TOP STORIES 
 
FED'S YELLEN SEES STRONGER CASE FOR INTEREST-RATE RISE 

Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen signaled growing conviction that the central bank will raise short-term interest rates in the weeks or months ahead.

STOCKS LOWER AFTER YELLEN'S REMARKS 

U.S. stocks turned lower Friday, after Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said the case for an increase in short-term interest rates has strengthened in recent months.

U.S. CORPORATE PROFITS CLIMBED AS GDP TICKS DOWN TO 1.1% 

A key measure of corporate profits rose this spring for a second straight quarter alongside modest growth in the overall economy, though U.S. businesses remain under pressure from global weakness and other forces.

TXU ENERGY, LUMINANT CLEARED TO EXIT BANKRUPTCY 

Power generator Luminant and retail electricity provider TXU Energy Inc., two of the largest energy businesses in Texas, are headed toward an exit from bankruptcy after winning confirmation of a chapter 11 plan.

PARAMOUNT PICTURES CHIEF GETS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FROM VIACOM 

Paramount Pictures Chief Executive Brad Grey received a vote of confidence from parent company Viacom Inc. and its board of directors, a day after presenting a turnaround plan for reviving the studio following a recent losing streak at the box office.

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS SETTLES CRISIS ERA LAWSUIT 

Accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has settled a $5.5 billion lawsuit in the middle of a weekslong trial over its alleged failure to catch the massive fraud that led to one of the most expensive bank failures in U.S. history.

AÉ ROPOSTALE LOSES BID TO REIN IN SYCAMORE 

A bankruptcy judge has dealt a big blow to Aé ropostale Inc.'s bid to survive chapter 11, refusing to rein in the bidding rights of Sycamore Partners, a former big backer and now major critic of the retailer.

U.S. CONSUMER SENTIMENT EASES SLIGHTLY IN AUGUST 

A gauge of consumer sentiment edged lower in August, a potentially worrying sign for an economy heavily reliant on personal spending for growth.

VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIPS UPBEAT OVER PAYOUT FROM EMISSIONS SCANDAL 

Volkswagen dealers nationwide are largely striking a hopeful tone on news of the auto maker's deal with some 650 Volkswagen franchise dealerships in the U.S. over its emissions scandal.

WEB FIRMS MAY HAVE TO PAY PUBLISHERS FOR NEWS UNDER EU RULES 

News aggregators like Google news search may have to pay publishers to list news articles on their websites under European Union plans to update copyright rules.

RACKSPACE TO GO PRIVATE IN $4.3 BILLION DEAL 

Cloud-computing provider Rackspace Hosting is being taken private by private-equity firm Apollo Global Management for $4.3 billion.

BILLIONAIRE RICHARD BRANSON INJURED IN BIKE CRASH 

Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson suffered a cracked cheek, torn ligaments and severe cuts after flying headfirst off his bicycle in the British Virgin Islands.

THERANOS TO APPEAL REGULATORY SANCTIONS 

Silicon Valley startup Theranos said it plans to appeal a decision made last month by regulators to revoke its license to operate a lab in California, among other penalties, because of unsafe practices.

FED'S POWELL SAYS PATIENT COURSE ON RATE RISES IS BEST 

Federal Reserve governor Jerome Powell told Bloomberg television on Friday that slow rate rises are the best fit for central bank policy now.

ALERE SUES ABBOTT TO FORCE MERGER 

Alere Inc. escalated its fight with reluctant buyer Abbott Laboratories by filing a lawsuit against its potential acquirer to push it to move forward with the deal.

TESLA RAISES PRICE OF AUTOPILOT OPTION BY $500 

Tesla raised the price of its semi-autonomous Autopilot option by $500, the latest move by the Silicon Valley auto maker to adjust prices and options on its electric vehicles.

AB INBEV WARNS OF THOUSANDS OF MERGER-RELATED JOB LOSSES 

Belgium's Anheuser-Busch InBev warned its beer megamerger with SABMiller could lead to thousands of job losses in coming years, according to documents related to the transaction.

U.S. OIL-RIG COUNT UNCHANGED IN THE LATEST WEEK 

The number of rigs drilling for oil in the U.S. were unchanged in the past week at 406, ending a recent trend of increases, according to oil-field services company Baker Hughes Inc.

BIG LOTS POSTS REVENUE DECLINE BUT RAISES FORECAST 

Big Lots Inc. on Friday reported soft comparable-store sales and a revenue decline but raised its profit forecast for the year.

P&G CEO'S $​2.5 MILLION BONUS BOOSTED BY 'TRANSFORMATION FACTOR' 

A Procter & Gamble Co. incentive program with some unconventional measures meant extra cash for top executives after year in which the company missed sales and profit growth targets.

 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
Central Banks 
TIMING OF FED INTEREST RATE INCREASE STILL IN QUESTION 
 

Federal Reserve officials signaled clearly they see an interest rate rise in the economy's future. What they didn't have much to say about was when it might happen.

 
Business 
ICAHN-ACKMAN HERBALIFE TRADE COULD BE A WIN-WIN 
 

Carl Icahn's exploration of a sale of his Herbalife Ltd. stake to a group of investors including William Ackman is rich with irony. But a deal like the one discussed would, in both their eyes, likely deliver a profit.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 26, 2016 17:00 ET (21:00 GMT)