The CEOs of American Airlines parent, AMR Corp., and US Airways met over breakfast Thursday to talk about potential merger scenarios.

China's population of Internet users, already the world's biggest, has risen to 538 million, driven by rapid growth in wireless Web surfing, an industry group said Thursday.

U.S. stocks rose, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to a two-month high, amid better-than-estimated earnings and bets that disappointing economic data will lead the Federal Reserve to add stimulus.

Microsoft has posted its first quarterly loss in its 26 years as a public company as it declared a struggling online ad business a bust and prepared for one of the biggest product updates in its history.

A measure of future U.S. economic activity declined in June, the latest signal that the economic recovery is sputtering.

Nokia Oyj jumped the most in 4 1/2 years after sales of its flagship smartphone exceeded analysts’ estimates, signaling the former global handset leader is making progress with a plan to stem revenue and market-share declines.

Verizon Communications Inc., parent of the country's largest cellphone carrier, on Thursday said its net income rose 13 percent in the second quarter as its wireless arm pulled in record profits.

How fast is a cop car, anyway? It’s a question I ponder every time I spy a police cruiser. Perhaps I’ve seen too many television police procedurals from the 1970s, but I’d like to know how a police vehicle would handle in a real-life car chase.

The failure to address crippling household debt burdens is leading local governments to embrace the radical idea of using eminent domain to seize and write down mortgages.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Traders are pushing derivatives linked to Procter & Gamble Co. debt to the riskiest level relative to Colgate-Palmolive Co. and lower-rated Unilever since 2009 on concern that investor Bill Ackman will pressure the company to reward shareholders at lenders’ expense.

President Barack Obama is trying to keep the pressure on Republican rival Mitt Romney, opening two days of campaigning in Florida in search of military veterans, seniors and unaligned voters in the state's crucial midsection. Romney's wife said no more of her husband's tax information would be made public.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp. reported fourth- quarter unearned revenue, a yardstick of future sales, that topped analysts’ estimates, a sign that the largest software maker will benefit from corporate demand for its programs.

The U.S. Navy says a fleet of jets and ships running on biofuels during exercises in the Pacific Ocean hold a key to making the military safer and more nimble.

Sales of existing homes unexpectedly dropped and manufacturing in the Philadelphia region contracted for a third month, showing economic weakness is extending into the second half of the year.

Strong earnings from IBM and other technology companies nudged the stock market higher Thursday, but a trio of weak economic reports kept the gains in check.

Safeway Inc. said Thursday that its net income fell 16 percent in the second quarter, as the grocery store operator spent more on advertising and rolled out a new loyalty program to stave off growing competition.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Verizon Communications Inc., the second-largest U.S. phone company, reported a 19 percent gain in profit after heftier mobile-phone bills helped make up for sluggish growth of its land-line businesses.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Oil advanced to the highest level in two months on rising concern that instability in the Middle East will disrupt supplies from a region responsible for about one- third of world production.

Rising tensions in the Middle East have pushed oil prices up 19 percent over the past three weeks and are leading to a rise in prices at the gasoline pump.

McDonald's workers in Paris who stopped a Canadian professor from wearing computerized eyeglasses feared he could be recording or photographing people in violation of their privacy, the company said Thursday.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will sell more defaulted mortgages than it first anticipated in a program to cut losses on mounting foreclosures across the country, Carol Galante, acting FHA commissioner, said Wednesday.

AutoNation Inc. said Thursday that its second-quarter net income rose 9.3 percent as the nation's largest dealership chain sold more new and used vehicles.

The economies of the nation's cities are starting to bounce back from the recession and grow again, but the state and federal governments need to increase their spending on infrastructure to help that growth continue, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which released an economic report Thursday.

Rising fares are helping Southwest Airlines Co. more than offset the high cost of jet fuel.

Average rates on fixed mortgages fell again this week to record lows, creating more incentive for buyers to enter the recovering housing market.

Resales of previously owned U.S. homes declined in June to an eight-month low, showing the recovery in residential real estate will take time to develop.

Gay rights advocates were surprised Thursday that the president of fast-food chain Chick-fil-A has taken a public position against same-sex marriage.

More than 1.5 million older Americans already have lost their homes, with millions more at risk as the national housing crisis takes its toll on those who are among the worst positioned to weather the storm, a new AARP report said.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Oil rose to a seven-week high in New York after U.S. gasoline supplies unexpectedly shrank and housing starts climbed, signaling fuel demand may increase.

Americans bought fewer homes in June than May, indicating the weak economy could make a modest housing recovery choppy.

Markets remained firm despite soft weekly U.S. jobless figures Thursday as investors continued to price in the likelihood of policymakers enacting further stimulus measures over the months to come.

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose by 34,000 last week, a figure that may have been skewed higher by seasonal factors.

France's borrowing rates have dropped sharply in a (euro) 9.1 billion ($11.1 billion) sale of medium and long-term bonds, signaling that investors are seeking haven from shakier European economies.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Blackstone Group LP, the world’s largest private-equity firm, said second-quarter profit fell 74 percent as market swings hurt the value of its holdings.

The city of Indianapolis, flush from the economic and public relations successes of this year's Super Bowl, wants to host the big game again in 2018.

Makeup and skin care company The Estee Lauder Cos. on Thursday named Ralph Lauren Corp. executive Tracey Travis as its chief financial officer.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- J.C. Penney Co. jumped the most in almost six months after Bill Ackman, the founder of Pershing Square Capital Management LP, reiterated his confidence in Chief Executive Officer Ron Johnson’s turnaround efforts.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.'s second-quarter net income plunged 49 percent as slower economic growth hurt sales of copper, an industrial metal used in many manufactured products and construction.

Shares in Five Below Inc. are jumping nearly 54 percent in retailer's market debut.

Clothing giant VF Corp. reported a better-than-expected 20 percent increase in second-quarter net income on easing material costs and strong customer appetite for its outdoor and sportswear brands.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Avocet Mining Plc Chief Executive Officer Brett Richards said he has resigned after running the Burkina Faso-focused gold producer for two years. He will be replaced by David Cather.

Chip-maker Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc. on Thursday said its second-quarter profit fell 73 percent from the year before, due to weak demand for its power-conversion chips.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- UnitedHealth Group Inc., the biggest U.S. health insurer, fell as much as 4.8 percent after Chief Executive Officer Stephen Hemsley said profit margins are being squeezed in its Medicare and Medicaid plans.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Dish Network Corp., the second- largest U.S. satellite-television operator, lost about 10,000 net subscribers in the second quarter, fewer than some analysts’ estimates.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Facebook Inc.’s botched initial public offering was the fault of the Nasdaq Stock Market and the exchange owner will learn from its mistakes, the chief executive officer of Knight Capital Group Inc. said.

Yum Brands says a profit slump in its fast-growing China business will be short lived, and the fast-food company remains upbeat about its prospects there.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Five Below Inc., the teen retailer whose goods sell for $5 or less, rose as much as 65 percent in its trading debut after pricing its initial public offering at the top end of an increased range.

UnitedHealth Group said Thursday that its second-quarter net income rose 5.5 percent, trumping Wall Street expectations, as enrollment gains helped fuel revenue growth and consumers continued to moderate their use of health care services.

The Pool Corp. saw its second-quarter net income rise 11 percent with unseasonably warm weather pushing more people to stock up on pool supplies, but it fell short of expectations for both net income and revenue and shares tumbled nearly 8 percent on a guarded outlook for the rest of the year.

GATX Corp., a railcar and marine leasing operator, said Thursday that its second-quarter net income dropped 11 percent on derivatives, higher taxes and expenses.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Huawei Technologies Co., a Chinese company with little name recognition in the U.S., is poised to challenge Samsung Electronics Co. and eventually even Apple Inc. in the $219.1 billion market for smartphones. Its strategy: inexpensive handsets.

Snap-On Inc.'s shares jumped in trading Thursday after the tool maker reported that its second-quarter results beat market expectations.

NetScout Systems Inc.'s first-quarter net income more than doubled as bookings increased.

Boeing Co. said it's sold three more of its big 777s, including one 777-200LR to Ethiopian Airlines.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Bankruptcy decisions by Stockton and San Bernardino in California signal more cities may be losing their willingness to pay debt obligations, Moody’s Investors Service said.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Twitter Inc. is appealing a judge’s order to turn over information about an Occupy Wall Street protester’s posts, saying it’s committed to “fighting for our users.”

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal is creating a division that will bring NBC News, CNBC, MSNBC and the Weather Channel under the same boss to improve collaboration amid pressure on some of its flagship news programs.

Tens of thousands of public employees, trade union members and other Spaniards are marching in 80 Spanish cities to protest the latest batch of austerity measures approved by the government.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Google Inc., owner of the world’s most popular search engine, reported second-quarter revenue surged 35 percent, helped by its acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings.

Starbucks Corp. already conquered the coffee market. Now it wants to mix it up with fresh juices.

Orbital Sciences Corp., which makes satellites, rockets and other space technology, said Thursday its net income sank 31 percent in the second quarter compared to a year ago, when its results were helped by an income tax adjustment.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Chevron Corp. plans to shut a fluid catalytic cracker at California’s largest oil refinery during the first quarter of next year for maintenance, two people with direct knowledge of the schedule said.

Microsoft Corp. said Thursday that it named Mark Penn to the new position of corporate vice president of strategic and special projects.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Peregrine Financial Group Inc.’s bankruptcy trustee will tell some former clients within 14 days about how much they have to put on deposit so they can redeem specific property claims against the defunct futures brokerage.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Qualcomm Inc., the largest seller of mobile-phone semiconductors, rose after quarterly results showed consumers in emerging markets are trading up to next-generation handsets, lifting profitability.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Kayak Software Corp., the online travel company, raised $91 million in its initial public offering, pricing the shares above its proposed range.

Yahoo is giving its new chief executive Marissa Mayer a compensation package worth up to $59 million over the next several years.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Six of the largest U.S. banks have already taken steps to shut down their proprietary trading operations in anticipation of a ban known as the Volcker rule, U.S. Comptroller of the Currency Thomas Curry said.

Google earnings hit analysts' target as refinements to the company's Internet search technology lured more Web surfers to click on its revenue-producing ads.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.'s earnings soared more than 61 percent in the second quarter but its shares plunged in Thursday after-hours trading after the popular restaurant chain's revenue growth missed expectations.

Cigarette maker Philip Morris International Inc. says its second-quarter net income fell 4 percent as it sold fewer cigarettes.

Trouble in the global economy dragged Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s net income down 40 percent in the second quarter, and the world's second-biggest chipmaker warned that revenue will continue to be hurt through the rest of the summer.

Online broker E-Trade Financial Corp. on Thursday reported a 16 percent decline in second-quarter earnings as investors made far fewer trades than a year ago.;

A Nevada state judge is giving the go-ahead to raze a flawed hotel tower that never opened when MGM Resorts International and Dubai World opened the rest of the $8.5 billion CityCenter development on the Las Vegas Strip.

Yahoo is giving its new chief executive Marissa Mayer a compensation package worth more than $59 million over the next several years.

Morgan Stanley said Thursday that its revenue fell sharply in the second quarter, dragged down by weak results from its investment banking unit. Its net income missed Wall Street expectations, and its stock dropped sharply.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Treasury 10-year yields were within six basis points of a record low before a government report that economists said will show claims for jobless benefits rose last week, underpinning demand for the safest assets.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Gold rose for the first time this week as the dollar declined before a U.S. report that may show first-time claims for jobless benefits climbed, boosting prospects the Federal Reserve will add to stimulus measures.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose to the highest level since early April as companies reported quarterly earnings that exceeded analysts’ estimates. Asian shares and U.S. futures also advanced.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Five Below Inc., the teen and pre- teen retailer that sells merchandise for $1 to $5, raised $163.5 million in an initial public offering after pricing at the top end of the range.

An American software developer caught with more than 1,000 confidential Motorola Inc. documents before boarding a flight on a one-way ticket from Chicago to her native China five years ago is due to be sentenced Thursday for trade secrets theft.

Genuine Parts Co. saw its second-quarter net income rise 11 percent on strong sales at its industrial and electrical businesses.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- I can see a bit of the London Olympic Stadium as traffic roars next to me along the busy Stratford High Street.

Builders are putting up more houses than they have in nearly four years, a long-awaited recovery that could help energize the U.S. economy.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- New York fell to the third-most popular city for overseas commercial real estate buyers in the second quarter, trailing London and Paris, as Europe’s debt crisis failed to deter purchasers, Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. said.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- B&T Corp. said its second-quarter profit rose 66 percent after the bank gave out more mortgage loans and recorded a gain from buying an insurance division.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- If National Guard recruiters want to keep sponsoring Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s racing team, the U.S. House is willing to keep providing millions of dollars for the right to back No. 88.

Britain's economy risks suffering permanent damage, the International Monetary Fund warned Thursday as it called for more monetary stimulus, public investment and potentially a slowdown in the pace of deficit cuts to rekindle growth.

Google, so far, has won the search engine wars. Now it wants to target international crime, including Mexico's powerful drug cartels.

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. is in talks with “more than one” possible partner to help develop the company’s injectable drug to treat high cholesterol in patients for whom statins aren’t effective, Chief Executive Officer John Maraganore said.

Burger King says three workers were fired after a photo posted online appeared to show an employee stepping on lettuce in bins at a northeast Ohio restaurant.