Talking Biz News Today — Oct. 24, 2014

Some of Friday’s top stories:

The Wall Street Journal

Microsoft bucks trend as sales defy expectations, by Shira Ovide

Amazon’s spending leads to biggest quarterly loss in 14 years, by Greg Bensinger

The New York Times

Profit doubles at G.M., as it strives to move past its litany of recalls, by Bill Vlasic

Tesco Chairman to step down as overstatement of profit grows, by Jenny Anderson

The Associated Press

Procter & Gamble removes the batteries, by The Associated Press

Global stocks rattled by Ebola case in New York, by Youkyung Lee

Reuters

Pfizer’s $11 billion buyback plan deflates AstraZeneca bid hopes, by Ben Hirschler and Bill Berkrot

Bloomberg

Fed’s $4 trillion holdings keep boosting growth beyond end of QE, by Jeff Kearns

Need for speed on Internet emerges as Comcast deal test, by Todd Shields and David McLaughlin

Today in business journalism

Lattman named NYTimes deputy biz editor

CNNMoney launches international page

When Ben Bradlee hired a deputy business editor

Weisenthal: Why covering the markets is fun

Bloomberg’s Matthews on covering economic trends

This date in business journalism history

2008: Is coverage causing volatility?

2010: Improving business coverage

Business journalism birthdays

Oct. 24: Gary Putka of Bloomberg News

Oct. 24: Liz Moyer of The Wall Street Journal

Oct. 25: Richard Morais of Barron’s

Oct. 25: James Gentryof The University of Kansas

Oct. 25: Norm Heikensof The Indianapolis Business Journal