Earnings also improved 10.5% year over year backed by higher cigarette and moist snuff pricing, which more than offset increased investment in the Vuse brand of e-cigarettes.

After a few weeks of rumors, on Sunday AT&T (T) confirmed its $95/share offer for DirecTV (DTV). The deal will be part stock and part cash, and is expected to close within 12 months if the deal meets regulatory approval.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped from record highs yesterday on concerns of rising inflation. Producer prices increased 0.6% in April, the largest increase since September 2012. Economists had predicted a rise of just 0.2%. Here’s what you need to know to make your Thursday profitable...

Texas-based Noble Energy of Israeli gas discovery fame is now looking to sell off its majority stake in an oilfield off northeastern China that launched commercial production more than a decade ago.