A Quick Glance at News

v  European stocks were little changed as companies including PPR SA and Renault SA (RNO) reported earnings that topped analysts’ estimates and speculation grew that central banks from Europe to Japan and the U.S. will act to stimulate growth. Asian stocks and U.S. index futures gained.

v  Stocks rose to a one-week high and commodities gained on speculation central banks will boost efforts to spur economic growth. Government borrowing costs for Italy and Spain fell.

v  Data today is forecast to show the U.S. economy expanded at the slowest pace in a year, while an unexpected decline in Japanese consumer prices and slowing retail sales spurred speculation the Bank of Japan will add stimulus.

v  Central Bank President Mario Draghi pledged yesterday to preserve the euro. Companies from Barclays Plc to Samsung Electronics  Co. and European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. reported higher profit.

v  Oil rose for a fourth day in New York after reports signaled improving economic prospects in the U.S. and China and the head of the European Central Bank predicted the euro will survive.

v  Gold held steady above $1,600 an ounce on Friday, on course for its biggest weekly gain in almost two months, after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi signaled the bank would do whatever was necessary to hold the euro zone together.

v  Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest maker of televisions and mobile phones, climbed 5.2 percent in Seoul after the company forecast higher demand for panels and handsets in emerging markets.

v  Copper gained 0.9 percent to $7,539.25 a ton in London, extending a three-day, 0.9 percent advance. Zinc rose 0.7 percent and nickel added 0.8 percent. Oil futures in New York added 0.7 percent to $90.04 a barrel.

v  Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), the largest Internet retailer, reported the biggest drop in net income since it reached profitability a decade ago after ramping up spending to capture more business during the holidays.

v  Google Inc made its foray into the market for bundled Internet and television services on Thursday, promising access speeds more than 100 times faster than those of traditional U.S. cable and telecommunications companies.

v  Barclays PLC on Friday reported underlying first-half profit that beat forecasts as it apologized for the recent interest-rate rigging scandal that cost it its top managers. Barclays posted first-half adjusted pretax profit of £4.23 billion ($6.63 billion) in the first half, versus £3.73 billion in the year-ago period.

v  Starbucks, faced with weak consumer spending in Europe and higher commodity costs, late Thursday issued a disappointing outlook for its fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal 2013. Shares fell 9% to $47.50 in after-hours trade. Starbucks said it expects to earn between 44 cents to 45 cents for the quarter ending in September.

v  Exxon Mobil Corp.said Thursday its second-quarter profit rose 49% to $15.9 billion, or $3.41 a share, from $10.68 billion, or $2.18 a share, in the year-ago period.

v  Waste Management Inc. said Thursday it'll cut 700 positions as part of an effort to reduce costs.

v  3M sales fall 1.9% on strong dollar, slow economy.

v  Hershey Co. said Thursday its second-quarter profit increased to $135.7 million or 59 cents a share, from $130 million, or 56 cents a share, in the year-ago period.