AP - Department store stalwarts J.C. Penney Co., Nordstrom Inc. and Kohl's Inc. all reported steep drops in first-quarter profits on Thursday as Americans snub apparel to focus on basic necessities at discounters in a challenging economy.

AFP - British Airways said Friday that its annual net profit more than doubled as it cut costs to help offset record high fuel prices while the group offered its first dividend in seven years.

AFP - Aerospace group EADS, hit by fresh setbacks at plane-making unit Airbus, reported a robust return to profit Wednesday and said it hoped to save 750 million euros this year to counter the rise of the euro.

Reuters - Deere & Co reported higher quarterly earnings on Wednesday as soaring crop prices boosted global demand for its agricultural equipment.

Reuters - Sony Corp (6758.T) posted a surprise quarterly loss on Wednesday after a weak stock market ate into the value of securities held by its financial arm, but forecast a bigger-than-expected profit this year.

Reuters - Macy's Inc reported a quarterly loss on Wednesday, hurt by restructuring costs and falling sales, but the department store operator stood by its full-year earnings forecast and its shares rose as much as 8 percent.

AP - Sony punctuated its recovery by swinging to a profit for the January-March quarter from a loss a year ago on its way to a record performance for the fiscal year as it reduced losses from its PlayStation 3 video game business.

AP - Despite a $59 million loss and a slump in sales in the first quarter, Macy's Inc. on Wednesday posted results that beat Wall Street expectations because of what analysts said were tight controls on expenses and inventories.

AP - Deere & Co., the world's biggest maker of farm machinery, said Wednesday its second-quarter profit rose 22 percent, propelled by lofty crop prices that stoked global demand for its farm equipment despite a faltering U.S. economy.

AP - Freddie Mac beat Wall Street's expectations in the first quarter, but the mortgage finance company didn't vanquish concerns about its ability to weather the housing bust.

Reuters - SABMiller , the world's biggest brewer, beat forecasts with a 19 percent rise in annual earnings on Thursday and said it expects to raise beer prices to offset soaring commodity costs, sending its shares higher.

AFP - Net profit at German utilities group RWE fell 48.5 percent in the first quarter on a writedown for its US unit American Water, regulatory measures and the weak pound, figures showed on Thursday.