* * * * * J B K * * * * *
San Francisco
Caterpillar Inc., the world's largest maker of construction equipment, posted its first earnings increase in seven quarters, exceeding analysts' estimates, as the global economy began to improve.
First-quarter profit excluding costs for a new health-care law was 50 cents a share, beating the average estimate of 39 cents a share in a Bloomberg survey of 21 analysts. Caterpillar stock rose the most since mid-February.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=anEjq4hd4nb4&pos=7
