--(www.USEquityNews.com)-- 04/22/2008 - Financial industry alert provided by U.S. Equity News. Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (NYSE: WDR) reported first quarter net income of $28.3 million, or $0.33 per diluted share compared to net income of $35.1 million, or $0.42 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2007 and net income of $28.7 million, or $0.35 per diluted share in last year's first quarter. "The market environment during the first quarter of 2008 was very challenging," said Hank Herrmann, Chief Executive Officer of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. "Flows remained very strong. Sales in both our Advisors and Wholesale channels rose to record high levels.
LaBranche & Co Inc. (NYSE: LAB) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008. Included in these results are a pre-tax unrealized loss on the Company's shares of NYSE Euronext, Inc. common stock (the "NYX shares") of $79.2 million and a $0.9 million pre-tax loss on early extinguishment of $80.8 million of our public debt. As a result, the Company reported an after-tax net loss of $40.2 million, or $0.65 per share, for the 2008 first quarter. This compares to a net loss of $5.6 million, or $0.09 per share, for the 2007 first quarter, which also includes a $4.2 million pre-tax unrealized loss on the Company's NYX shares.
CME Group Inc. (NYSE: CME) today reported total revenues increased 88 percent to $625 million and net income increased 118 percent to $284 million for first-quarter 2008 compared with first-quarter 2007. Diluted earnings per share rose 42 percent to $5.25. These GAAP results reflect the operations of both Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and Board of Trade of the City of Chicago (CBOT) and include: $8.7 million of CBOT merger-related operating expenses consisting of restructuring charges, integration and legal costs, and the acceleration of depreciation related to CBOT data centers; $8.4 million of transaction costs related to the definitive cross-equity agreement with the Brazilian Mercantile & Futures Exchange (BM&F); $3.8 million related to the acquisition of Credit Market Analysis Limited (CMA), which was closed during the first quarter; and an $8.4 million reduction to non-operating expenses associated with the guarantee for holders of the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) exercise right privilege (ERP).
SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. recently announced that a new audio interview featuring, Kim Thompson, CEO of Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTC BB: KBLB) is now available at SmallCapVoice.com. The interview can be heard here at http://www.smallcapvoice.com/kblb/kblb-4-16-08.php. Investors and potential investors can learn more about Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. via the SmallCapVoice.com Investor Fact Sheet here http://www.smallcapvoice.com/kblb/factsheet.html.
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