Business news for Thu, 20 Dec 2007 & with words shares+trade. 2 news.

European markets advanced in morning trade, as positive U.S. earnings news cheered investors and boosted technology stocks.

Reuters - Nike Inc. said on Wednesday that quarterly profit jumped 10 percent, topping Wall Street estimates on strong U.S. demand for its footwear and robust growth overseas, sending shares up over 3 percent in after-hours trade.