John H Westergren

Just in time for the Summer Games, here are a few apps plus ebooks to guide you through the Olympics and London.

Google Inc. (GOOG), Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), eBay Inc. (EBAY), Facebook Inc. (FB) and other big Internet companies are starting an association to represent their interests in Washington, Reuters news agency reported Thursday on its website, citing an unnamed person close to the group.

Heavy equipment company PT United Tractors (UNTR.JK) said Thursday its first-half net profit rose 22% to 3.09 trillion rupiah ($325 million) from IDR2.54 trillion a year earlier, boosted by higher sales.

Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. (1038.HK) has raised HK$2.31 billion (US$296 million) in a share placement after pricing the deal at the bottom of an indicative price range.

Energy Resources of Australia Ltd. (ERA.AU) on Thursday booked a 59.9 million Australian dollar (US$61.7 million) net loss for the first half as it winds down operations at its depleted Ranger pit in the Northern Territory.

Australian shares hovered around the flat line in early trading Thursday, with Qantas Ltd. and Newcrest Mining Ltd. gaining ground, but other miners and banks declining.

Japanese stocks inched higher in early Thursday trading, helped by a positive lead from Wall Street, and with earnings and deal news moving some key shares.

France Telecom (FTE) Chief Executive Stephane Richard says there is no plan for a merger with German rival Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE.XE), the Financial Times reported Wednesday on its website.

SK Hynix Inc. (000660.SE) said Thursday it swung to a net loss in the second quarter as the South Korean chipmaker fell victim to a continued slump in chip prices and softening demand for consumer electronics amid the global economic downturn.

Australia's biggest city will be without an oil refinery from the second half of 2014 after Caltex Australia Ltd. (CTX.AU) Thursday said it will close its Kurnell facility in Sydney and convert it to a fuel import terminal.