Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Steve Ballmer stresses to Wall Street analysts that the development of tablet computers outfitted with the company's software is "one of the top issues on my mind."

Almost half of large U.S. companies say they now use, or they plan to use, financial penalties against employees who don’t participate in certain health programs, according to survey cited by MarketWatch contributor Marla Brill in her story today.

Kiosk-operator Coinstar Inc., wafer maker MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. and Wynn Resorts Ltd. tumble in after-hours trading following the release of quarterly earnings. Google Inc. shares are pressured by reports of possible censorship in China.

A roundup of the latest corporate earnings reports and what companies are saying about future quarters.

Amgen Inc. reports slightly lower earnings, due to various charges and decreased sales of two of its leading products, Enbrel and Aranesp.

The Justice Department alleges that the corporate-software giant defrauded the government in connection with a major contract.

The government will release data Friday that will shed light on whether the economy is on a path for sustainable growth, or may be in danger of slumping into a double-dip recession.

A big increase in revenue in Macau helped Wynn Resorts double its second quarter profit, and things were even looking up a bit in Las Vegas, the casino operator reported Thursday.

Anheuser-Busch InBev lost a long, bitter court battle with a Czech brewer over the name of its flagship brand when the European Court of Justice ruled Thursday that it may not register "Budweiser" as a trademark in the European Union.

Colgate-Palmolive shares drop in late morning activity after the toothpaste maker posts second-quarter sales and volume growth that falls short of analyst expectations and slows from the first three months of the year.