ATLANTA — Even though the weather was poor, Home Depot posted an 18 percent increase in its net income for the first quarter thanks to the ongoing housing recovery.

The world's biggest home improvement chain also boosted its full-year earnings and revenue forecasts today, citing its year-to-date performance and outlook for the rest of the year.

Revenue at stores open at least a year climbed 4.3 percent.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Wireless company Sprint Nextel says it can now let Dish Network see its books and talk with Dish to see whether its competing offer to buy Sprint is better than its current deal with Japan’s SoftBank.The companies said late Thursday that SoftBank had waived provisions of its deal with Sprint that will allow Sprint to talk with Dish.