SURPRISE BIDDER ENTERS THE FRAY FOR T-MOBILE 

The slow-moving mating dance between Sprint Corp. and T-Mobile US Inc. got a jolt Thursday, when France's Iliad SA made a buyout offer of its own for T-Mobile US, setting up a clash between two of the global telecommunications industry's brashest titans. (published 0030 GMT)

 
 
TWITTER ACQUIRES SECURITY-PASSWORD STARTUP MITRO -- UPDATE 

Twitter Inc. has acquired a small password-security startup called Mitro, which said Thursday that its team will join the social media company to help bolster its geolocation capabilities. (published 2204 GMT Thursday)

 
 
VALEANT STAYS FIRM ON BID BUT STOCK FALLS 

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. said its second-quarter profit and sales climbed amid strong growth in almost all of its businesses, as the company again made a case to buy Botox maker Allergan Inc. (published 2318 GMT Thursday)

 
 
LINKEDIN MAKES NEW PUSH INTO SALES 

LinkedIn Corp.'s growth unexpectedly accelerated in the second quarter, as the professional social network announced a new push to target sales teams, signaling that it isn't satisfied with its reliance on corporate recruiters. (published 0021 GMT)

 
 
ALIBABA INVESTS IN KABAM, A SILICON VALLEY FIRM 

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is backing another California startup, disclosing on Thursday a $120 million strategic investment in gaming company Kabam Inc. and a partnership to publish and distribute its free-to-play mobile games. (published 2324 GMT Thursday)

 
 
HIGHER OIL PRICES LIFT EXXON PROFIT 

Exxon Mobil Corp. said its profit for the second quarter rose 28%, despite pumping oil and gas at its lowest rate in almost five years. (published 0002 GMT)

 
 
TESLA LOSS WIDENS ON COSTS 

Tesla Motors Inc.'s second-quarter loss doubled compared with a year earlier to $62 million due to higher spending on overhead, sales expansion in China and on research and development for its next model. (published 2320 GMT Thursday)

 
 
BNP POSTS A RECORD QUARTERLY LOSS 

BNP Paribas SA reported a record quarterly loss tied to a multibillion-dollar fine for violating U.S. sanctions and said it is taking steps to beef up internal compliance. (published 2313 GMT Thursday)

 
 
AB INBEV TOASTS WORLD CUP SALES 

A surge of beer-drinking during the World Cup boosted Anheuser-Busch InBev NV's second-quarter profit, leaving the world's biggest beer maker optimistic about future sales after showcasing its brands to the billions of people who watched the event. (published 0003 GMT)

 
 
WESTERN UNION PROFIT FALLS ON HIGHER COSTS -- UPDATE 

Western Union Co. said its second-quarter earnings edged down 2% on higher costs, partly tied to actions to strengthen its consumer money transfer business. (published 2145 GMT Thursday)

 
 
EXPEDIA PROFIT RISES 25% ON BOOKINGS, REVENUE GROWTH 

Expedia Inc. said its second-quarter earnings rose 25% on continued growth in the online travel site's bookings and revenue. (published 2024 GMT Thursday)

 
 
INFOSYS TAPS FIRST-EVER OUTSIDER CEO TO LEAD TURNAROUND 

Vishal Sikka, the incoming chief executive of Infosys Ltd., India's second-largest outsourcing company, is inheriting a business struggling to transform itself from a supplier of inexpensive computer programmers into a global software and consulting brand. (published 0005 GMT)