Second Quarter | featured news

McDonald's reported a 15% rise in quarterly profit on sharply higher revenue, though it expects sales growth to ease this month.

Sales of Microsoft Corp's flagship Windows software disappointed for the third straight quarter, taking the gloss off better-than-expected earnings that were aided by an unusually low tax rate.

Global soft-drink seller PepsiCo said that top-line sales were hurt in the second quarter by consumers in developed markets who are cutting out carbonated beverages from their daily budgets.

Charging its most avid readers for digital access was officially not a dumb idea for The New York Times. In its second quarter earnings announcement, the Times Co. included some attention-getting figures for its new digital subscription program, which launched in March. Since then, the paper has amassed some 224,000 digital-only subscribers. Another 57,000 subscribe to replica editions delivered on e-readers like the Kindle and the Nook. On top of that, there are the 100,000 people getting e-subscriptions sponsored by Lincoln.

Stocks opened higher as encouraging quarterly results from blue-chip companies and a hint of housing optimism gave a boost to investor sentiment.

China's economy slowed less sharply than expected in the second quarter and Beijing said corralling inflation remained its top priority even though a "complex and volatile" global economy clouded the outlook.

Target meets analyst expectations with its fiscal second quarter earnings.

AT&T reported a 26% increase in second-quarter earnings amid an investment gain, lower costs and fewer customer defections.

Economists say the U.S. recovery continued during the second quarter of this year with more businesses hiring workers and fewer cutting jobs, but the pace of growth has slowed, a new survey shows.