was well ahead of its profit of $1.84 billion, or $1.21 per share, in the same period of 2007.

U.S. Bancorp says its first-quarter earnings fell 4 percent due to impairment charges and rising loss reserves.

The Minneapolis-based bank says it earned $1.09 billion, or 62 cents per share down from $1.13 billion, or 63 cents per share, during the same period last year.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial, on average, expected earnings of 61 cents per share.

Wachovia says it's cutting its dividend to 37.5 cents and going to issue common stock and convertible preferred stock after reporting a loss during the first quarter of $350 million before preferred dividends.

Excluding merger-related expenses, the Charlotte-based bank lost 14 cents a share.

It earned $2.3 billion, or $1.20 a share, in the year-earlier period.

Blockbuster reported fourth quarter net income of $41 million, or 18 cents a share for 2007. Compared with $11.2 million, or four cents a share the year before.

Not including charges, per share earnings increased to 26 cents from 11 cents.

Revenue grew 3.6 percent to $1.57 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had expected earnings of 18 cents per share or revenue of $1.4 billion.

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