The Traderszone Network

The world’s largest credit and debit card company and its competitors are turning their attention to mobile payments, an industry given fresh impetus by the entry of Apple Inc (AAPL.O). Visa, along with Mastercard Inc (MA.N) and American Express Co (AXP.N), have partnered with Apple in the launch of a system – Apple Pay – that allows iPhone users to pay for anything from office supplies to burgers at the tap of a button. Several analysts have estimated that mobile payments will be a $1 trillion global industry by 2017.

Kraft’s shares were down 1.8 percent at $55.87 in after-hours trading. The company, which also makes Oscar Mayer meats and Kool-Aid beverages, said gross margin fell to 29.3 percent in the third quarter ended Sept. 27, from 33.8 percent a year earlier. At the same time, it has been offering discounts to boost sales at its meals and desserts business, where revenue fell 6.7 percent as consumers increasingly reach for healthier, organic food over desserts and processed items.

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“We delivered both top and bottom line growth, investment margins remained strong, and expenses were well controlled,” Chief Executive Steve Kandarian said in statement. MetLife said earlier this month that it would fight a plan by the U.S. AIG (AIG.N) and Prudential Financial Inc (PRU.N) were designated as systemically important last year. On an operating basis, MetLife earned $1.60 per share in the third quarter, topping the average analyst estimate of $1.38, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Apple supplier Cirrus Logic just turned in some solid results; let’s take a closer look.

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Williams Companies just reported abysmal earnings. Find out whether this company and its MLPs is still worth owning.

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