1. Amazon smashes expectations and its stock takes off
Amazon shares soared in pre-market trading Friday after the online retail powerhouse reported quarterly profits that far exceeded expectations. The stock gained 12 percent after hours Thursday. Earnings per diluted share reached $1.07, nearly double the 59 cents per share forecast by analysts polled by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Amazon's sales increased by 28 percent to $29.1 billion, beating forecasts of $28 billion thanks partly to its fast-growing cloud services business and brisk North American sales.
2. Comcast to buy Dreamworks Animation for $3.8 billion
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3. U.S. economy starts 2016 with slowest growth in two years
4. Icahn pessimism on Apple scares investors
5. Priceline CEO Darren Huston steps down over relationship with employee
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