RISERS
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) gained 1.9% to $113.82. The world’s largest technology company said it had signed up over 6.5mln subscribers to its music streaming service and a further 8.5mln users were currently using it via a three month free trial period.
United Technologies (NYSE:UTX) jumped 4.3% to $96.01 after the U.S. aerospace and building systems conglomerate disclosed a $12bn share-repurchase plan while reporting a third-quarter profit that topped market expectations.
Yum Brands (NYSE:YUM) rose 2.5% to $73.49 after the restaurant chain unveiled plans to spin off its China business.
Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) advanced 1.2% to $45.35. The largest U.S. wireless service provider posted a 5% increase in quarterly revenue as heavy promotions helped attract postpaid subscribers.
Travelers (NYSE:TRV) increased 2.4% to $108.90. The property-and-casualty insurer reported a 1% rise in third-quarter profit, aided by by higher underwriting gains.
SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) increased 4.9% to $75.52. Multiple reports suggested that the memory maker is in advanced talks to be acquired by disk drive maker Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC).
SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) inched up 0.8% to $75.36. The German business software provider said it had posted a 2% rise in net profit for the third quarter, helped by new subscriptions for its Internet cloud-based products.
FALLERS
Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) fell 2.7% to $557.58. The online retail giant is hiring 100,000 seasonal workers -- 25% more than last year -- for its U.S. warehouses to get through its busiest quarter.
Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) tumbled 13.7% to $48.27 after the biggest U.S. motorcycle maker posted third-quarter profit that lagged behind analysts’ estimates and slashed its shipments outlook again.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) fell 1.2% to $208.22 even as the defense contractor beat estimates by 0.05 with quarterly profit of $2.77 per share. Revenue was also above forecasts. It also raised its full year revenue and earnings guidance, and announced a 10% dividend increase.
United Continental Holdings (NYSE:UAL) skidded 1.9% to $55.70. The owner of United Airlines confirmed executive vice president and general counsel Brett Hart as acting chief executive in the place of Oscar Munoz, who suffered a heart attack earlier this month.