Amgen Inc. (AMGN: chart) of Thousand Oaks, California, said after market close Tuesday its third-quarter net earnings rose to $612 million, or 46 cents a share, boosted by strong sales of its cancer-related and arthritis medicines. For the same period last year the world's no.1 biotechnology company posted a loss of $2.6 billion, or $2.10 a share, which included a $3 billion charge for the acquisition of Immunex Corp. Excluding extraordinary items, profit was $714 million, or 53 cents a share, up from $436.8 million, or 34 cents a share, a year earlier. The company beat analysts’ expectations for profit of 51 cents a share. The biotech giant said sales for the quarter ended September 30 increased 54% to $2.1 billion, from $1.5 billion, in the prior year.

Amgen narrowed its outlook for total product sales in 2003 to range between $7.6 billion and $7.9 billion, from a previous forecast of $7.5 billion to $8 billion.

Amgen shares gained 2.84% to close at $63.65 on Tuesday. The stock dropped 2.67% to $61.95 in after-hours trading.

Before market open Tuesday, United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS: chart) posted for its third quarter ended September 30 an income of $739 million, or 65 cents a share, a 28% rise from a profit of $578 million, or 51 cents a share, for the same period a year earlier. The world's largest shipping carrier based in Atlanta, Georgia, said it benefited from an increase in the volume of letters and packages it delivers by air for next-day service.

The stock closed Tuesday up 22 cents, or 0.32%, at $68.97. UPS shares added 0.77% to $69.50 in after-hours trading.

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MMC: chart) said its third-quarter earnings rose 19%, helped by solid revenue increase. The New York-based world's largest insurance brokerage company posted a net profit of $357 million, or 65 cents a share, on revenue of $2.84 billion, up from $299 million, or 55 cents a share, on revenue of $2.55 billion, in the year-ago period.

Company’s stock slipped 4.09% to close Tuesday at $46.40.

Boosted by increased consumer lending, Wells Fargo & Company (WFC: chart) of San Francisco, California said Tuesday its third-quarter net profit jumped 8% to a record $1.56 billion, or 92 cents a share, from $1.44 billion, or 84 cents a share, in the prior-year quarter. The No.4 U.S. bank results fell short by a penny of analysts’ estimates.

The stock closed at $55.50, up 13 cents, or 0.23%.

Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX: chart), the Natick, Massachusetts-based maker of medical devices, said Tuesday net profit for its fiscal third quarter slumped to $124 million, or 29 cents per share, including special charges. Despite strong sales of a key new coronary device overseas, results were down from $161 million, or 39 cents per share, generated in the 2002 third quarter, as the year ago results were helped by a special after-tax credit of $62 million.

Company shares rose Tuesday 0.38% to $63.84. The stock added 2.13% to $65.20 in after-hours trading.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP: chart) swung to a third-quarter profit as the Houston, Texas-based global power provider posted Tuesday net income of $182 million, or 59 cents a share, compared with a loss of $4.1 billion, or $13.77 a share, in the year-ago quarter. Profit was due to improved results at power subsidiary Texas Genco Holdings Inc.

The stock surged 5.07% to close Tuesday at $9.95. Company shares gained 15 cents to $10.10 in after-hours trading.

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK: chart) of Seattle, Washington said Tuesday its third-quarter earnings more than tripled on higher traffic and a government waiver of security fees. The No.9 carrier in the U.S. posted net profit of $40.7 million, or $1.52 per share, up from $12.5 million, or 47 cents per share, a year ago, and above analysts’ projections of $1.15 per share.

Company shares closed flat at $30.90 on Tuesday.

Compuware Corporation (CPWR: chart), the Detroit, Michigan-based maker of software to manage computer systems, reported Tuesday a second-quarter net loss of $8.5 million, or 2 cents per share, against a net profit of $33.8 million, or 9 cents per share, in last year’s second quarter. The company said results were due to lower revenue and increased spending on marketing and sales.

Compuware shares soared 2.83% to close Tuesday at $5.81. The stock dropped 11 cents to $5.70 in after-hours trading.

Seagate Technology (STX: chart), the No.1 U.S. maker of hard disk drives, reported Tuesday a first-quarter net income of $198 million, or 40 cents a share, compared with $110 million, or 24 cents a year earlier. Analysts had expected earnings of 36 cents a share. For the quarter ended October 3, Scotts Valley, California-based Seagate Technology said revenue was $1.74 billion from $1.58 billion.

The stock closed Tuesday up 20 cents, or 0.68%, at $29.50. Company shares slid 4.31% to $28.23 in after-hours trading.

Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN: chart) reported Tuesday a third-quarter net profit of $16 million, or 4 cents a share, against a loss of $35 million, or 9 cents a share, a year ago, on the back of free shipping incentives and a new sporting goods store. The Seattle, Washington-based Internet retailer said revenue rose 33% to $1.1 billion from $851 million a year earlier.