Major business events and economic events scheduled for Friday: WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases Consumer Price Index for July, 8:30 a.m.

Large U.S. food companies have been pushing the Obama administration to ease sugar import curbs, citing forecasts for unprecedented sugar shortages that could result in higher retail prices and possible job losses.

U.S.-traded shares of NetEase.com Inc. fell Thursday after the Chinese online gaming company reported second-quarter results ahead of analyst expectations but indicated a boost came from the recognition of revenue related to the cleanup of dormant user accounts.

Stocks rose slightly on Thursday as better-than-expected earnings by Wal-Mart Stores Inc helped offset gloomy government numbers on retail sales and jobs.

Shares of Bank of America shot up Thursday as a new executive at the bank, as well as a prominent hedge-fund manager, decided to place big bets on the company by buying up blocks of shares.

MONDAY, Aug. 17 WASHINGTON — National Association of Home Builders releases housing market index for August, 1 p.m.; Treasury releases Treasury International Capital securities and banking data for June, 9 a.m.

Shares of solar stocks tumbled Thursday on troubled second-quarter results, as analysts warned of a dismal near-term outlook.

Shares of Youbet.com Inc. fell after the online horse racing and betting company reported its second-quarter earnings sank 28 percent — missing analyst expectations and providing another indication the gambling industry is still hurting from lower consumer spending during the recession.

Major business events and economic events scheduled for Friday: WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases Consumer Price Index for July, 8:30 a.m.

Shares of Youbet.com Inc. fell Thursday after the online horse racing and betting company reported its second-quarter earnings sank 28 percent — missing analyst expectations and providing another indication the gambling industry is still hurting from lower consumer spending during the recession.