Shares of Brinker International Inc., which owns Chili’s Grill & Bar, jumped 14 percent after it reported beating profit forecasts for its second quarter and investors saw signs that revenue growth could be on the way.

The Dow suffered its worst drop of 2010 on Wednesday as U.S. stocks succumbed to fears that China’s curbs on bank lending might jeopardize the global economic recovery, while IBM’s outlook sparked caution about the technology sector.

Starbucks Corp whipped up a quarterly profit that topped Wall Street’s view on Wednesday, helped by its first increase in sales at established U.S. restaurants in more than two years, and its shares rose 2.4 percent.

Shares of Supertex Inc. took a hit Wednesday after the chip maker posted a decline in its fiscal third-quarter profit and sales, though the company said it believes it has “moved into a period of business expansion.”

Shares of solar companies fell Wednesday on reports that the German government is proposing cuts to solar subsidies. Germany is proposing to reduce subsidies by 15 percent, with even larger cuts for panels installed on farm land, according to published reports.

Shares of Brinker International Inc., which owns Chili’s Grill & Bar, jumped 14 percent Wednesday after it reported beating profit forecasts for its second quarter and investors saw signs that revenue growth could be on the way.

Shares of McMoRan Exploration Co. jumped to a new high on Wednesday as the independent petroleum producer said its Davy Jones well drilled deeper and encountered even more oil and gas resources.

Shares of mining companies fell Wednesday after China took steps to tighten its lending standards and the dollar rose against other currencies.

Major business events and economic events scheduled for Thursday: WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.

Brinker International, which owns Chili’s Grill & Bar, on Wednesday reported a better-than-expected profit for the fiscal second quarter despite sliding sales, sending shares up.