Whirlpool (WHR: chart) jumped $7.60 or 9.3% to $89.15 after it reported better than expected fourth quarter earnings. Earnings in the quarter from continuing operations of $187 million increased 41% to a record $2.38 per diluted share compared to $133 million, or $1.67 per diluted share reported during the previous year''s quarter. Revenue of $5.3 billion for the quarter increased 7% from the $5.0 billion in the previous year.

Full-year 2007 earnings from continuing operations were $8.10 per diluted share, up 28 percent from the $6.35 per diluted share reported in the same period last year. The company reported record annual net sales of $19.4 billion, an increase of 7% from the prior year.

International sales and cost savings from recently acquired Maytag lifted the earnings.

Operating profit increased 74 percent to $332 million and operating profit margins expanded 2.4 percent from the previous year. Fourth-quarter operating results benefited from cost- efficiency realization associated with the previous year''s acquisition of Maytag, productivity improvements, improved product mix and a favorable net currency impact.