Earnings Roundup: Dell, Cost Plus

Among the earnings stories for Friday, Aug. 31, from AP Financial News:

DALLAS (AP) -- Dell Inc. finally saw some positives in its second-quarter earnings report after a year of continuing misfires, but analysts believe it's too soon to tell if the computer maker can return to being an industry juggernaut.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Cost Plus Inc., home furnishing and entertainment products retailer, said Thursday its chief financial officer left the company and its fiscal second-quarter loss widened, hurt largely by theft.

PARIS (AP) -- Electricite de France SA, France's largest energy supplier, said Friday that net income fell 15 percent as a mild summer cut into demand.

NASHUA, N.H. (AP) -- SkillSoft PLC, a provider of electronic education products, said Friday fiscal second-quarter nearly tripled after the company added the results of an acquired unit to its books.

PARIS (AP) -- French luxury goods group PPR posted Friday a 54 percent jump in first-half net profit, boosted by its acquisition of German sportswear maker Puma and improved operating results.

PARIS (AP) -- Entertainment and telecom conglomerate Vivendi SA reported Friday that its second-quarter earnings dropped 49 percent from a year earlier, when it had a gain from an asset sale, and said it is sticking to its forecast for the full year.