TOP STORIES 
 
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.

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.

STOCKS SLIDE AS INVESTORS MULL EARNINGS, FED 

U.S. stocks fell, dragged down by companies that reported disappointing quarterly results.

MASTERCARD RESULTS TOP EXPECTATIONS AS TRANSACTIONS GROW 

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

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.

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.

HERSHEY POSTS REVENUE GAIN AS IT SWINGS TO PROFIT 

Hershey said its U.S. candy sales will be lower than expected this year, as the chocolate giant beefs up its cost-cutting efforts after rejecting a buyout offer from Mondelez International.

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.

MEDIASET: BOARD REJECTS VIVENDI'S PROPOSED CHANGES TO PAY-TV DEAL 

The board of Italian broadcaster Mediaset SpA rejected new changes proposed by France's Vivendi SA to a pay TV deal between the two companies, setting up a bitter showdown between two of Europe's media giants.

BRAZIL FREEZES FACEBOOK FUNDS IN LATEST CLASH OVER WHATSAPP MESSAGES 

Brazilian federal prosecutors have froze about $11.6 million of Facebook funds in the latest dispute over access to WhatsApp messages.

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.

GRUBHUB BEATS EXPECTATIONS, RAISES 2016 OUTLOOK; SHARES JUMP 

Grubhub reported second-quarter results that beat expectations and the online food ordering and delivery company raised its outlook for the year.

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.

SMARTPHONE SHIPMENTS ANEMIC IN SECOND QUARTER 

World-wide smartphone shipments remained lackluster in the second quarter, research firm International Data Corp. said Thursday, dragged down by a drop in iPhone sales as demand in China cools, competition picks up and carriers reconsider their plans.

CREDIT SUISSE PROFIT SURPRISES BUT FAILS TO SWAY INVESTORS 

Credit Suisse Group Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam said the surprise quarterly profit reported by the Swiss bank on Thursday shows his strategic revamp is getting on track. Many investors weren't so sure.

EU TO REVIEW BONUS RULES FOR SMALL FINANCIAL COMPANIES 

The European Union said it will review bonus rules that small banks and investment firms say have proven too costly and cumbersome to apply.

KANSAS CITY FED MANUFACTURING INDEX SLIPS TO -6 IN JULY 

Factory activity across the Plains states pulled back in July as low energy prices continue to constrain demand for manufactured goods, though the region's producers turned more optimistic that orders would soon pick up.

NEW YORK TIMES SWINGS TO LOSS IN THE QUARTER 

New York Times Co. swung to a second-quarter loss because of costs to streamline its international operations and declines in print and digital advertising.

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 JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
Technology 
APPLE'S HARD-CHARGING TACTICS BACKFIRE IN TV 
 

Some of the tactics used by Apple to achieve success have hurt its efforts to revolutionize the TV-watching experience. In search of its new big thing, the company has alienated cable providers and networks with an assertive negotiating style.

 
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.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 28, 2016 13:01 ET (17:01 GMT)