IBT Staff Reporter

Royal Mail Group said on Thursday that it had delivered robust financial results in the year ended 30 March 2008, despite many challenges.

Non-standard lender Provident Financial Plc said on Thursday that it had made a strong start to 2008, with customer numbers up 6.3 per cent in its core consumer credit division at the end of the first quarter.

Signet Group Plc said on Thursday that its sales dropped 2.5 per cent in the 13 weeks to 3 May 2008.

Unilever said on Thursday that its pre-tax profit for the first quarter of 2008 was up 39 per cent at constant rates. The company added that its turnover in the period was up six per cent at constant rates.

Technology stocks rose on Thursday the day after AMD said it was on track with profitability goals.

The dollar was slightly lower against the euro on Friday after losses on Thursday due to hawkish comments from the head of the European Central Bank which propped up the euro.

Osiris Therapeutics Inc. announced today it entered in a deal with NuVasive Inc. to sell its business Osteocel for up to $85 million in upfront and milestone payments.

Google Inc, in talks with Internet portal Yahoo Inc, is hoping that it can strike an advertising deal, according to a report.

Dollar closed slightly lower after a range bound movement against the euro yesterday due to the recovery in European currency after the decision from ECB.

Warner Brothers will shut down its independent film units Picturehouse and Warner Independent Pictures, cutting about 70 jobs.

Sterling gained marginally after the Bank of England held interest rates at 5 percent.

Citigroup chief executive Vikram Pandit is set to present his plans and outlook for the largest U.S. bank, when it holds its annual Investor Day meeting on Friday.

General Motors Inc, said on Thursday it gave $200 million to parts supplier American Axle Manufacturing Holdings Inc to help it settle a 10-week strike by union workers.

RealNetworks Inc, the digital media company, plans to spin-off its fastest growing unit which makes games for various platforms into a separate company.

Graphic chip-maker Nvidia Corp. on Thursday reported a 34 percent jump in first-quarter profit, boosted by stronger sales of its graphics processors, but shares fell as earnings still missed expectations.

Wachovia Corp., the fourth largest U.S. bank, said on Thursday that it is separating the roles of Chairman and CEO, with Ken Thompson retaining his chief executive role and board member Lanty Smith now serving as non-executive Chairman, effective immediately

After coming under fire by parents groups for its lax safety protocols to protect minors from online predators, Facebook has agreed to increase its efforts to keep its young users safe from cyber bullies, porn, pedophiles and other online hazards.

Stryker Corp. said today it will invest $50 million in 2008 to improve its quality systems and compliance at the time it deals with three warni

Mylan Inc. manufacturer of generic pharmaceutical products said on Thursday an extended first quarter loss and a large increase on its revenue triggered by the purchase of Merck KGaA in October.

American International Group Inc., the world's largest insurer by assets, announced plans to raise $12.5 billion in capital as it posted its second straight big quarterly loss.

The Internet's most popular social networking site MySpace will soon allow their members to share their public profile information on other online services.

Copper prices fell on Thursday as inventories of the metal rose, easing supply concerns.

Japan stocks declined Thursday as investors sold issues which gained recently for profit-taking. Also strong yen led investors sell export-oriented issues such as Toyota and Honda.

Wheat rallied on speculations that low grain prices will increase buying by flour millers and cereal makers.

China's stocks rose the most in a week, led by energy companies and China Unicom, which will benefit from the coming restructuring of the telecom industry.

Gold futures ended with strong gains on Thursday as record energy costs and weakness in the U.S. dollar boosted the demand for a hedge against inflation.

Microsoft is set to place more emphasis on making mobile phones as one of its strategies to develop the Information Technology infrastructure in developing nations, based partly on a prototype that was developed for Fone+.

Crude futures climbed past $124 a barrel in electronic trading late afternoon, recovering from earlier weakness as traders continued to have concerns over global supplies, while OPEC commented the market is well supplied.

Since Wednesday, April 30, natural gas spot prices increased at most markets in the Lower 48 States. Prices at the Henry Hub rose 27 cents per million Btu (MMBtu), or about 2.5 percent, to $11.08 per MMBtu.