Disney sees higher TV ad revenues drive quarter and considers ESPN exit from U.K. sports coverage.

Dell seeks to transform brand, going private in $24 billion buyout under founder Michael Dell, as Microsoft gambles on involvement.

U.S. Postal Service plans to cut Saturday mail as Hallmark fights the cuts.

Apple loses right to iPhone brand in Brazil.

Arby's launches "fan of the week" promo via Facebook.

Lance Armstrong reportedly under investigation for obstruction and other serious crimes.

BP is hit by new $34 billion claim from U.S. state governments over Gulf spill.Continue reading...

Barclays CEO vows to improve bank's ethics as company sets aside $1.6 billion for legal costs following exec shake-up.

S&P and McGraw-Hill sued by U.S. over controversial mortgage bond ratings.

KFC parent Yum! Brands suffers after China scandal.

Applebee's sees social media firestorm after employee posted customer receipt online.

AT&T introduces $1 mobile hotspot (with contract).

Axe broadens men's grooming portfolio.

Amazon and Samsung unseat Apple in customer engagement ranking.

Boeing finds experts stumped over Dreamliner's faulty batteries.Continue reading...

Apparently tired of just prodding its unresponsive soup business into a turnaround, Campbell Soup made a big diversification move Monday by agreeing to acquire Bolthouse Farms for $1.55 billion. Bolthouse began in 1915 as a big carrot farm run by William Bolthouse near Bakersfield, Calif., and has scored a number of successes over the last few years in the better-for-you food, beverage and snack space — not to mention trying to put baby carrots top of mind.

By purchasing the Bolthouse brand from a private equity firm, Madison Dearborn Partners, Campbell gains a premium beverage business to complement its growing portfolio of V8 beverages as well as a fresh-carrot business that Campbell believes could be a healthy-snacking opportunity.

In addition to its implications for Campbell, the move also represents a further homogenization of America's biggest consumer-packaged-goods conglomerates, making Campbell look a little more like Kraft, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola as they all diversify strategically into more better-for-you categories.Continue reading...

New York City and mid-Atlantic brace for Irene's violent strike.

ABN Amro to cut 2,000-plus jobs.

AIG wants analysts to value it more highly.

Bloomberg accelerates in legal-research market with acquisition.

Delta sorts out Boeing orders.

Facebook makes major changes to location-based product.

Ford champions Google+.

General Motors and LG to team up on electric cars.

Groupon has "never been stronger," CEO insists.Continue reading...

BHP confident in future of mining as profit jumps.

BYD troubles threaten expansion of Chinese automaker -- and Warren Buffett's investment.

Bank of America gets new battering by financial markets.

Groupon stumbles in China.

Heineken shares plunge on stagnant profit.

Heinz makes low-end push.

Hertz to begin renting electric cars in China.

Kraft cuts coffee prices 6 percent.Continue reading...

As Dow closes down 634 points, the S&P downgrade of U.S. probed by Congress.

AIG sues Bank of America and its subsidiaries, Merrill Lynch and Countrywide.

BlackBerry cringes at association with U.K. riots, as violence continues to escalate.

Spotify reportedly has 1.4 million U.S. users, and now valued at $1.1 billion.

BMW leads global luxury auto brand sales through July, followed by Audi.

CenturyLink brand launches in former Qwest markets.Continue reading...

Tiger Woods loses $10 million Tag Heuer endorsement deal.

Groupon addresses accounting complaints as rivals fall by wayside.

Verizon hit by strike action affecting 45,000 workers.

Airbnb continues beefing up security.

Alexander McQueen show at New York's Metropolitan Museum breaks records in final weekend.

American Apparel expands ASOS partnership.

Bank of Scotland launches integrated campaign.Continue reading...

YouTube expands movie rental service with 3,000 NBC Universal, Sony Pictures, and Warner Brothers titles.

Tumblr gets more social with share button. Meanwhile, Tumblr says today's rumored 4Chan attack was really hardware failure.

Maker’s Mark launches first TV ad campaign.

Microsoft opens a PC store in user’s home.

All Prius models will be plug-in starting 2014.

Bristol Palin lands own reality show.

IHOP launches frozen foods to be sold at Wal-Mart.Continue reading...