News & Events:MSFT

* J&J raises 2021 profit forecast after Q3 earnings beat. * Insurer Travelers rises after beating profit estimates. * Walmart (WMT) up on entering GS 'conviction list' * P&G falls after warning on higher supply chain costs. * Indexes up: Dow 0.31%, S&P 0.39%, Nasdaq 0.44% By Shreyashi Sanyal.

* J&J raises 2021 profit forecast after Q3 earnings beat. * Walmart (WMT) up after entering GS 'conviction list' * P&G falls on higher supply chain costs warning. * Futures up: Dow 0.42%, S&P 0.42%, Nasdaq 0.34% By Shreyashi Sanyal.

Abu Dhabi's new technology hub says it has seen a surge in interest from start-up firms in the United Arab Emirates and abroad despite the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic last year, amid increased optimism from the sector.

* Investors bet company earnings to offset inflation jitters. * Oil prices rise but stay below 3-year highs. * Dollar stumbles, riskier currencies rally. * Graphic: Global asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn. * Graphic: World FX rates http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh. By Saikat Chatterjee and Tommy Wilkes.

* J&J raises 2021 profit forecast after Q3 earnings beat. * Walmart (WMT) rises on entering GS "conviction list" * Futures up: Dow 0.42%, S&P 0.45%, Nasdaq 0.34% By Shreyashi Sanyal. Oct 19 - U.S. stock index futures rose on Tuesday as an upbeat profit forecast from Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) added to the positive momentum in corporate earnings generated by big banks last week.

* Graphic: Global asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn. * Graphic: World FX rates http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh. By Saikat Chatterjee. World stocks climbed to a one-month high on Tuesday as a rally in technology shares and prospects of solid corporate earnings helped counter concerns about elevated inflationary pressures.

Repsol SA: * SAYS AIRBUS AND FERROVIAL JOIN INDESIA, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CONSORTIUM OF SPANISH INDUSTRY Further company coverage:

Asian shares bounced on Tuesday, led by technology names across the region and as Chinese markets clawed back ground lost after disappointing economic data, while the improved investor confidence weighed on the safe-haven dollar.

The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is moving to soon allow people to receive booster shots that are different from their first COVID-19 vaccine doses, people familiar with the matter said. https://on.wsj.com/30G1yID.

Asian shares advanced on Tuesday, supported by a tech-driven Wall Street rally, and a rebound in Chinese markets a day after weak data heightened investor concerns about the world's second-largest economy. The dollar was under pressure as weak U.S. factory data tempered expectations about any near-term interest rate increases.

* S&P 500 ends higher with tech, growth names. * China 3rd-quarter GDP grows 4.9%, below expectations. * Dollar, oil slip. By Caroline Valetkevitch. Global stock indexes mostly rose on Monday following gains in U.S. mega-cap technology and other growth names, while five-year Treasury yields rose to their highest levels since early 2020.

* Consumer discretionary sector leads S&P gainers. * Utilities lead S&P sector losers. * Disney (DIS) slips after Barclays downgrades to 'equal weight' * Dow down 0.1%, S&P up 0.34%, Nasdaq up 0.84% By Devik Jain, Shreyashi Sanyal and Sinéad Carew.

* Disney (DIS) slips as Barclays downgrades to 'equal weight' * Consumer discretionary sector leads S&P gainers. * Dow down 0.21%, S&P up 0.18%, Nasdaq up 0.62% By Devik Jain, Shreyashi Sanyal and Sinéad Carew. Oct 18 - The S&P and Nasdaq were gaining on Monday with a helping hand from heavyweight technology companies as investors appeared optimistic about the third-quarter earnings season.

* Disney (DIS) slips as Barclays downgrades to 'equal weight' * Energy shares gain as Brent crude tops $85. * Indexes down: Dow 0.40%, S&P 0.23%, Nasdaq 0.09% By Devik Jain. Wall Street's main indexes fell on Monday as economic growth in China slowed, while a relentless surge in oil prices fueled concerns about elevated inflation.

* Disney (DIS) slips as Barclays downgrades to 'equal weight' * Energy shares gain as Brent crude tops $85. * Futures down: Dow 0.36%, S&P 0.34%, Nasdaq 0.29% By Devik Jain. Oct 18 - Wall Street's main indexes were set to open lower on Monday as economic growth in China slowed, while a relentless surge in oil prices fueled concerns about elevated inflation.

* Futures down: Dow 0.26%, S&P 0.31%, Nasdaq 0.42% By Devik Jain. U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Monday, led by technology shares, ahead of a slate of earnings reports this week, while a relentless surge in oil prices fueled concerns about elevated inflation.

Facebook (FB) said on Monday that it will hire 10,000 people in Europe to help it build a "metaverse". The concept of the metaverse is quickly becoming a buzzword in technology and business. WHAT IS THE METAVERSE? Metaverse is a broad term.

Michigan-based Our Next Energy, which is developing an advanced battery for electric vehicles, has raised $25 million from investors ranging from German automaker BMW to a clean technology venture firm headed by Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates, the young company said on Monday.

* Airlines, cruise operators jump on easing U.S. travel curbs. * Retail sales up 0.7% in September despite shortages. * Goldman Sachs (GS) rises on strong third-quarter earnings. * Indexes up: Dow 0.57%, S&P 0.42%, Nasdaq 0.24% By Devik Jain and Federica Urso.

* Retail sales up 0.7% in Sept. despite shortages. * Goldman Sachs (GS) rises on strong Q3 earnings. * Futures: Dow 0.63%, S&P 0.46%, Nasdaq 0.34% By Devik Jain and Federica Urso. Oct 15 - U.S. stock indexes were set for gains on Friday after Goldman Sachs (GS) rounded out a strong earnings season for big banks, while a surprise rise in retail sales strengthened views about economic recovery.