Here at the Fool, we've searched high and low across the Web to find the stories that will matter the most to you today. We hope you find this Thursday edition informative.

1. Upbeat Alcoa (NYSE:AA) kicks off earnings
Despite a steep revenue drop-off from the previous year, Alcoa started off earnings season by beating expectations through aggressive cost-cutting. Applause to management for making the best of a bad situation, but cost-cutting only goes so far in leading the way to an economic rebound. (Read more at Yahoo! Finance.)

2. Even more earnings ...
And a couple of other companies followed this morning. PepsiCo (NYSE:PEP) beat expectations, and Marriott (NYSE:MAR) posted a loss on the back of a large timeshare writedown. (Read more at MarketWatch.) 

3. Derivatives gone wild
Pleas from the chairmen of the SEC and Commodity Future Trading Commission to regulate over-the-counter derivatives through a central clearinghouse met resistance yesterday in Congress. Score one for those opposed to financial regulation, whoever they are. (Read more at Reuters or The New York Times.) 

4. Positive job news
Despite a dismal labor report last Friday, there's some positive unemployment news today. Initial jobless claims hit their lowest level since January. (Read more at Bloomberg.) 

5. Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) joins the mobile race
A couple of months after signing a blockbuster deal with China Mobile (NYSE:CHL), Dell is entering the U.S. market. Dell plans to launch a phone on AT&T's (NYSE:T) network using Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android platform. (Read more at The Wall Street Journal.)

And that's your Thursday morning recap. If you have a chance, please leave other stories in the comments box below. With so many great articles published each day, this is just a slim collection of what's going on in the investing world.

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