estimates

Dell’s third quarter was a mixed bag. Revenue was down amid weak demand, but earnings were better than expected.

The outlook was “challenging” as expected. The company reported third quarter earnings of $727 million, or 37 cents a share, on revenue of $15.16 billion.

The good news: Earnings handily topped estimates of 31 cents a share.

The home improvement chain beat estimates for the third quarter, but joined other large retailers in warning of a worse-than-expected holiday quarter.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday that its third-quarter profit rose slightly, beating analysts' estimates, but the nation's No. 1 retailer tightened its full-year profit forecast.

Starbucks reported weak quarterly earnings and slightly higher sales Monday, as American consumers cut back on the number of expensive coffee beverages they purchased.

The chipmaker comes in a penny below analysts' predictions for earnings, but beats estimates for revenue.

Cuba's state-owned oil company says it may have more than 20bn barrels of oil in its offshore fields - double previous estimates.

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Red Hat, the largest provider of Linux software, posted its 2009 second quarter earnings, beating Wall Street’s estimates.

Revenue was $164.4 million, up 29 percent from the same quarter a year ago. Subscription revenue was $135.7 million, up 24% from last year.

Forrester Research said Tuesday that it is cutting its technology spending forecast for 2009, but raising estimates for 2008.

In a nutshell, Forrester now projects 2008 technology spending growth of 5.4 percent, up from 2.8 percent.

In 2009, Forrester is projecting growth of 6.1 percent, down from 10 percent.

The U.S. trade deficit expanded in July, according to a government report released Thursday, exceeding analysts' estimates.