JBS BUYS AUSTRALIAN MEAT PRODUCER 

Brazil's JBS SA, the world's biggest meat producer by sales, agreed to buy Australia's Primo Group for 1.45 billion Australian dollars, as global food companies continue to ramp up their operations to serve rising Asian demand. (published 0021 GMT)

 
 
ALIBABA BECOMES WALL STREET'S FAVORITE CUSTOMER -- 3RD UPDATE 

Wall Street has a new favorite customer: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. The Chinese e-commerce company has emerged as this year's biggest source of fees for banks working on capital-markets deals. After its $25 billion initial public offering in September, the largest in history, the Chinese Internet company on Thursday sold $8 billion in bonds, one of the largest corporate-bond deals of the year. (published 0019 GMT)

 
 
GAP SHAKES UP MANAGEMENT OF NAMESAKE BRAND-- UPDATE2 

Gap Inc. overhauled the leadership of its struggling namesake brand and said its profit would be weaker than expected this year. (published 0015 GMT)

 
 
INTEL PROJECTS MORE GROWTH IN 2015 -- UPDATE 

Intel Corp. projected more growth next year, as an improving personal computer market and newer bets pay off for the chip maker. (published 2132 GMT Thursday)

 
 
NIKE BOOSTS QUARTERLY DIVIDEND 17% 

Nike Inc. plans to raise its quarterly dividend by 17%, marking the 13th consecutive year the athletic retailer has increased its payout. (published 2221 GMT Thursday)

 
 
GENERAL MOTORS MAKES SENIOR MANAGEMENT SHIFTS 

General Motors Co. is shifting some senior managers in moves that divide up global quality and customer-experience activities, while placing responsibility for all the U.S. automaker's customer-facing centers under single leadership. (published 2211 GMT Thursday)

 
 
YUM SETS ASIDE $1 BILLION FOR BUYBACKS -- UPDATE 

Yum Brands Inc. is setting aside $1 billion for possible share buybacks through May 31, 2016, the company said Thursday. (published 2341 GMT Thursday)

 
 
BNP PARIBAS CUTS EIGHT FROM U.S. JUNK-BOND TRADING TEAM --SOURCES 

BNP Paribas SA has cut a group of junk-bond salesmen in the U.S., including team head Kevin Cook, according to people familiar with the matter. (published 2355 GMT Thursday)

 
 
NEW MEDIA INVESTMENT GROUP TO BUY HALIFAX MEDIA NEWSPAPERS 

New Media Investment Group Inc. said Thursday that it has reached an agreement to buy all of the newspapers owned by the Halifax Media Group for $280 million in a sign of further consolidation and retrenchment in the struggling newspaper business. (published 2351 GMT Thursday)

 
 
BEST BUY SALES BOUNCE BACK AHEAD OF HOLIDAYS -- 3RD UPDATE 

Best Buy Co. sales grew at their fastest rate in more than four years, helped by more disciplined marketing, greater investments by suppliers in its stores and brisk demand for the new iPhone. (published 2133 GMT Thursday)

 
 
ARVIDA GROUP'S SHARES PRICE AT 95 NZ CENTS A SHARE 

Arvida Group said Friday there was strong demand for its initial public offering from New Zealand and Australian institutions as the price was set at 95 New Zealand cents a share . (published 2348 GMT Thursday)

 
 
RYMAN HEALTHCARE SAW 1ST HALF NET PROFIT RISE SHARPLY 

Ryman Healthcare Ltd. saw net profit for the six months ended Sep. 30 rise sharply as revenue grew and unrealized valuation gains boosted the bottom line. (published 2008 GMT Thursday)

 
 
JANA PARTNERS CONSIDERS NOMINATING PETSMART DIRECTOR SLATE -- UPDATE 

PetSmart Inc. shareholder Jana Partners LLC, the hedge fund that has been pushing for a sale of the pet-goods retailer, said it is considering nominating five people to the company's board. (published 2257 GMT Thursday)

 
 
HERTZ NAMES FORMER UNITED AIRLINES EXECUTIVE CEO -- 2ND UPDATE 

Hertz Global Holdings Inc. named former United Airlines executive John P. Tague as the car-rental company's next chief executive. (published 2331 GMT Thursday)