Earnings roundup: Sprint Nextel loss wider as customers leave, Aetna profit rises

Among the earnings stories for Thursday, Oct. 29, from AP Financial News:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Sprint Nextel Corp., the nation's third-largest wireless carrier, on Thursday reported a wider third-quarter loss and a larger exodus of customers despite an improved slate of phones and cheaper rates.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ Health insurer Aetna Inc. said Thursday its third-quarter profit rose 18 percent on enrollment gains, but spiraling medical costs continued to hurt the company's core insurance business.

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. wound up losing more money in its third quarter than a year earlier, even though its revenue was stable, in part because it repaid some debt early.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) _ Energy company NorthWestern Corp. said late Wednesday that its third-quarter profit increased by 41 percent, spurred mostly by a $12.4 million tax benefit from a repair expense deduction.

NEW YORK (AP) _ The world's largest publicly traded oil company said Thursday that oil production is bouncing back with crude prices.

CHICAGO (AP) _ Burger King Corp.'s fiscal first-quarter profit slipped 6 percent as recession-weary diners stayed home or went bargain-hunting at competitors, the company said Thursday.

BROOMFIELD, Colo. (AP) _ Plastic and metal packaging company Ball Corp. said Thursday its third-quarter profit rose slightly, crediting cost savings from previous restructuring efforts, and beat Wall Street predictions.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) _ Corinthian Colleges Inc. said Thursday that unemployment near 10 percent drove more students to its schools, boosting fiscal first-quarter profit by nearly sixfold.