Business briefs

ETrade loss

ETrade Financial swung to a loss of $28.6 million in the third-quarter, due in large part to the failure of third-parties to report important data about loan holders to the online brokerage in a timely manner. A year earlier, it earned $70.7 million. Revenues fell to $490 million from $507.3 million.

Clear sailing

Sprint Nextel, the company that agreed to sell 70 percent of itself to Softbank, plans to acquire telecom pioneer Craig McCaw’s stake in Clearwire, gaining control of the wireless carrier.

Jobless jump

Jobless claims increased by 46,000 to 388,000 in the week ended Oct. 13, from a revised 342,000 the prior period that was the lowest since February 2008.

Hear this!

Verizon Communications reported an increase in profitability at its wireless unit that topped analyst estimates as sales of smartphones boosted customers’ bills.

Losing Booz

Booz Allen, whose 25,000 staff provide consulting services to the US government, has dropped BlackBerry maker Research In Motion as a smartphone supplier.

Jet-tisoned

Gilt Groupe is trying to sell its travel-sale site, Jetsetter, The Wall Street Journal reported.