Movers roundup: Gilead Sciences, SLM

Movers roundup: Gilead Sciences shares slip, SLM stock rallies on improvement in loan defaults

(AP)  Among the stock activity stories for Wednesday, Oct. 21, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) - Shares of Gilead Sciences Inc. slipped as investors expressed some disappointment over the company's HIV drug sales, despite a 36 percent boost in profit that topped Wall Street expectations.

NEW YORK (AP) - Shares of SLM Corp., the student lender known as Sallie Mae, rallied after the company said it thinks charge-offs on student loans peaked in the third quarter and that improving credit markets may allow it to make more money on loans.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Shares of Manpower Inc. fell sharply after the staffing company reported a wider third-quarter loss on swooning labor markets.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Shares of orthopedics maker Stryker Corp. climbed higher a day after the company reported better-than-expected sales and the resolution of regulatory issues.

NEW YORK (AP) - Shares of Sonic Corp. declined after the restaurant operator said a sharp drop in sales led to a lower fourth-quarter profit as consumer discretionary spending continued to wane.

NEW YORK (AP) - Shares of Polycom Inc. tumbled after the maker of communications and video conferencing equipment posted solid results for the third quarter but gave a disappointing guidance for fourth-quarter operating margins due to higher expenses.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Shares of restaurant company Benihana Inc. fell a day after the company said sales at its restaurants open at least a year fell 9.9 percent in its fiscal second quarter.