TOP STORIES 
 
FORD'S PROFIT DECLINES 9% ON LOWER CHINA SALES 

Ford's net profit fell 9% in the second quarter and the car maker tempered its outlook amid a modest decline in the core North American performance and weaker China sales.

ORACLE TO BUY CLOUD-SOFTWARE PROVIDER FOR $9.3 BILLION 

Business software maker Oracle agreed to buy NetSuite for $9.3 billion, a cloud computer firm whose largest investor is Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison.

STOCKS SLIGHTLY LOWER AS INVESTORS MULL EARNINGS, FED 

U.S. stocks edged lower Thursday as investors mulled a mixed bag of corporate earnings and the Fed's most recent statement.

MASTERCARD RESULTS TOP EXPECTATIONS AS TRANSACTIONS GROW 

MasterCard said profit and revenue grew in the second quarter as transactions increased at the credit card company.

HERSHEY POSTS REVENUE GAIN AS IT SWINGS TO PROFIT 

Hershey said Thursday it swung to a profit and posted revenue gains in its latest quarter, but it was hurt by lower-than-expected growth in its candy, mint and gum segment.

U.S. JOBLESS CLAIMS ROSE, BUT STILL POINT TO EXPANDING LABOR MARKET 

The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits climbed last week-rising 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted 266,000-though that level continues to point to an growing job market.

LLOYDS TO CUT 3,000 JOBS AS LENDER BRACES FOR POST-BREXIT SLOWDOWN 

Lloyds Banking Group is to cut 3,000 extra jobs as the British bank warned that Brexit will hit the U.K. economy in the months to come.

TRANSCANADA PROFIT FALLS 

TransCanada said its second-quarter profit fell 15%, hurt in part by costs related to its purchase of Columbia Pipeline and its nixed Keystone XL pipeline.

AT VW, HEFTY SCANDAL-RELATED CHARGES DRAG DOWN PROFIT 

The German auto maker's operating profit surged nearly 20%, but that was halved by charges, largely related to the company's emissions-cheating scandal.

CREDIT SUISSE PROFIT SURPRISES BUT FAILS TO SWAY INVESTORS 

Credit Suisse reported a surprise quarterly profit as expenses fell, marking a rare bright spot for the Swiss bank that nonetheless failed to stir investor confidence.

CIT SAYS FED OBJECTED TO ITS CAPITAL PLAN 

CIT Group said the Federal Reserve had a qualitative objection to its capital plan, while also reporting a sharp drop in quarterly profit tied to its acquisition of OneWest Bank.

CBS INCREASES DIVIDEND, STOCK BUYBACK 

CBS on Thursday announced measures to send cash back to shareholders, saying it will raise its quarterly dividend and boost its stock buyback.

HCA PROFIT RISES, BUT STOCK DOWN AS REVENUE OUTLOOK IS PARED 

HCA Holdings Inc. cut its 2016 revenue outlook, saying its volume growth in the first half-while solid-fell short of the hospital operator's expectations.

DOW CHEMICAL PROFIT TOPS VIEWS 

Dow Chemical reported revenue slid less than anticipated and earnings easily topped expectations in the latest quarter despite continued pricing and currency headwinds.

TEMPUR SEALY RESULTS TOP EXPECTATIONS 

Mattress maker Tempur Sealy International Inc. reported better-than-expected profit in the latest period, helped by climbing revenue amid lower overall expenses.

GNC'S CEO LEAVES AS IT SUSPENDS GUIDANCE 

GNC replaced its chief executive on Thursday and suspended its earnings guidance as the health and wellness retailer works to turn itself around and continues its strategic review that could result in a sale of the company.

CONOCOPHILLIPS LOSS WIDENS 

ConocoPhillips said its second-quarter loss widened as revenue slumped amid the prolonged commodities downturn.

POTASH CORP. SLASHES DIVIDEND, OUTLOOK 

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan slashed its annual earnings guidance and cut its quarterly dividend for a second time this year as it contends with slumping fertilizer nutrient prices and lower sales volumes.

AVNET OUTBIDS DAETWYLER FOR RASPBERRY PI MAKER PREMIER FARNELL 

U.S. electronics company Avnet agreed to buy Premier Farnell for $907 million, trumping a previous bid for the maker of the $5 Raspberry Pi computer.

CHINA'S FOSUN CLOSE TO DEAL FOR INDIA'S GLAND PHARMA 

China's Fosun Group is near to buying control of Gland Pharma from investors including U.S. private-equity firm KKR; the deal values the Indian maker of generic injectables at more than $1.35 billion.

 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
Sports - Golf 
TIGER WOODS HAS SET THE BAR TOO HIGH 
 

Nearly a year has passed since Tiger Woods last played in a competitive golf tournament. And in many respects, the sport is moving on. But even from afar, he looms over the three biggest stars in this week's PGA Championship.

 
Technology 
GOOGLE'S U.S. REVENUE, SEARCH ADS IN FOCUS 
 

Alphabet is scheduled to announce second-quarter earnings after the market close on Thursday. U.S. revenue will be among the key topics when Google's parent reports.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 28, 2016 10:03 ET (14:03 GMT)

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