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SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones) -- A Chinese software firm may have replicated the popular Internet-phone software developed by eBay Inc.'s Skype unit, a development which, if true, could blunt Skype's growth in a key emerging market. Skype is aware of the claim, but so far company officials "have no evidence to suggest that this is true," Skype spokeswoman Kat James said in an email message. Ebay ( ...

SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones) -- This earnings season marks the one-year anniversary since Bausch & Lomb Inc. last filed audited financial results. It's been just a single year in the eye-care company's 153-year history, but it is one investors will be happy to put behind them. Two internal accounting probes, a major product recall, a higher-than-expected tax bill estimate and a handful of smal ...

SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones) -- General Electric Co. reported Friday a 4% rise in its second-quarter profit, bolstered by higher-than-expected revenue. But profit margins were thinner than Wall Street had anticipated and the company left its third-quarter earnings outlook unchanged, a disappointment to those hoping for a brighter forecast. The report nudged GE (GE) stock as much as 1.5% lower in e ...

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones) -- Broadcom Corp. said Friday it plans to restate results for the past five years and record additional noncash expenses of more than $750 million related to grants of stock options to employees. Yet the Irvine, Calif.-based chipmaker, one of many high-tech companies under investigation in a widening federal stock-options probe, said it did not find any incidences of impr ...

SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones) - Israel pressed its incursion into Lebanon on Friday, mounting new strikes on the Beirut airport and other key infrastructure in a widening offensive after Islamic militants captured two Israeli soldiers and killed eight on Wednesday. The militant Hezbollah group, which wants to trade the kidnapped Israeli soldiers for Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, fired new voll ...

By James Macharia and Robin Paxton JOHANNESBURG/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Evraz Group (HK1q.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , Russia's top steel maker by volume, plans to buy 79 percent of South African steelmaker Highveld (HVLJ.J: Quote, Profile, Research) for $678 million (369 million pounds) from Anglo American Plc (AAL.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , the companies said on Friday. Analysts said investors were disappointed by the sale price, sending Highveld's shares sliding 13.7 percent to 63.90 rand ...

Oil prices have remained near to record highs of $78 a barrel after Israel intensified its attacks on Lebanon. Growing international tension over the hostilities and concerns about their impact on regional stability also hit stock markets around the world. US markets dropped in early trading, shares having fallen across Europe and closed well down in Japan. Oil producers body Opec said it was concerned with the price spike but stressed the market was well supplied. Threat to growth? The p ...

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones) -- U.S. consumers cut back in June, sending retail sales down 0.1% for the month, the Commerce Department reported Friday. It was the second straight month of tepid retail sales. Sales rose 0.1% in May. "Sales are clearly being hurt by the combination of high energy prices, weakening housing markets and record debt burdens," said Scott Hoyt, an economist for Moody's Ec ...

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones) -- Broadcom Corp. said Friday it plans to restate results for the past five years and record additional noncash expenses of more than $750 million related to grants of stock options to employees. Yet the Irvine, Calif.-based chipmaker, one of many high-tech companies under investigation in a widening federal stock-options probe, said it did not find any incidences of impr ...

Ford is to cut its shareholder dividend in half, a further blow for investors who have watched the carmaker's losses mount in recent months. It announced a 50% cut in its third quarter dividend to five cents just days before it is due to unveil its latest trading results. Chairman Bill Ford said market conditions had become tougher. Ford's US sales have slumped, with high petrol prices sapping demand for once popular sports utility vehicles (SUVs). 'Sacrifices required' Critics say Ford has ...