Earnings roundup: DirecTV, NCR

Among the earnings stories for Wednesday, May 7, from AP Financial News:

Top stories:

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Satellite television company DirecTV said Wednesday its first-quarter earnings rose 10.4 percent, as it acquired more subscribers in the U.S. and Latin America and customers spent more on high-definition and video recording services.

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) _ Cash-machine maker NCR Corp. said Wednesday that its first-quarter earnings increased 41 percent on record sales to banks and retailers and boosted its revenue expectations.

Other stories:

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) _ Health care products company Allergan Inc. on Wednesday said its first-quarter profit more than doubled as sales spiked across its eye-care treatment, Botox skin care and medical devices product lines.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Standard Motor Products Inc., which makes and distributes automotive replacement parts, said Wednesday its first-quarter earnings soared, mostly due to a one-time gain from the sale of corporate facilities.

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Allied Capital Corp. posted a loss for the first quarter on Wednesday as the fund's investments in certain kinds of debt soured.

HOUSTON (AP) _ Consolidated Graphics Inc. said Wednesday its fiscal fourth-quarter profit jumped nearly 89 percent as gains from acquisitions lifted results for the commercial printing company.

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The Hollywood writers strike hurt TV ratings and ad revenue at The Walt Disney Co.'s ABC network, but not enough to stop the company's second-quarter net profit from growing 22 percent.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ After seeing Cisco Systems Inc.'s market value plunge $50 billion over the past six months, investors were relieved that the networking equipment maker managed to weather U.S. economic turbulence better than expected in its fiscal third quarter.