PALO ALTO: Microsoft says its new Windows 10 operating system is now running on more than 14 million computers, two days after the software was released as a free download. That’s a far cry from the company’s goal of getting Windows 10 onto a billion devices within three years. Microsoft says it’s releasing the software in waves to make sure downloads go smoothly. In a blog post late Thursday, Microsoft said it has not yet delivered Windows 10 to everyone who requested a free upgrade for computers running older Windows versions. Microsoft says the 14 million includes some copies installed on new computers sold in stores. — AP

German retail sales

BERLIN: German retail sales, a closely watched measure of household confidence, unexpectedly fell 2.3 per cent in June, provisional official data showed on Friday. Analysts polled by the financial services provider Factset had forecast the volatile indicator would stay unchanged for the month in Europe’s biggest economy. A rise in retail sales in May was revised slightly down to 0.4 per cent from 0.5 per cent compared with April, the federal statistics office Destatis said. — AFP

IAG plans cost cuts

LONDON: IAG, owner of British Airways and Iberia, said on Friday it will continue to focus on driving down costs as competition intensifies both within Europe and as rivals put on more capacity on its all-important transatlantic routes. IAG, which is buying Aer Lingus to add to a portfolio comprising BA, Iberia and Vueling, said its unit revenue per passenger carried and kilometre flown was down 6.6 per cent on a constant currency basis in the three months ended June 30, showing that no airline is immune from the price war. — Reuters

Taiwan growth slows

TAIPEI: Taiwan’s economy grew at its slowest pace in three years in April to June, data showed on Friday, hammered by a plunge in its key export sector and falling demand in China. The results underscore the challenge Taipei faces in diversifying from its traditional mainstays of electronics and hardware exports, as it tries to encourage tech innovation from smaller homegrown businesses as one way to boost the economy. Growth came in at just 0.64 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter, sharply down from 3.37 per cent in the previous three months, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics said. — AFP

Spanish banks profits

MADRID: Major Spanish banks reported a surge in quarterly net profits on Friday as earnings soared in a sector that just three years ago had to be bailed out. BBVA, Spain’s second-biggest bank by market capitalisation, said net profits rose 73 per cent to 1.2 billion euros in the second quarter. The third-biggest, CaixaBank, said its net earnings doubled to 333 million euros. Other Spanish banks also said country’s economic recovery was boosting lending. — AFP