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Weakness in blue chips Toyota Motor Corp. and Sony Corp. dragged on Japan's Nikkei Average Friday, though broader Asia markets advanced on strength in chipmakers such as Korea's Samsung. The Nikkei 225slipped 0.1% to 15,938.66, giving back earlier gains in a decline that marked the benchmark's first weekly loss in five weeks. The Topix index declined 0.2% to 1,619.81. Sony Corp. (SNE) fell 2%  ...

COLUMBUS, Ga. (AFX) - Movie theater chain Carmike Cinemas Inc. posted a wider second-quarter loss Friday despite higher sales as costs grew, but the company said its operating income climbed. Losses totaled $6.5 million, or 53 cents per share, compared with a year-ago loss of $2.4 million, or 19 cents per share. The prior year's figures had been restated. Sales climbed 9 percent to $130.3 millio ...

DALLAS (AFX) - Valhi Inc., a maker of titanium dioxide pigments, on Friday declared a regular quarterly dividend of 10 cents per share. The company will pay the dividend on Sept. 29 to shareholders of record on Sept. 13. Valhi shares closed up 30 cents at $27.10 on the New York Stock Exchange. Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, r ...

Technology stocks worked their way through a mixed session Friday to close with slight gains on what turned out to be a relatively quiet day for the sector. The Nasdaq Composite Index (RIXF) , home to many leading tech stocks, rose 3 points to reach 2,140, while the Morgan Stanley High Tech 35 Index (MSH) also edged into positive territory. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOXX) , however, ...

SEATTLE (AFX) - Microsoft Corp.'s answer to Apple's iPod will be built by Toshiba Corp., the software company confirmed Friday. The gadget, which will be one of the products marketed under Microsoft's "Zune" brand, will let people share songs, photos, music playlists and other content with others via a wireless connection. One feature will allow a person to act as a DJ, sending music to ...

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AFX) - Shopping-center developer Equity One Inc. on Friday declared a regular quarterly dividend of 30 cents per share. The company will pay the dividend on Sept. 30 to shareholders of record on Sept. 15. Equity One shares rose 4 cents to $24.43 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may n ...

ST. LOUIS (AFX) - Fresh evidence shows that high energy prices and sagging home values are pinching the main driver of the U.S. economy -- the Average Joe's wallet. Retailers and economists say many Americans are waiting to buy big-ticket items and cutting back on frills. Homeowners are shelving plans to remodel kitchens. Families are dining out less and tightening their budgets. "Peopl ...

HOUSTON (AFX) - BP PLC Friday confirmed it has appointed a new refinery manager for the accident-plagued Texas City plant, characterizing the move as an expected transition. Under the plan, Keith Casey, plant manager at Motiva Enterprises LLC's Norco, La., refinery, will take over the 460,000 barrel-a-day Texas City plant. He replaces the retiring Colin Maclean, who was appointed to lead Texas C ...

ST. LOUIS (AFX) - Ameren Corp., a holding company for Midwestern utilities, on Friday declared a quarterly dividend of 63.5 cents per common share, payable Sept. 29 to shareholders of record on Sept. 7. Separately, Ameren's subsidiaries declared regular quarterly dividends on all classes of their preferred stock. The Central Illinois Light Co. preferred stock dividend is payable Oct. 2 to shareh ...

ST. LOUIS (AFX) - Fresh evidence shows that high energy prices and sagging home values are pinching the main driver of the of the U.S. economy -- the Average Joe's wallet. Retailers and economists say many Americans are waiting to buy big-ticket items and cutting back on frills. Homeowners are shelving plans to remodel kitchens. Families are dining out less and tightening their budgets. "Pe ...