IBT Staff Reporter

In a bid to keep pace with Internet search leader Google, Inc (Nasdaq: GOOG), British advertising conglomerate WPP Group Plc (Nasdaq: WPPGY) said Thursday it has agreed to buy online ad network and technology firm 24/7 Real Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: TFSM) for $649 million in cash.

The Blacksone Group LP said on Thursday that it agreed to buy transaction and credit card services company Alliance Data Systems Corp. (NYSE: ADS) to take it private for $6.76 billion.

The rising number of missed mortgage payments and foreclosures by higher credit risk homeowners will not likely cause damage to the U.S. economy, said Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday.

The number of corporate bankruptcies rose 3.1 percent in April, compared to the same month last year, to 1,121, a private credit research agency reported, according to Kyodo News Service.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan is now requiring home appliance manufacturers to report serious accidents caused by their products, according to a report by Asashi Shimbun on Monday.

Isuzu Motors Ltd. announced Monday that its group net yearly profit surged 56.7 percent in 2006, to a record 92.39 billion yen ($776M), citing high demand for its trucks overseas.

Retailer TJX Companies Inc., (NYSE: TJX) said on Tuesday that its profit was slightly lower for its fiscal first quarter, hindered by charges related to corporate security breaches.

Hurt by a softer housing market in the United Stats, The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) posted a decline in its first quarter profit on Tuesday, falling short of analyst expectations.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE WMT), reported an 8 percent profit gain for its fiscal first-quarter which was in line with analysts expectations, but may come short of analyst estimates for its second-quarter.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A)reported a rise in quarterly profit late Monday, saying profit rose 7 percent in its fiscal second quarter on strong orders for bio-analytical measurement tools.

The world’s oldest ocean-going passenger vessel, two years younger than the ill-fated Titanic, arrived in Japan's southernmost island over the weekend as part of a global tour.

Shares in Nokia (NYSE: NOK) jumped on Monday after the company said its market share of mobile phones would increase for the year.

Source Interlink Companies Inc. (NASDAQ: SORC) said on Monday that it has agreed to buy Primedia Inc.'s (NYSE:PRM) Enthusiast Media division for $1.2 billion cash.

Mylan Laboratories Inc. (NYSE: MYL) won over rival bids to agree to buy Merck KGaA’s (NYSE: MRK) generic drug division on Sunday for 4.9 billion euros in cash ($6.7 billion).

After nine years failing to integrate the operations, German carmaker DaimlerChrysler AG (NYSE: DCX)said Monday that it agreed to hand over control of its struggling Chrysler Group unit to private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP for $7.4 billion.

Pentax Corp., Japan’s oldest single-lens reflex camera maker, is trying to double its annual operating profit in three years, a company official said on Thursday.

Prices for pure fruit juice in Japan are increasing due to strong demand for biofuel and hurricanes in the U.S., according to industry officials.

Bausch & Lomb Inc. (NYSE: BOL) said late Thursday that it expects a rise in first-quarter profit, however it would be unable to file its results with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) in due time.

Liberty Global Inc. (NASDAQ: LBTYA), which provides video, voice, internet and cable services to 17 countries, saw its fiscal first quarter profit tumble despite higher revenue.

Swedish truckmaker Volvo AB (NASDAQ: VOLV) narrowed its losses for its fiscal first quarter, escaping pressure from a U.S slowdown.

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) reported a drop in profit for its first quarter on Friday, saying lower volumes in wireless and core networks, as well as continued investments hampered growth.

Thomson Corp. (NYSE, TSX: TOC), which is bidding to buy Reuters Group Plc, said Friday that it will sell segments of Thomson Learning and Nelson Canada to group of funds for $7.75 billion in cash.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: CME) and Chicago Board of Trade owner CBOT Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BOT) announced a revised merger agreement on Friday, with CME increasing its offer by 16 percent.

Semiconductor Company Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA) posted a 44 percent rise in quarterly profit as the firm's operational margins improved, but missed analyst expectations.

American International Group Inc. (NYSE: AIG) said on Thursday that its first-quarter earnings rose sharply from a year ago, when results were hurt by hurricane losses.

Origin Energy (ASX:ORG), an Australian gas and electricity company, will commit $80 million to expand the capacity of its gas-fired Quarantine Power Station, saying it will add to the security of electricity supplies in South Australia.

National Australia Bank, the nation’s largest bank, said Thursday that net profit rose 7.1 percent on strong lending growth for the half year ending March 31.

Giant British retailer Tesco Plc is no longer pursuing takeover bid for Coles Group Ltd, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Thursday.

Major Japanese automakers are focusing on boosting their production bases in the U.S. to meet strong demand for Japanese cars and avoid trade disputes, reports Kyodo news service.