The world’s largest maker of dental implants, Nobel Biocare Holding AG, reported a 2.8 percent decline in fourth-quarter profit as in the U.S. and Europe slowed.

Steelmaker and scrap metal recycler Nucor Corp. will acquire one of the nation's biggest scrap-metal companies SHV North America Corp., which owns scrap company David J. Joseph Co., for about $1.44 billion, a deal that boosts Nucor's already large profile in the scrap-metals business.

McDonald's Corp., world's largest chain of fast food restaurants, reported comparable sales rose 5.7% in January, spurred by growth in Europe and Asia, but sales growth in the U.S. lagged.

British pharmaceutical, biological, and healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline PLC announced its fourth-quarter net profit fell 10%. The company forecasts a decline in earnings this financial year because of lower sales of its Avandia diabetes pill and greater generic competition.

A global American beverage and snack company PepsiCo Inc. announced its fourth-quarter profit fell 31% from results a year ago that included a tax benefit from a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service.

The largest U.S. homebuilder DR Horton Inc. announced its third consecutive quarterly loss as demand for new homes deteriorated.

Volvo AB, Swedish truckmaker, announced its fourth quarter net income rose 9.8%, helped by continued strong growth in Asia and Europe.

Biogen Idec Inc announced its fourth-quarter profit rose 84%, helped by increased sales of its multiple sclerosis drugs Avonex and Tysabri.

Europe’s third largest telephone communication company, France Telecom SA, announced a 52-percent increase of its annual profit. The achievement became possible due to company’s efforts to attract more subscribers. In addition, the company cut jobs and paid less tax.

Mazda Motor Corp. announced that its net profit grew 7.1% in the third quarter, as it sold more vehicles in emerging markets as well as in Europe and North America.

NYSE Euronext reported that EPS doubled to 59 US cents in the fourth quarter from 29 cents a year earlier as volatility on its financial markets continued to lift revenues and as the company implemented cost cuts.

Humana Inc. announced the increase of its fourth-quarter earnings by 57 percent. The increase was achieved because of the income tax rate the level of which was lower than expected. In addition, the company obtained profit from a venture capital investment. As a result, Humana raised the outlook of its profit for 2008.