NEW YORK (AP) — Stock prices are solidly higher in afternoon trading. Strong earnings reports from several U.S. companies are pushing the stock indexes higher as investors await tomorrow’s policy announcement from the Federal Reserve, The Dow was up more than 100 points, while the S&P 500 had added 15 and the Nasdaq composite had gained more than one percent, adding 60 points.
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (AP) — California says nearly half the state’s residents have had their personal data hacked, stolen or otherwise exposed in the last year. In a report on data breaches, California’s attorney general says as many as one-third of those 18.5 million people will become victims of fraud. The increase was partly due to big breaches at Target stores and the online marketplace Living Social, but retailers, banks, health care providers and other organizations reported 167 different breaches in all during 2013.
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Apple’s CEO is declaring the company’s new mobile payment system a success. At a tech industry conference in Laguna Beach, California, last night, Tim Cook boasted that the Apple Pay system had over 1 million activations in the first three days after it became available. He says Visa and MasterCard officials have told Apple that Apple Pay is already seeing more use than similar “contactless” methods of paying for purchases.
DETROIT (AP) — Fiat Chrysler’s longtime quality chief is leaving the company. Doug Betts’ departure comes a day after Fiat Chrysler brands got the worst ratings in the annual Consumer Reports reliability rankings. Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Fiat occupied the bottom four spots.
NEW YORK (AP) — Lowe’s is testing robots as a way to improve customer service in its stores. The machines are equipped with 3D cameras to scan and identify items. Customers can research items on the robot’s screens, and it can check inventory and lead the customer to the aisle where an item is located. The head of Lowes’ Innovation Lab says people can come in “with a random screw” and the robot will be able to help them find a match.
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