Dell Plans to Sell Factories
Dell has approached contract computer manufacturers with offers to sell its factories world-wide.

Pimco Names El-Erian Chief
Pimco named Mohamed El-Erian as sole CEO of the investment firm, which has seen strong returns this year.

Company to Create Airwaves Exchange
Spectrum Bridge plans to launch an online trading exchange for the nation's radio spectrum on Friday.

GE Agrees to Sell Warranty Business
General Electric agreed to sell its warranty-management-group business to Assurant for $140 million.

Atticus Denies Liquidation Rumors
Atticus Capital executives said that speculation sweeping the market that the large hedge fund is liquidating its positions and closing down is not accurate.

Severstal Net More Than Doubles
Severstal's CEO said the company is considering acquisitions in the U.S. and elsewhere, as the Russian steelmaker reported solid second-quarter earnings.

Boeing, Union Face Two-Day Window
Boeing and its machinists union returned to the bargaining table with a two-day window to avoid a strike, but face the challenge of overcoming deeply entrenched negotiating positions.

Embarq Launches Call Screening
Embarq has launched a service that lets customers screen their voice mail in an effort to compete with wireless and cable providers.

LNG Probe Reaches Beyond Nigeria
A former Halliburton executive at the center of a bribery probe into the LNG construction industry had a central role in projects outside Nigeria, court documents show.

Gene-Research Center to Get Funds
Philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad said they plan to give $400 million more to a genetics-research center named for them.

Insurers Violate Marketing Regulations
Most of the marketing materials that private insurers use for their prescription-drug plans fail to meet all of Medicare's guidelines, federal auditors said.

Medtronic's Defibrillator Update Approved
Medtronic received FDA approval for a software update that will help detect fractures in a cardiac defibrillator wire.

Airlines, Credit-Card Firms Duel for Cash
Financial turmoil is raising the stakes for airlines and credit-card companies as they look to overhaul their co-branding relationships, which are often adversarial but hugely lucrative.

Walgreen CEO Says Patients Cash-Strapped
Walgreen's CEO said the U.S. is experiencing the "tightest prescription market" in his 27-year career, as cash-strapped patients skip taking their medication, cut pills in half and avoid doctors' visits to save money.

UBS Fills Fixed-Income Gap
UBS said it has lured away Goldman Sachs banker Carsten Kengeter to oversee its fixed-income operations.

Starwood, Sands Plan Vegas Venture
Starwood Hotels' high-end St. Regis brand will make its first appearance on the Las Vegas Strip under a deal in which Starwood will manage a condo development for Las Vegas Sands.

Comcast to Appeal FCC's Decision
Comcast filed suit against the FCC to overturn the agency's decision to sanction the cable company for blocking certain Internet traffic. Despite the lawsuit, Comcast said it will fully comply with the FCC's order.

Productivity Is Revised Higher
Productivity jumped 4.3% in the second quarter, higher than initially estimated, while labor costs fell, reflecting a mix of employment declines and export-generated growth.

Judge Says Ellison Withheld Emails
A federal judge ruled Oracle CEO Ellison should have preserved emails and audiotapes related to a shareholder lawsuit against the software company.

Management Author Hammer Dies
Michael Hammer, an engineer and author on management who helped popularize the "re-engineering" movement in the 1990s, died Thursday at the age of 60.

Grand Theft Auto Lifts Take-Two
Take-Two Interactive swung to a profit on strong sales of its blockbuster game Grand Theft Auto IV. CEO Feder declined to discuss the status of talks with EA.

Coke Deal to Test China's Antitrust Law
Coca-Cola's bid for Huiyuan offers the first major test of China's new antitrust law, amid public concern over the loss of national brands.

Ford Expands Buyout Offers
Ford is offering buyout packages at more plants as it intensifies its push to get more workers to leave the company by year end.

Bombardier Swings to Profit
Bombardier swung to a profit and posted strong revenue growth, buoyed by strong demand for its business jets and rail equipment.

Ciena Warns of Telecom Weakness
Ciena posted a 59% drop in profit and warned of weaker orders for telecommunications gear in coming quarters.

Tougher Warnings Ordered on Four Drugs
The FDA ordered stronger warnings on the labels of four big-selling drugs for arthritis and Crohn's disease to alert patients to the risk of serious fungal infections.

Wachovia Hires Ex-Bear Executive
Wachovia's securities unit named Craig Overlander, formerly co-head of Bear Stearns's fixed-income group, as managing director and global head of fixed income.