Among the earnings stories for Wednesday, Nov. 4, from AP Financial News: Pulte Homes Inc. lost $361.4 million in the third quarter, but with the acquisition of Centex Corp., the homebuilder's new orders increased by more than a third. Ameristar Casinos Inc. said its profit edged up in the third quarter, helped by lower operating expenses, a lower tax rate and an uptick in room revenue. Shares of Mueller Water Products Inc. jumped after the maker of fire hydrants and municipal water valves posted better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results on cost controls and higher production. R.R. Donnelley & Sons. Co. said its third-quarter profit fell 92 percent, weighed down by charges related to the loss of a big customer. XTO Energy Inc. said its third-quarter earnings fell 4 percent, but the oil and natural gas producer raised its full-year production outlook. Biotechnology company Affymax Inc. said its third-quarter loss narrowed on a boost in payments from its partner Takeda Pharmaceutical on the anemia drug candidate Hematide. Tyco Electronics Ltd. said its fiscal fourth-quarter profit fell more than 50 percent, though its adjusted earnings beat Wall Street estimates. Shares surged in morning trading.
