Market Roundup

Shares of Jefferies Group Inc JEF fell about 1.3% after the company reported a 3.8% drop in its fiscal second-quarter profit on Tuesday. Jefferies reported its quarterly profit at $80.6 million, or $0.36 per share, down from $83.8 million, or $0.41 per share, in the year-earlier period. Excluding charitable contributions and acquisition costs, the company's earnings came in at $0.39 per share. Its revenue surged 8.9% to $727.2 million. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.40 per share on revenue of $727 million. Jefferies' revenue from its investment banking arm jumped 28% to $328.4 million, while fixed income revenue increased 2% to $223.1 million. Shares of Aegon NV AEG gained about 2.5% after the company issued its growth forecast for the next few years ahead of an Analyst & Investor Conference in London. Aegon projects pretax profit growth of 7% to 10% per annum between 2010 and 2015. It also projects to achieve a return on equity of 10% to 12% by 2015. Aegon plans to resume dividend payments with dividend of 0.10 euros per share related to H2 2011 in May. Shares of Barnes & Noble Inc BKS gained about 1.2% after the company reported wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss. Barnes & Noble reported a quarterly loss at $59 million, or $1.04 per share, versus a loss of $32 million, or $0.58 per share, in the year-earlier period. Its quarterly revenue rose 4% to $1.4 billion. Analysts expected a loss of $0.91 per share on revenue of $1.4 billion. Barnes & Noble's same store sales dropped 2.9% for the quarter. Shares of Jabil Circuit Inc JBL gained about 3.6% as the company is all set to report its quarterly results after the closing bell. Jabil Circuit is projected to report its FQ3 earnings at $0.57 per share on revenue of $4.14 billion. Shares of Carnival Corp CCL gained about 3.3% after the company reported an 18% drop in its second-quarter net income and lowered its full-year earnings guidance. Carnival reported its quarterly earnings at $206 million, or $0.26 per share, down from $252 million, or $0.32 per share, in the year-earlier period. Its revenue surged 11% to $3.62 billion. Analysts were expecting earnings of $0.23 per share on revenue of $3.51 billion. Carnival now projects 2011 earnings of $2.40 to $2.50 per share and third-quarter earnings of $1.60 to $1.64 per share. Analysts expected full-year earnings of $2.54 per share and Q3 earnings of $1.74 per share.