COMPANIES

Germany and France enjoyed a surprising return to economic growth in the second quarter of the year, data showed on Thursday, ending their recessions earlier than many policymakers and economists had expected.

Anheuser-Busch InBev , the world's largest brewer, said cost cutting had helped it beat analyst forecasts for second-quarter profit, although the second half of the year would be significantly weaker.

U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines Inc and the Atlanta airport are close to a lease agreement that would pave the way for an $800 million bond sale, the biggest such offering in the U.S. this year, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the talks.

Anheuser-Busch InBev on Thursday reported second-quarter profit above analyst forecasts, but said the second half of the year would be significantly weaker.

Anheuser-Busch InBev on Thursday reported second-quarter profit above analyst forecasts, but said the second half of the year would be significantly weaker.

When Wal-Mart Stores Inc reports second-quarter results on Thursday, it will provide a much-awaited glimpse into the state of consumer spending as measured by the billions of dollars that flow through its cash registers every quarter.

Loss-making lender Amcore Financial Inc said its unit will sell two branches to First National Bank and Trust Co of Beloit, Wisconsin to improve liquidity and return to profitability, sending its shares up more than 16 percent.

Cameco Corp reported a higher and forecast-topping quarterly profit on Wednesday as stronger results from its electricity business offset the impact of higher uranium sales costs.

Canadian private-equity firm Onex Corp swung to a quarterly profit on Wednesday and said it is well positioned to move on deals for distressed and restructured assets created by the weak economy.

Belgian-based RHJ International is set to sweeten its offer for General Motors' European business in its race with Canadian rival Magna to buy Opel, sources close to the situation said on Wednesday.

Private equity firm Blackstone Group plans to sell bonds in the private placement market through a unit called Blackstone Holdings Finance, the firm said on Wednesday.

Manulife Financial Corp said on Wednesday it has bought AIC Ltd's Canadian retail investment fund business, boosting its mutual fund arm in another big-player takeover of an independent fund company.

The U.S. coal business of miner Rio Tinto PLC submitted a new application on Wednesday for an initial public offering of up to $500 million.

Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd agreed the $1.38 billion sale of a stake in Israeli telecom operator Partner on Wednesday as it offloads certain overseas units to offset losses elsewhere.

Volkswagen (VW) and Porsche have broadly agreed on details for a deal to combine two of Europe's most storied automakers, two VW supervisory board members told Reuters on Wednesday.

JetBlue Airways Corp. in a bid to fill up empty planes has launched a $599 fly pass promotion allowing passengers unlimited airplane rides for a month valid between September 8 and October 8.

Volkswagen (VW) (VOWG.DE) and Porsche (PSHG_p.DE) have broadly agreed on details for a deal to combine two of Europe's most storied automakers, two VW supervisory board members told Reuters on Wednesday.

General Motors Co GM.UL plans to increase its advertising budget for the rest of 2009 and 2010 to challenge consumer perceptions on quality and fuel economy that the automaker believes are out of line with improvements in its vehicle line-up.

Red hot auto sales under the U.S. government's

China Unicom, the potential exclusive distributor of iPhones in China, has poured 10 billion yuan ($1.46 billion) to buy 5 million units from Apple, ready to sell the first batch in September, local media reported on Wednesday.

Swiss dental implant maker Nobel Biocare beat forecasts with a 16 percent rise in second-quarter profit thanks to cost-cutting, raising hopes that the worst of the economic downturn was behind the group.

Fannie Mae, the largest U.S. home funding source, said on Wednesday it sold $3.0 billion in bills at lower interest rates, compared with sale of the same maturities than a week ago.

Starwood Property Trust Inc priced shares for $20 on Tuesday and twice boosted the number of shares offered in what is likely to emerge as the largest U.S. initial public stock offering of the year.

Emdeon Inc shares started trading for $17.75 in their debut on Wednesday following their initial public offering, and rose to as much as $18.24.

Brazilian technology services company Tivit has filed for a third attempt at an initial private offering on the Bovespa stock exchange, according to a securities filing published on Tuesday.

American International Group, seeking to raise cash to repay around $180 billion in bail-out loans, has agreed to sell its Hong Kong consumer finance and India-based IT services units.

Fed at Crossroads; Breakthrough in Tax Case; Cooling Clunkers

Buyout funds including Permira and KKR have been told to submit their first bids by September 1 for Citigroup Inc's Bellsystem24, a leading Japanese telemarketer, in what might be the largest private equity deal in Japan this year, sources familiar with the process said on Wednesday.

Scailex Corp said on Wednesday it had signed a deal to buy Hutchison Telecommunications stake in Israeli mobile phone operator Partner Communications for $1.38 billion.