Earnings roundup: Rentokil, WPP

LONDON (AP)--British services company Rentokil Initial PLC posted an 82 percent drop in first-half profit Friday, and said it could take as long as five years to recover to its target levels of profitability.

LONDON (AP)--Britain's WPP Group PLC, the world's second-largest advertising company, said Friday its first-half profit climbed 14 percent on the back of strong sales in emerging markets.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)--Shares of ValueVision Media Inc.'s ShopNBC, a 24-hour television shopping network, plunged Friday after it reported a wider loss as customers bought fewer, and less-expensive, items.

SEATTLE (AP)--U.S.-traded shares of Hurray Holding Co. rose Friday after the Chinese provider of ringtones and other music products reported second-quarter earnings increased more than eightfold.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)--Greek drybulk shipper DryShips Inc. said its second-quarter profit nearly tripled, driven by the sale of three ships, but its adjusted results were well below what analysts had expected.