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Today’s headlines
Markets reverse course and soar
After dropping 129 points, the Dow closes up 260 as companies stand by their results.

Retailer shelves fees to restock
Responding to customer complaints, Circuit City no longer charges for returned electronics items.

Intuit snaps up Tampa software company
Intuit Inc. said Wednesday it will acquire Blue Ocean Software Inc. of Tampa for $170-million in cash.

Bay area execs comply
Executives of the three Tampa companies required to certify their financial statements met the Securities and Exchange Commission's deadline with time to spare.

CEOs certify finances; some restate reports
The deadline for the new SEC requirement was Wednesday, but a handful of companies could not vouch for past accuracy.

Business Today
UNITED BRACES FOR BANKRUPTCY: United Airlines' struggling parent company announced an urgent cost-cutting effort and said it is preparing to file for bankruptcy protection this fall unless it can lower expenses. It would be the largest airline to file. UAL Corp. cited the approach of $875-million in debt payments due in the fourth quarter and said it is setting a 30-day limit to reach agreements on cost-cutting. Its pilots' union agreed to a 10 percent pay reduction earlier this summer, but other groups have rejected proposed pay cuts. United is awaiting a decision on its application for a $1.8-billion government-backed loan.