TECHNOLOGY

U.S. solar companies SunPower Corp and MEMC Electronic Materials Inc on Thursday offered hope that the beleaguered solar industry is on the mend, each posting quarterly earnings and giving revenue outlooks that topped Wall Street estimates.

Microsoft Corp's quarterly revenue fell a steeper-than-expected 17 percent and annual sales of Windows fell for the first time ever, as its business continued to be hurt by the weak global PC and server markets.

U.S. solar company SunPower Corp on Thursday reported a 22 percent drop in quarterly net income, but results blew past estimates as the company maintained market share and the price premium on its solar panels, sending shares up 15 percent after hours.

Microsoft released fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday which missed Wall Street estimates and reported its first decline in full-year revenue in the company's 34-year history. For the quarter ended June 30, the software giant reported earnings of $3.05 billion, or 34 cents a share, down from $4.3 billion, or 46 cents a share, a year earlier

Amazon.com Inc on Thursday posted a lower quarterly net profit and thin operating margins that took some of the shine off the world's largest online retailer, sending its shares down 6 percent in after-hours trade.

Microsoft released fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday which missed Wall Street estimates and reported its first decline in full-year revenue in the company's 34-year history.

Jon Heder got his big break with the 2004 teen hit movie Napoleon Dynamite. Ice skates then propelled him to even greater heights in the comedy Blades of Glory, co-starring opposite Will Ferrell.

Yahoo Inc's third-quarter forecasts fell short of Wall Street expectations, sending shares 3.2 percent lower, as the Internet company announced plans to step up spending despite persistent weakness in the advertising market.

The chances that Canada's Research in Motion will enter a formal bid for the wireless assets of bankrupt Nortel Networks are slim as a bidding war develops for technology coveted by the world's leading telecom-equipment makers.

Diversified U.S. manufacturer 3M Co handily beat Wall Street expectations, helped by strong demand for its respiratory masks that are being snapped up by people afraid of the swine flu.

Iron Man is in the spotlight at this year's comic book convention Comic-Con, getting a grip on fans not just of comics and movies but also video games.

The chances that Canada's Research in Motion will enter a formal bid for the wireless assets of bankrupt Nortel Networks are slim as a bidding war develops for technology coveted by the world's leading telecom-equipment makers.

AT&T Inc posted a smaller-than-expected drop in quarterly profit as strong sales of Apple Inc's iPhone helped boost wireless subscriber growth. Some analysts are concerned that the company's dependence on the iPhone for much of its growth raised concerns about what would happen if it lost its exclusive rights to sell the phone in the U.S.

AT&T Inc on Thursday posted a smaller-than-expected drop in quarterly profit as strong sales of Apple Inc's iPhone helped boost wireless subscriber growth.

Yahoo acquired Xoopit social photo management service, first developed as an add-on for Google's Gmail, the company announced late Wednesday.

AT&T Inc on Thursday posted a smaller quarterly profit but revenue exceeded estimates as strong sales of Apple Inc's iPhone helped boost wireless subscriber growth, sending its shares up 4 percent in early trade.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc has expanded its laptop selection by 40 percent and will be aggressive in pricing the computers and the accessories to go with them as the discount retailer looks to win sales from frugal back-to-school shoppers.

South Korea's anti-trust agency on Thursday imposed a $208 million fine on Qualcomm Inc and ordered the U.S. wireless chip and technology company to stop discriminating against companies using competitor's products.

South Korea's anti-trust agency imposed on Thursday a $208 million fine on Qualcomm Inc and ordered the U.S. wireless chip and technology firm to end discriminatory licensing practices and rebates.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc has expanded its laptop selection by 40 percent and will be aggressive in pricing the computers and the accessories to go with them as the discount retailer looks to win sales from frugal back-to-school shoppers.

Walt Disney chief Robert Iger said on Wednesday advertising will rapidly grow more sophisticated as media firms begin tracking consumer preferences and selling the data on to advertisers.

Amazon.com will pay about $928 million for booming online shoe retailer Zappos.com, expanding aggressively into the apparel arena with a well-known name after trying unsuccessfully to go it alone.

Verizon Wireless would be willing to make a compromise on roaming service agreements with smaller mobile operators, according to a letter it sent on Wednesday after pressure from U.S. lawmakers.

Wireless chip and technology supplier Qualcomm Inc issued a revenue target for the current quarter that was below Wall Street expectations, sending its shares down about 5 percent.

The Nasdaq rose on Wednesday for the 11th straight day, buoyed by solid profits from Apple Inc and Starbucks Corp , while disappointing bank results and declining energy shares weighed on the broader market.

EBay Inc posted better-than-expected quarterly results after managing to slow a persistent deterioration in its main Web auctions and retail business, propelling its shares nearly 5 percent higher.

The Nasdaq rose on Wednesday for the 11th straight day, buoyed by solid profits from Apple Inc and Starbucks Corp , while disappointing bank results and declining energy shares weighed on the broader market.

Amazon.com made an aggressive move to grab market share in shoes and apparel on Wednesday, announcing a deal to buy online shoe retailer Zappos.com Inc for $927.9 million, mostly in stock.

Ebay Inc on Tuesday posted a quarterly net profit and revenue that beat Wall Street expectations, and shares rose more than 3 percent.