Consolidated Communications Holdings Inc, (CNSL: chart), communications services provider, reported that Q4 net loss was narrower reaching $2.1 million, or 7 cents a share, from $10.6 million in the year-ago period, as revenue advanced 3.3%. The company missed analyst estimate for a profit of 15 cents a share. The company also added that its digital video service advanced considerably during Q4, which should be instrumental in boosting customer loyalty.


8:00AM Asian markets advanced across the region, despite Sony’s stock decline.
Asian-Pacific benchmarks advanced across the region Wednesday, boosted by solid gains on Wall Street overnight. The Nikkei rose 0.5% to 16,319.04, despite 1.8% decline in Sony’s stock as the electronic giant postponed the release of its PlayStation 3 game console until November. The index was largely supported by technology, communications and auto stocks, including Advantest, up 1.9%, NTT DoCoMo, up 0.6%, and Honda Motor rising 0.7%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 1.3% on property stocks, helped by easing rate-hike concerns. Shanghai Composite surged 1.3%, led by gains in oil major Sinopec. Taiwan weighted index rose 0.9% on strong tech sector and South Korea’s Kospi advanced 0.6% on insurance stocks.

European markets posted gains at mid-day trading, lifted by strong resource and technology stocks, following a sharp decline in U.S. bond yields overnight. BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, and BP advanced on higher metal prices. Among tech stocks, STMicroelectronics and Infineon Technologies showed strength. The German DAX 30 added 0.3%, the French CAC 40 gained 0.3%, and London FTSE 100 rose 0.5%.