Consumer confidence improved in April to the second-highest level in more than eight years as Americans held more favorable views of the economic outlook and inflation. The University of Michigan index of sentiment climbed to 95.9 this month from 93 in March. (Bloomberg)

Hasbro turned in very strong quarter led by Transformers sales and other toys for boys. The toymaker, weighed down by the strong U.S. currency and battling a shift toward video games and other non-traditional toys reported a 17% percent drop in profits compared to a year earlier. But that included an income tax expense of almost $8.5 million. Revenue rose 5%. (AP)

Morgan Stanley says its quarterly profit surged 60% as revenue from trading stocks and bonds lifted the investment bank's results. Profits rose to $2.3 billion. Revenue for the quarter rose to $9.9 billion. (AP)

Costco increased its quarterly dividend 12% to 40 cents per share, and also announced a new stock repurchase program of up to $4 billion, replacing an existing $4 billion authorization with about $2.5 billion left. (CNBC)

We still can’t imagine why he is not in jail, but Jon Corzine, the former boss of bankrupt MF Global, is considering starting his own hedge fund, with cash from the ex-governor's personal funds and some outside investors. (WSJ)