News Highlights: Top Equities Stories Of The Day

=UPDATE: SOCGEN 3Q NET PROFIT MORE THAN DOUBLES ON CIB GAINS French bank Societe Generale SA said Wednesday that third-quarter net profit more than doubled as a continuing improvement in market conditions boosted earnings at its corporate and investment bank. (published 0636 GMT) =UPDATE: CLARIANT SEES HIGHER 4Q RESTRUCTURING, IMPAIRMENT COSTS Swiss chemicals company Clariant AG said Wednesday that it expects restructuring costs and impairment charges to rise in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter as it is still battling with sluggish demand in its end markets. (published 0655 GMT) JCDECAUX 3Q REV DOWN 13%, ADVERTISING CONDITIONS STILL VOLATILE French outdoor advertising company JCDecaux Wednesday reported a 13% decline in its third quarter revenue and said although it expects some improvement in the fourth quarter, the company still sees no signs of recovery in the advertising market. (published 0628 GMT) NOBEL BIOCARE 3Q NET PFT EUR33.6M VS PROFIT EUR13.5M Swiss dental implants maker Nobel Biocare Holding AG Wednesday said its third-quarter net profit more than doubled but said it doesn't see any recovery in the short term. (published 0606 GMT) =UPDATE: SCOR 3Q NET PFT UP AS LIFE REINSURANCE PREMIUMS RISE Reinsurance company Scor SE said Wednesday that sharply higher life reinsurance premiums helped net profit more than double in the third quarter and said it expects demand to remain strong through 2010. (published 0642 GMT) YAMAHA MOTOR FALLS INTO RED IN JULY-SEPTEMBER, KEEPS FISCAL YEAR FORECAST Yamaha Motor Co. said Wednesday that it fell into the red in the July-September quarter, plagued by sluggish demand for motorcycles and boat-related products as well as reduced production to lower its inventories. (published 0308 GMT) MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL JULY-SEPTEMBER GROUP NET PROFIT Y14.2B VS Y10.4B Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. Wednesday reported a 36.1% rise in its fiscal second-quarter net profit and gave an improved results outlook for the fiscal year. (published 0545 GMT) =UPDATE: AIRBUS AIMS TO MAINTAIN DELIVERIES IN 2010 Airbus hopes to deliver a similar number of aircraft in 2010 as it does this year amid a gradual recovery in the global aviation industry that has started now and will reach its completion in 2011, an executive with the company said Wednesday. (published 0350 GMT) =3RD UPDATE: WESTPAC CALLS TOP OF BAD DEBT CYCLE AS PROFIT FALLS Westpac Banking Corp. said Wednesday that its full year earnings were lower on year, weighed down by rising bad debts and other one-time items, but the group expects that problem loans may be at their peak. (published 0448 GMT) =UPDATE: TELSTRA SAYS BREAKUP COULD COST UP TO A$1.2B Telstra Corp. said Wednesday it is being "very firm" in negotiations with the Australian government over its proposed broadband network, warning a functional breakup of the company could cost as much as A$1.2 billion. (published 0254 GMT) =WSJ: TOYOTA CHINA OCTOBER SALES UP 42% ON YEAR TO 65,500 VEHICLES - SPOKESMAN Toyota Motor Corp.'s sales in China last month increased 42% from a year earlier to 65,500 vehicles, a spokesman said. (published 0430 GMT) TSMC: FIRM WINS SUIT AGAINST SMIC ON PATENT, TRADE SECRETS USE Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. won a lawsuit against China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. on patents and trade secret infringement, TSMC spokesman J.H. Tzeng said Wednesday. (published 0105 GMT) =UPDATE: SK E&C GETS $2.1B OIL REFINING FACILITY ORDER IN UAE SK Engineering & Construction Co. said Wednesday it has received a $2.1 billion order from Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Co., or Takreer, to build an oil refining plant in United Arab Emirates. (published 0410 GMT) =UPDATE: MINGFA CUTS HK IPO SIZE TO $383M; LISTS NOV 13 - SOURCE Chinese developer Mingfa Group Co. has cut the size of its Hong Kong initial public offering to US$383 million from US$506 million, including the overallotment option, and now plans to list Nov. 13, a person familiar with the situation said Wednesday. (published 0442 GMT) TCL COMMUNICATION PLANS TO RAISE AT LEAST HK$357.5 MLN FROM RIGHTS ISSUE TCL Communication Technology Holdings Ltd. said Tuesday it plans to raise at least HK$357.5 million in a one-for-two rights issue to upgrade and expand existing productions. (published 0124 GMT)