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Merrill Lynch & Co. (NYSE: MER) reported its first quarterly loss in six years after a larger-than-forecast $7.9 billion of writedowns for subprime mortgages and asset- backed bonds. The third-quarter loss of $2.24 billion, or $2.82 a share, compared with net income of $3.05 billion, or $3.17, a year earlier, exceeded the estimated loss of 45-cent per share and Merrill's own guidance on October 5 of 50 cents a share. MER shares, which have been trading down in premarket, have recovered somewhat to only 1.5% decline from 3.3% earlier.

Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) reported a third-quarter profit that climbed 61%, thanks to higher commercial airplane deliveries and growth in its defense business. Boeing's profit rose to $1.1 billion, or $1.44 per share, beating estimates of $1.24 per share. Revenue rose 12% to $16.5 billion, beating estimates of $16 billion in revenue according to Thomson Financial. Shares are up nearly 0.7% in premarket trading.

Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) acknowledged "delaying" some subscriber Internet traffic, interfering with file sharing by some of its Internet subscribers. The company also said any roadblocks it puts up are temporary and intended to improve surfing for other users.

Carlos Ghosn, the head of Nissan (NASDAQ: NSANY) of Japan and Renault of France," said he remains interested in a partnership with a major U.S. automaker, although he is not in talks or aggressively looking just yet." He did not mention by name any of the three biggest U.S. automakers like GM or Ford.

Investors will be looking for signs from Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) of a strong holiday quarter for Xbox 360 video game consoles and new computers loaded with Windows Vista when the company reports results this week.

Reuters compiled a list of companies impacted by the California fires. Among them Qualcomm, Sony, Starbucks and McDonald's.

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