Hewlett-Packard Co's (H-P)(NYSE:HPQ) fiscal first-quarter earnings fell nearly 44 percent as the world's No. 1 computer maker forecast a weaker second-quarter profit as it struggles with weak sales of PCs and printers.

After markets closed on Thursday, information technology giant Hewlett-Packard Co (HP) (NYSE:HPQ) cut its full year outlook as it gears up to sell off its PC business, causing its shares to plunge.

US information technology giant Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ) is to pay more than £7 billion (US$10 billion) for business software group Autonomy Corporation (LON:AU.)

Hewlett Packard (HP) (NYSE:HPQ) fell roughly 10% on Wednesday after the company disappointed investors with its outlook for the year, missing estimates due in large part to a consumer slump.

The proposed transaction, which would see HP give the company $24 per share, is around 33% above the price proposed by Dell last week.

Smartphone and tablet maker Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) said second-quarter earnings jumped 93% in the March quarter, boosted largely by stronger-than-expected iPhone sales.

Chipmakers SanDiskCorp (NASDAQ:SNDK) and Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE:AMD) reported first quarter results after the bell Thursday, with the former company disappointing the Street, while the latter beat analyst estimates.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) will start paying a regular dividend of $2.65 a quarter from July and will buy back up to $10 billion of its
own shares starting in fiscal year 2013.

A vast majority of consumers interested in a tablet computer only choose one - Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad - according to a new study by wireless and mobile market research consultancy iGR.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Friday acquired San Francisco-based Chomp, which helps users sort through the widening array of software applications for mobile devices, about $50 million.