The number two search engine in the United States turned in a fantastic third quarter, far ahead of expectations. Cost-cutting, layoffs and business divestitures led to a surge in Yahoo's (NASDAQ: YHOO) profits and a 4.8% increase in share price in extended trading on Tuesday evening. Net income more than tripled to $186.1 million (13 cents per share) from the third quarter of 2008's result of $54.3 million (4 cents a share). Sales (exclusive of fees passed to partner sites) reached $1.13 billion, slightly above the $1.12 billion expected by analysts, according to a Bloomberg survey.

With the advertising market in rough shape and competition from Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) continually rising, Yahoo refocused on its core properties: the home page, messaging and mobile services. The company trimmed what it didn't need, which is why it was able to boost its earnings even with a decline in revenue. Increased ad revenue from auto manufacturers, travel companies and consumer product manufacturers also helped.

Yahoo's chief financial officer, Timothy Morse, says that the company's markets are "starting to stabilize." Of course, Yahoo itself must be doing something right: its share price is up 41% this year.

Today's economic numbers looked just as we expect for some time: Horrible. University of Michigan sentiment and housing looked atrocious. Warren Buffett wrote a short piece in the New York Times calling it the time to buy stocks. Today was an options expiration date and that led to added volatility throughout the trading day. Below are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

DJIA 8,852.22 (-127.04; -1.41%)
NASDAQ 1,711.29 (-6.42; -0.37%)
S&P500 940.50 (-5.93; -0.63%)
10YR T-Bond 3.938% (+0.002%)
Top Analyst Upgrades

Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) traded up marginally after beating earnings with $0.55 non-GAAP EPS vs. $0.49 estimates, but it did outline how currencies helped out its bottom line. Shares still managed to trade up today and shares were up 3% at $42.67 right before the close.