IBT Staff Reporter

Exxon Mobil Corp reported a better-than-expected second-quarter profit on Thursday, as oil prices and margins to process crude into fuel rebounded from a year earlier and production rose.

RadioShack Corp reported a higher quarterly profit as the consumer electronics chain benefited from higher postpaid wireless sales and the launch of key products like Apple's iPhone 4.

Japan's Toyota Motor Corp said on Thursday it would recall 412,000 high-end passenger cars in the United States to fix steering problems.

Hopes for a smart acquisition and a new heart drug overshadowed forecast-beating results from Sanofi-Aventis and AstraZeneca on Thursday, underscoring pressure on both companies to reinvent themselves.

New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits fell slightly more than expected last week, offering a ray of hope for the anemic labor market recovery.

Wall Street was set to open higher on Thursday, following two days of declines for the S&P 500, after weekly jobless claims fell, offering hope for the anemic labor market recovery.

A string of Europe's largest firms issued surprisingly upbeat profit reports on Thursday, bolstering an abrupt renewal of investor confidence in the region after months of debt turmoil and fears for the euro.

The euro hit an 11-week high against a broadly weak dollar on Thursday as month-end demand for the single currency helped push it above a key barrier. The euro remained supported by firm euro zone data, with figures on Thursday showing euro zone economic sentiment jumping to a 28-month high, while German unemployment declined for the 13th consecutive month.

Oil was steady at around $77 on Thursday after falling the previous day on weak durable goods data and the biggest weekly increase in crude inventories for nearly two years in the United States. U.S. crude stocks surged 7.31 million barrels last week as imports jumped, government statistics showed on Wednesday, while the nation's gasoline and distillate stocks including diesel gained for the fifth and ninth consecutive weeks respectively.

Gold firmed in Europe on Thursday as some buyers were tempted back to the market by the precious metal's fall to three-month lows, while the weaker dollar also helped support prices. European investment remained lackluster as risk appetite sharpened, however, while the world's largest gold-backed exchange traded fund reported a hefty outflow on Wednesday.

Japan's Panasonic Corp said it would buy out subsidiaries Sanyo Electric and Panasonic Electric Works for up to $9.4 billion in cash and shares to accelerate its push into greener businesses.

New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits fell slightly more than expected last week, government data showed on Thursday, offering a ray of hope for the anemic labor market recovery.

Platinum supply is set to suffer setbacks in the coming months with two major producers facing problems in South Africa.

Is it the best time to invest in gold, the hottest commodity in the world? Gold price has been moving up for the last several years and investors have been making money out of the yellow metal.

William Shatner confesses he has problems with the digital age. At 79 years old, he doesn't use Twitter and can't remember computer passwords.

Euro zone economic sentiment rose strongly in July, buoyed by figures from Germany that point to a recovery as the currency area overcomes the sovereign debt crisis, but the outlook remains uncertain.

Motorola Inc posted quarterly earnings and revenue that beat Wall Street expectations driven by products such as mobile network equipment, sending its shares up 1 percent.

Robots that can chat, find misplaced glasses, draw airplanes and play with your children are attracting thousands of visitors during an expo in Tokyo as Japan adapts to changes in society.

Stock index futures rose on Thursday following two days of declines for the S&P 500 after upbeat European economic data and ahead of an expected drop in U.S. jobless claims.

Thomson Reuters Corp reported lower quarterly profit and revenue that were slightly below Wall Street expectations, but said sales trends pointed to a return to revenue growth this quarter.

Thomson Reuters Corp reported lower quarterly profit and revenue that were slightly below Wall Street expectations, but said sales trends pointed to a return to revenue growth this quarter.

Sony Corp lifted its annual outlook and returned to profitability in the first quarter on booming demand for its Bravia flat TVs and PlayStation 3 game consoles.

Sony Corp lifted its annual outlook and returned to profitability in the first quarter on booming demand for its Bravia flat TVs and PlayStation 3 game consoles.

Wall Street futures pointed to a firmer start for equities, after gains in Europe. The Dow closed lower in the previous session on weak durable goods data and a downbeat assessment of the economy from the Fed's Beige Book.

Wall St futures pointed to a firmer start for equities, after gains in Europe. The Dow closed lower in the previous session on weak durable goods data and a downbeat assessment of the economy from the Fed's Beige Book.

Japan's Panasonic Corp plans to buy out subsidiaries Sanyo Electric and Panasonic Electric Works for up to 818.4 billion yen ($9.4 billion) to strengthen its push into greener businesses.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc said second-quarter current cost of supply net income jumped 94 percent to $4.53 billion thanks to a strong operating environment and a speedy restructuring of the group.

AstraZeneca doubled its 2010 share buyback program on Thursday, after posting strong results and winning an endorsement from a U.S. advisory panel for its potential blockbuster heart drug Brilinta.

Nissan Motor Co and Hyundai Motor Co's forecast-beating quarterly profits may prove tough to match in the second half as robust sales in China and elsewhere start to slow.