Microsoft's profit jumped 23%, fueled by demand for its Vista and Office software as well as the debut of its Halo 3 videogame. The software giant issued an upbeat forecast and shares surged 10% after hours.
Vonage reached a settlement with Verizon in a patent lawsuit that had threatened the Internet phone company's future. Vonage will pay up to $120 million to settle the case.
Facebook is looking to hedge funds and private-equity investors to raise an additional $260 million in funding, after selling a stake to Microsoft for $240 million.
BEA said it is willing to negotiate with potential acquirers, including Oracle, if they are willing to pay $21 a share. Oracle has said its $17-a-share offer expires Sunday.
Motorola's net income plunged 94% amid continued weakness at its cellphone business, but the company projected fourth-quarter earnings above analysts' expectations.
Comcast shares fell Thursday on the cable giant's earnings report, but EMC climbed as its VMware spinoff boosted its bottom line. The Nasdaq fell about 1% on the latest round of economic data.
Universal Pictures' "American Gangster" is being illegally downloaded and also being sold by street vendors in Los Angeles more than a week before its release in theaters.
Sony's net profit soared on the continued turnaround of its core consumer electronics operations and a year-earlier charge related to a massive battery recall.
Cablevision shareholders rejected the Dolan family's $10.6 billion offer to take the cable operator private. The move was an unusual display of shareholder activism, given the recent credit climate.
A U.S. official said China has slowed cooperation with the U.S. on fighting product piracy since Washington complained to the WTO on the issue earlier this year.
Dell appointed Gilbert F. Casellas, former chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as vice president of corporate responsibility.
