TOP STORIES 
 
MASTERCARD POSTS WEAKER-THAN-EXPECTED REVENUE GROWTH 

MasterCard on Wednesday reported in-line adjusted profit for the second quarter, though revenue growth was slightly weaker than Wall Street had expected.

U.S. PENDING HOME SALES SLIP IN JUNE 

A forward-looking indicator of home sales slipped in June, but remained well above year-ago levels, a sign the housing market is stabilizing.

STOCKS GAIN AHEAD OF FED DECISION 

Global stock markets rose Wednesday, but investors remained cautious ahead of a policy statement from the Federal Reserve that could offer clues on the path of U.S. interest rates.

HUMANA PROFIT JUMPS 25% 

Humana Inc., which has agreed to sell itself to Aetna Inc., on Wednesday reported a better-than-expected 25% jump in profit in its second quarter, though revenue disappointed as the health insurer faces challenges in its Medicare Advantage business.

ANTHEM RESULTS TOP EXPECTATIONS 

Anthem reported a better-than-expected 8.4% increase in revenue in its second quarter, while the insurer bumped up its full-year guidance for medical enrollment growth.

SIEMENS, BOMBARDIER IN TALKS ON TRAIN MERGER 

German industrial conglomerate Siemens is in talks to combine its rail unit with Canada-based Bombardier's train business, people familiar with the matter said.

DESPITE HIGHER TOP AND BOTTOM LINES, PG&E CUTS GUIDANCE 

PG&E's revenue and profit improved in the June quarter, as it benefited from the timing of a case related to its utility prices. Still, the California utility lowered its earnings guidance for the year.

NESTLÉ  INDIA'S SALES FALL 20% AFTER NOODLE SCARE 

Nestlé India said its sales plunged by 20% in the second quarter, as a food-safety scandal and a large-scale product recall weighed on its earnings.

BARCLAYS SCRAPS DIVIDEND TARGET 

Barclays Executive Chairman John McFarlane asked shareholders to be patient on dividends as he took a fresh stab at reshaping the beleaguered British bank.

DINE EQUITY REVENUE RISES, HELPED BY IHOP GROWTH 

DineEquity posted a better-than-expected 6.9% revenue increase and a jump in profit as the restaurant operator's IHOP and Applebee's chains continued to grow.

GENERAL DYNAMICS LIFTS OUTLOOK 

General Dynamics boosted its earnings outlook for the year as the aerospace and defense company's revenue and earnings easily topped expectations in its second quarter.

THOMSON REUTERS PROFIT INCREASES 

Thomson Reuters's profit improved 5.2% in the second quarter, though revenue fell below Wall Street expectations amid the impact a stronger dollar.

TOUGH ENVIRONMENT WEIGHS ON CEMENT GIANT LAFARGEHOLCIM 

Recently merged cement behemoth LafargeHolcim on Wednesday said the difficult macroeconomic conditions that hurt its business in many of its markets so far this year will continue in the second half of the year.

NOMURA PROFIT FALLS 16% FROM PREVIOUS QUARTER 

Nomura Holdings Inc.'s net profit dropped 16% in the April-June period from the previous quarter, when the Japanese brokerage benefited from a lower effective tax rate.

INTERNATIONAL PAPER PROFIT TOPS EXPECTATIONS 

International Paper Co. reported a better-than-expected adjusted profit for its second quarter, though sales were dented by foreign currency.

GARMIN EARNINGS SLIP ON CURRENCY HEADWINDS, PROMOTIONAL COSTS 

Garmin Ltd. said profit slid nearly 25% in the latest quarter as the company faced currency headwinds and advertising costs amid fierce competition from smartphones cutting into its location-tracking business.

BANK OF RUSSIA HALTS FOREX PURCHASES 

The Bank of Russia said it had suspended daily purchases of U.S. dollars for its reserves as the ruble dropped to five-month lows, threatening to spur already stubbornly high inflation.

LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS SWINGS TO LOSS 

Level 3 Communications swung to a quarterly loss on charges related to its efforts to improve its balance sheet, halting a string of six straight quarters of profits.

SOLVAY TO BUY CYTEC INDUSTRIES FOR $5.5 BILLION 

Belgium-based chemicals company Solvay said it is buying U.S. counterpart Cytec Industries for $5.5 billion in a bid to become a major player in the production of light-weight materials for airplanes and high-end cars.

EXELON REPORTS PROFIT INCREASE ON HIGHER SALES, HEDGING GAIN 

Power company Exelon said profit in its second quarter rose, thanks to higher sales and a hedging-related gain.

 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
Briefly Blog 
5 THINGS TO WATCH AT THE FED MEETING 
 

The Federal Reserve will issue a new policy statement Wednesday at 2 p.m. EDT. Here are five things to watch.

 
Europe News 
GREECE'S TSIPRAS FACES BATTLE TO AVOID SYRIZA SPLIT 
 

Greece's ruling Syriza party is sliding toward a split as hard-left dissidents resist Greek Premier Alexis Tsipras's acquiescence to creditors' demands, endangering his fragile government.