IBT Staff Reporter

Struggling apparel retailer Gap Inc. will now align its Gap brand efforts to target consumers in their late 20s and early 30s, distinguishing itself from teen and college age focused stores, such as Abercrombie and Fitch, the company’s chief executive said in a conference call with analysts Thursday.

Sports trading cards company Topps Co., Inc. (NASDAQ: TOPP) has received an unsolicited offer from rival Upper Deck Co. on Thursday that exceeds the $385 million deal struck with a private equity firm led by former Walt Disney CEO Michael Eisner.

Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (NYSE: EYE) said it is considering an offer for Bausch & Lomb Inc. (NYSE: BOL), setting up what could become bidding war with the private equity firm Warburg Pincus LLC.

Dell Inc.(NASDAQ: DELL) said yesterday it plans to start selling its personal computers through Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(NYSE: WMT) in North America next month, departing from the direct-to-consumer business model it was founded on.

Toro Co. (NYSE: TTC)shares rose 6.5 percent on Thursday after the lawnmower and sprinkler maker reported stronger than expected second-quarter profit on international sales and higher margins.

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co. (NASDAQ: LJPC)shares jumped on Thursday after the company said its lupus drug was well tolerated in data across three different reports.

Shares of storage company Network Appliances Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP) tumbled more than 17 percent in Thursday trading, a day after the firm said it may report weaker than expected earnings in the current quarter.

Shares of Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE: HRL) fell more than 4 percent on Thursday, after firm posted lower than expected second quarter profit as higher feed costs held profit back.

Shares of Business software firm CA Inc. (NYSE: CA) fell more than 7 percent, a day after reporting a smaller fourth quarter loss, but also warning that its financial forecast for fiscal 2008 would be lower than Wall Street estimates.

Hard disk parts provider Komag Inc. (NASDAQ: KOMG) lowered its second quarter guidance on Wednesday, saying market pressures and product transitions have negatively impacted its quarter.

Mizuho Financial Group Inc., one of Japan’s three mega-banking groups, announced on Tuesday that its net yearly profit fell 4.4 percent to 621 billion yen ($5.2B), citing losses caused by an affiliate consumer lender.

Game Stop Corp. (NYSE: GME), the world's largest video-game retailer, said on Wednesday that its first quarter profit more than doubled in part on strong Nintendo product sales, but just missed analyst expectations.

Off-price retailer Ross Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: ROST) said that its profit rose 13 percent in its first quarter on strong sales, but gave a weak second-quarter outlook.

The second-largest U.S. retailer, Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT), said that its first-quarter profit jumped by 18 percent on Wednesday, beating analysts expectations and sending shares higher.

Canadian aluminum producer Alcan Inc. (NYSE:AL) is in early talks with the world's largest minining company, BHP Billiton Ltd.(NYSE:BHP), as it attempts to fend off an unsolicited $27 billion bid from U.S. rival Alcoa Inc.(NYSE:AA), according to a published report.

Canadian aluminum producer Alcan Inc. (NYSE: AL) said late Tuesday that its board has unanimously rejected an advance from rival U.S company Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA), calling the $27 bid 'inadequate in multiple respects.'

Autozone Inc., the largest U.S. auto parts retailer, (NYSE:AZO )said Tuesday third-quarter net income rose 5 percent due to better sales and greater efficiency.

Shares of teen and young adult clothing retailer, American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO) fell more than 3 percent on Tuesday, after the firm reported a 23 percent gain in its first quarter profit, but stated second quarter earnings expectations below analysts estimates.

Computer Sciences Corp. (NYSE: CSC) said Tuesday that is delaying its fiscal fourth-quarter and full year 2007 earnings reports as it finalizes some accounting issues.

Shares of Staples, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLS) fell more than 4 percent on Tuesday after the office supply retailer the firm reported a 12.4 percent first quarter profit gain but tempered its outlook sales and profit outlook for the next quarter.

Recent surveys show many taxi drivers in Tokyo are suffering from lower incomes, prompting a move for fare increases, but some policy makers dispute that a rate hike is the solution.

Shares of Cytyc Corp.(NASDAQ: CYTC) rose more than 20 percent on Monday, a day after an announcement that Hologic, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOLX) agreed to buy the company for $6.2 billion.

General Electric Co. ( NYSE: GE) said on Monday that it will sell its GE Plastics business to Saudi Basic Industries Corp. for $11.6 billion cash.

Upscale retailer Saks Inc. (NYSE: SKS) posted a lower quarterly profit on Monday, dragged down by restructuring costs and other charges, but sales were up.

Investment bank and brokerage Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc (NYSE: MER), announced Monday that that it will purchase a minority stake in investment management firm GSO Capital partners LP.

Home improvement store chain Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) said on Monday that its first quarter profit dropped by 12 percent, slightly below expectations, due to a slowing U.S housing market.

Siemens (NYSE: SI) announced on Sunday that it has named a new chief executive, as the industrial conglomerate attempts to reshape its image in the midst of various corruption investigations.

Japan is the global leader for innovation, with Switzerland, the United States and Sweden trailing behind, according to a new study.

Japanese camera and optics company Pentax, has said that it may accept high-tech glass maker Hoya Corp.’s takeover bid, according to a report on Thursday.