Caterpillar engineer Josh Crow works from the control room to monitor the test of the new electric drive power train simulator located at Caterpillar's Product Development Center of Excellence in Mossville, Illinois August 5, 2009. Nearby Peoria's main employer, Caterpillar Inc. has laid off, bought out or retired about 34,000 workers globally over the past year as demand for its earth-moving equipment declined along with economic growth. Reuters Pictures 3 months ago

Caterpillar engineer Josh Crow works from the control room to monitor the test of the new electric drive power train simulator located at Caterpillar's Product Development Center of Excellence in Mossville, Illinois August 5, 2009. Nearby Peoria's main employer, Caterpillar Inc. has laid off, bought out or retired about 34,000 workers globally over the past year as demand for its earth-moving equipment declined along with economic growth.

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  1. A worker drives a Caterpillar tractor near a construction site in Gilbert, Arizona October 20, 2009. Caterpillar Inc reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings on Tuesday and raised its full-year forecast, hailing what it said were growing signs of a global economic rebound and sending its shares up more than 4 percent. The company, the world's largest maker of earth-moving equipment, also gave investors a first glimpse of 2010, saying it expects sales next year to rise 10 percent to 25 percent from this year's range of $32 billion to $33 billion.
  2. The Caterpillar logo is seen on a tractor in Gilbert, Arizona October 20, 2009. Caterpillar Inc reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings on Tuesday and raised its full-year forecast, hailing what it said were growing signs of a global economic rebound and sending its shares up more than 4 percent. The company, the world's largest maker of earth-moving equipment, also gave investors a first glimpse of 2010, saying it expects sales next year to rise 10 percent to 25 percent from this year's range of $32 billion to $33 billion.
  3. A worker makes an adjustment to his Caterpillar tractor near a construction site in Gilbert, Arizona October 20, 2009. Caterpillar Inc reported stronger-than expected quarterly earnings on Tuesday and raised its full-year forecast, hailing what it said were growing signs of a global economic rebound and sending its shares up more than 4 percent. The company, the world's largest maker of earth-moving equipment, also gave investors a first glimpse of 2010, saying it expects sales next year to rise 10 percent to 25 percent from this year's range of $32 billion to $33 billion.
  4. Workers walk out of the Caterpillar plant in Peoria, Illinois in this January 26, 2009 file photograph. Machinery maker Caterpillar Inc posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings on Tuesday and raised its full-year forecast, saying it was seeing signs that a recovery may be under way.
  5. Caterpillar Inc's corporate headquarters is pictured in this August 5, 2009 file photograph. Machinery maker Caterpillar Inc posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings on October 20, 2009 and raised its full-year forecast, saying it was seeing signs that a recovery may be under way.
  6. James Dimon, (L), Chairman and CEO of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., addresses the media alongside James Owens, Chairman and CEO of Caterpillar, Inc. (R) during The Business Council meeting being held in Cary, North Carolina, October 15, 2009. Top U.S. executives are becoming more hopeful about the global economy and the U.S. business outlook, according to a survey of business leaders released on Thursday.
  7. Caterpillar Inc. Chief Executive James Owens talks on his mobile phone during the Business Council meeting of U.S. executives in Cary, North Carolina, October 15, 2009. Top U.S. executives are becoming more hopeful about the global economy and the U.S. business outlook, according to a survey of business leaders released on Thursday.
  8. James Dimon, Business Council vice chairman and JPMorgan Chase & Co chief executive officer, talks with Caterpillar Inc. Chief Executive James Owens (R), Phil Cassidy, executive director of the Business Council (2nd R), and Bill Lane, government affairs director with Caterpillar (L), during the Business Council meeting of U.S. executives in Cary, North Carolina, October 15, 2009. Top U.S. executives are becoming more hopeful about the global economy and the U.S. business outlook, according to a survey of business leaders released on Thursday.
  9. Rex Tillerson, chairman and chief executive of Exxon Mobil, answers questions from the media alongside James Dimon (L), Business Council vice chairman and JPMorgan Chase & Co chief executive officer, and Caterpillar Inc. Chief Executive James Owens (R) during the Business Council meeting of U.S. executives in Cary, North Carolina, October 15, 2009. Top U.S. executives are becoming more hopeful about the global economy and the U.S. business outlook, according to a survey of business leaders released on Thursday.
  10. James Dimon (R), Business Council vice chairman and JPMorgan Chase & Co chief executive officer, addresses the media alongside Caterpillar Inc. Chief Executive James Owens (C) and Rex Tillerson, chairman and chief executive of Exxon Mobil (L) during the Business Council meeting of U.S. executives in Cary, North Carolina, October 15, 2009. Top U.S. executives are becoming more hopeful about the global economy and the U.S. business outlook, according to a survey of business leaders released on Thursday.
  11. FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2009, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V., reads as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., right, and Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., left, talk during the markup of health care legislation, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Large employers that provide health coverage directly to their employees, like Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Caterpillar Inc., Xerox, won't be subject to the same rules and restrictions that would be imposed on health insurers in the new system under legislation approved this month by the Senate Finance Committee. "Insurance reforms should protect everyone," Rockefeller said.

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