Earnings roundup: Blockbuster, Blackstone Group

Among the earnings stories for Thursday, May 15, from AP Financial News:

DALLAS (AP) _ The movie rental chain Blockbuster Inc., which wants to buy the electronics chain Circuit City Stores, said Thursday it swung to a first-quarter profit on lower expenses and improved results from its subscription service and domestic sales growth.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Blackstone Group LP, one of the world's largest private equity funds, on Thursday reported its second straight quarterly loss as the leveraged buyout market dried up and its portfolio of companies lost value.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Shares of Salary.com Inc. plunged Thursday after the software maker reported disappointing fiscal fourth-quarter results, gave a weak first-quarter forecast and shifted its business strategy.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Commercial finance real estate investment trust Anthracite Capital Inc. said Thursday its first-quarter profit more than doubled amid challenging credit conditions, beating Wall Street's expectations.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Fuqi International Inc., a Chinese jewelry maker, said Thursday its first-quarter profit more than tripled, helped by higher selling prices for jewelry designs and higher processing fees on jewelry delivered.