Adobe shares soar on rumour

NEW YORK - SHARES of Adobe soared in heavy trading on Thursday on a report that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer discussed a possible buyout of the company.

A report posted in the 'Bits' blog of The New York Times said Mr Ballmer recently met with Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen to talk about Apple's control of the cell phone market and how Microsoft and Adobe could work together to fend off the iPhone maker.

Boeing delivers 124 planes in Q3

CHICAGO - BOEING Co said on Thursday that it delivered 124 commercial airplanes during the third quarter, almost 10 per cent more than last year.

Boeing has delivered 346 commercial planes so far this year.

Samsung to hit $5.6b Q3 profit

SEOUL - SOUTH KOREA'S Samsung Electronics on Thursday estimated its third-quarter operating profit at 4.8 trillion won (S$5.6 billion), lower than analysts had expected.

The company, the world's largest maker of memory chips and flat-screen TVs, predicted that revenue would rise 11 per cent to 40 trillion won in July-September compared to a year earlier. The estimate for operating profit represents a rise of almost 14 per cent on year. The 'earnings guidance' was issued before official earnings figures due later this month.

AIG lowers AIA IPO valuation

IMF renews call for bank levy