[naviga:h3]Lowe’s exceeds 3Q expectations[/naviga:h3]

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe’s Cos. on Wednesday reported fiscal third-quarter earnings of $736 million.

The North Carolina-based company said it had profit of 80 cents per share.

The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 14 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 78 cents per share.

The home improvement retailer posted revenue of $14.36 billion in the period, also topping Street forecasts. Eleven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $14.31 billion.

Lowe’s shares have risen almost 6 percent since the beginning of the year, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index has stayed nearly flat. The stock has climbed 24 percent in the last 12 months.

[naviga:h3]More Thanksgiving travelers may drive[/naviga:h3]

NEW YORK — A stronger economy and lower gas prices mean Thanksgiving travelers can expect more congested highways this year.

During the long holiday weekend, 46.9 million Americans are expected to go 50 miles or more from home, the highest number since 2007, according to travel agency and car lobbying group AAA. That would be a 0.6 percent increase over last year and the seventh straight year of growth.

While promising for the travel industry, the figure is still 7.3 percent short of the 50.6 million high point reached in 2007.

[naviga:h3]Home Depot profits rise on sales boost[/naviga:h3]

NEW YORK — The Home Depot reported its profit rose 12.2 percent in its fiscal third-quarter as sales gained ground, fueled partly by a continued housing market recovery.

The home-improvement retailer reported net income of $1.73 billion, or $1.35 per share. The results exceeded Wall Street expectations of $1.32 per share. Revenue rose 6.4 percent to $21.82 billion in the period, also topping Street forecasts.

[naviga:h3]Coal power plant financing restricted [/naviga:h3]

TOKYO — A compromise struck by the United States, Japan and several other major nations will restrict export financing to build coal power plants overseas, but not eliminate it completely.

Japan and the United States were long at odds on this issue.

The Obama administration announced in 2013 that it would end U.S. financing for overseas coal power plants, and has been pressuring others to join. Japan was among those opposed to the move, arguing that its high-efficiency power plant technology is the best option for developing countries that need affordable energy.

Under the agreement, which takes effect in 2017, financing would still be allowed for the most advanced “ultra-supercritical” plants, and for some other plants in the very poorest countries.