The Los Angeles City Council votes to start using email service from Google Inc., a widely anticipated move that may augur well for the Internet search giant’s efforts in competition with Microsoft Corp. to sell technology to businesses and government agencies.

MarketWatch's daily rundown of major gainers and decliners in the stock market.

Novell Inc. on Thursday posted a slightly worse-than-expected decline in revenue for its fiscal third quarter, as product sales of identity and security management and systems and resource management software each fell sharply.

Dell's quarterly earnings will highlight Thursday's after-hours session, with investors tuned into whether consumers and businesses are buying its personal computers.

Among the stock expected to see active trading Thursday are those of American Eagle, J. Crew, Novell and Toll Brothers.