[R]11:00AM New York – Stocks in New York traded higher on retail sales and inflation data.[/R]

Stocks in early trading rose after earnings from General Electric, retail sales, and a inflation report.

The Labor Department reported that September producer price index rose 1.1% and core PPI excluding food and energy gained 0.2%.

The Commerce Department reported September retail sales increased 0.6% after an increase of 0.3% in August.

General Electric (GE: chart) reported third quarter earnings rose 14% on revenue rise of 12% to $42.53 billion. GE reported net earnings per share of 54 cents compared to 50 cents a year ago or $5.5 billion compared to $5.1 billion.

The company realized a $1.8 billion after-tax benefit from the sale of its Plastics business and recorded it in discontinued operations. At the same time, the company took a $1.4 billion charge in discontinued operations for its planned sale of the Japanese personal loan and WMC mortgage businesses. In addition, the company recorded $0.6 billion of after-tax industrial restructuring and other charges in continuing operations, $0.1 billion higher than previously announced.

Centex Corporation (CTX: chart) in the preliminary results for the second quarter reported that net sales declined 13%. The company noted in the press release that it plans to take a charge of nearly $1 billion.

For the fiscal second quarter, Centex closed 7,350 units, a decrease of 14 percent from one year ago. Net sales (orders) for the period were 5,953 units, a decrease of 13 percent from last year's second quarter. Also at quarter-end, backlog was 9,633 units, a decrease of 38 percent compared to one year ago.

For the quarter, the Company expects to record an impairment of approximately $850 million for neighborhood and land inventory, and an impairment and option write-off of approximately $40 million for the Company's share of land holdings in joint ventures. The Company also expects to write off option deposits and pre-acquisition costs of approximately $40 million and to record an impairment to goodwill of approximately $65 million.

Centex also anticipates its wholly-owned financial services subsidiary to report a provision of approximately $60 million for increased losses related to mortgage market and credit exposures.

Centex generated positive cash flow from operations during the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2007. The Company projects consolidated cash flow of approximately $500 million for fiscal 2008, down from previous estimates of $750 million, reflecting the impact of worsening conditions in the housing market.

Electronic Arts (EA: chart) purchased for $860 million VG Holdings controlled by Elevation partners. The game developer is known for its action and adventure themed video games titles.

Cold Water Creek (CWTR: chart) fell 26% in the early hours of trading after it reported that it is likely to report a loss between 11 cents and 13 cents on revenue between $260 million and $265 million. Analysts surveyed by 123jump.com were looking for a profit of at least 11 cents on revenue of $289 million.

[R]10:00AM New York – Oracle offer $6.6 billion in cash for BEA Systems.[/R]

Oracle Corp (ORCL: chart) offered $17 per share to software system developer BEA Systems Inc (BEA: chart). The BEA stock has come under pressure in the last six months of trading as it has fallen as low as $10.50. The stock rebounded today at the opening to $18 on the news.

Oracle Corporation today confirmed that it delivered a letter to the Board of Directors of BEA Systems, Inc. on October 9 in which Oracle proposes to acquire BEA for $17.00 per share in cash. The $17.00 per share offer is a 25% premium over yesterday's closing price of $13.62.

The letter indicates that Oracle is prepared to proceed immediately to a process that leads to a definitive agreement. 'We have made a serious proposal including a substantial premium for BEA,' said Oracle President Charles Phillips. 'We believe our all cash offer provides the best value for BEA's shareholders and the best home for BEA's employees and customers. This proposal is the culmination of repeated conversations with BEA's management over the last several years.

BEA has faced stagnant earnings in the last three years and battled for market share with IBM. The stock in the last two years has declined from its high $17 to as low as $10.50.

At the opening three popular averages were trading higher. Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 21 to 14,034, Nasdaq increased 11 to 2,783, and S&P 500 increased 2 to 1,556.