AP - Strong sales internationally, especially in Latin America and Eastern Europe, helped Avon Products Inc. more than double its second-quarter profit, the cosmetics company said Wednesday. Its shares surged more than 15 percent.

AP - Office supply retailers felt no relief from the pinch of weaker spending by consumers and small businesses, with both Office Depot and OfficeMax citing the struggling economy as they reported losses for the second quarter.

AP - The roiling global oil market continues to pick its winners and losers, as oil giant BP PLC reported a 28 percent rise in second-quarter profit while North America's largest refiner, Valero, said its earnings for the same period fell 67 percent.

Reuters - MetLife Inc , the largest life insurer in the United States, said on Tuesday its second-quarter profit fell as investments took a hit, missing Wall Street expectations and sending shares down nearly 10 percent.

Reuters - Viacom Inc (VIAb.N), the owner of MTV Networks, posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday, boosted by box office hits "Iron Man" and the latest "Indiana Jones," but U.S. cable network ad sales growth fell below the company's projections.

Reuters - Viacom Inc (VIAb.N) reported lower-than-expected advertising sales at its cable television networks due to weakness in sectors such as retail and automotives, and said the short-term economic outlook was "difficult to predict."

Reuters - MetLife Inc , the largest U.S. life insurer, said on Tuesday its second-quarter profit fell on investment losses and a decline in insurance earnings, sending its shares sliding nearly 10 percent.

Reuters - Sony Corp's (6758.T) shares slid more than 3 percent to a 3-1/2-month low on Wednesday after quarterly profit fell more than expected, while rival Matsushita Electric Industrial's (6752.T) stock jumped 6 percent on robust earnings growth.