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)

 
 
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)

 
 
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)

 
 
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)

 
 
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)