STEVE BALLMER

Microsoft's bankers approached Facebook about a takeover of the social networking site, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Microsoft's failure to acquire Yahoo increased pressure on its executive to find better ways of catching up with Google Inc., which is currently leading the Internet advertisement business.

Microsoft Corp. abandoned its three-month-old bid to buy internet firm Yahoo on Saturday, after the two sides failed to agree on an acceptable sale price.

Microsoft Corp. intensified talks with Yahoo Inc. as it may raise its original $31-a-share Friday in a last-minute effort to reach a friendly agreement, according to media reports.

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer outlined his options for moving forward with a Yahoo bid on Thursday and said an announcement would come very soon.

Microsoft's board of directors did not reach a final decision at a Wednesday meeting about what steps it should take in its bid for Yahoo, according to a report.

Software giant Microsoft Corp. said Thursday its second fiscal quarter generally beat analysts by posting a quarterly profit. The company also predicted next year's earnings to rise between 13 percent and 18 percent.

Microsoft chief said on Wednesday that the firm was ready to abandon its $43.6 billion bid for Yahoo in case both companies fail to agree on a price.

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said on Wednesday he is willing to walk away from a merger with Internet portal Yahoo if shareholders don't accept his company's $44.6 billion offer.

Yahoo Inc.'s first-quarter performance was a little like Goldilocks' favorite soup _ not too hot and not too cold, and that has set the table for a bitter battle over Microsoft Corp.'s bid to take over the Internet pioneer.

Yahoo is about to close a deal for combining its operations with Time Warner Inc.'s AOL unit in effort to contend Microsoft's $44.6 billion takeover offer.

Chinese Internet firm Alibaba is speeding up the buyback of its stake owned by Yahoo Inc, as Microsoft Corp threatens to go hostile with a lower bid for Yahoo.

The Board of Directors of Yahoo! Inc. today sent the following letter to Steve Ballmer, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corporation.

Microsoft Corp said on Thursday it would publish key software blueprints to let rival programs work better with its products and address some European antitrust concerns.

Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday it will share trade secrets to facilitate information sharing and connections with third-party products in a bid to comply with European regulators and increase compatibility of its software with that of competitors and customers.

A major investor in Yahoo Inc has met with Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer to see if he would raise a $42 billion unsolicited offer for the company, the New York Post reported on Friday. Capital Research and Management, which owns more than 11 percent of Yahoo shares and more than 6 percent of Microsoft, wants to know how much more the software maker might pay if Yahoo rejects the initial offer, the Post said, citing a source familiar with the meeting.

A major investor in Yahoo Inc has met with Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer to see if he would raise a $42 billion unsolicited offer for the company, the New York Post reported on Friday.

Yahoo Inc's board of directors is to meet on Friday to discuss Microsoft Corp's $44.6 billion buyout offer, the TechCrunch blog said, citing unnamed sources. Yahoo officials could not immediately be reached.

Rupert Murdoch, Chair of global media giant News Corporation, has said that he would not be making a rival bid for Yahoo, in response to Microsoft's $44.6 billion offer made last week.

U.S. stocks markets closed out the week on an up note on Friday, ending Wall Street's best performing week in nearly five years, after Microsoft Corp's $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo Inc pushing technology stocks ahead of other sectors.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is taking his company's $45 billion bid to acquire Internet portal Yahoo public after being rejected last year, saying it is in the best interest of both firms to better compete in the online market.