REGION

REGION
FirstEnergy dividend
AKRON -- FirstEnergy Corp. declared an unchanged quarterly dividend of 37.5 cents per share of outstanding common stock. The dividend will be payable Dec. 1 to shareholders of record on Nov. 5.
NATION
Sales boost McDonald's
CHICAGO -- McDonald's Corp. reported a 42 percent jump in third-quarter profits Tuesday as its turnaround continued at full speed well into a second year, fueled by a U.S. sales boom.
The company benefited from longer U.S. restaurant hours, higher-priced new menu items, the "I'm lovin' it" ad campaign and accepting payment from customers via credit and debit cards. For the quarter, the company earned $778 million.
Ford sees $266M profit
DEARBORN, Mich. -- Buoyed again by strong results at its financial services arm, Ford Motor Co. swung to a profit of $266 million in the third quarter even though the loss at its worldwide automotive operations widened. Ford, which lost $25 million in the same quarter last year, posted better results primarily because of better-than-expected results at the financial business, Ford Motor Credit Co.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports