Reuters - Microsoft Corp posted a lower-than-expected quarterly profit and outlook for its current quarter on Thursday, citing a "tough" environment, and its shares fell 6 percent.

AP - THE PROFIT: IBM Corp.'s second-quarter profit rose 22 percent, easily beating Wall Street's expectations. The Armonk, N.Y.-based company is benefiting from continued strength in its services division despite growing economic worries.

Reuters - IBM reported a 22 percent rise in quarterly profit, blowing past Wall Street targets and raising its 2008 forecast, as emerging markets used its services, software and equipment to expand, and larger countries turned to technology to save money.

AP - IBM Corp.'s earnings, used to gauge the health of global technology spending, were a bright spot in an otherwise dreary economic landscape.