Business briefs

BlackBerry services threatened

India's Home Ministry threatened Thursday to block BlackBerry corporate e-mail and messaging services unless the device's manufacturer makes them accessible to its security agencies by Aug. 31. The ministry said that if no technical solution is provided by then, it will take steps to block the services from the country's mobile phone network. The phones are made by Canada's Research In Motion Ltd. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also have threatened to cut off popular BlackBerry services unless they get greater access to user information. RIM did not comment specifically on India's announcement but said Thursday that it has drawn "a firm line" in negotiations with governments.

Bookseller takeover stalled

A Delaware judge Thursday blocked billionaire Ron Burkle's effort to overturn bookseller Barnes & Noble's poison pill limiting any shareholder's stake in the company to 20 percent. Judge Vice Chancellor Leo E. Strine of Delaware's Court of Chancery wrote in a ruling issued late Thursday that if a poison pill was not in place, Burkle could orchestrate a takeover of the company without paying shareholders a premium. The ruling came several hours after Barnes & Noble countered news reports that it had reached a settlement with Burkle's Yucaipa Cos.

Stocks fall after Cisco report

Technology companies led the stock market to its third straight loss Thursday after an earnings report from Cisco Systems raised more questions about the economy. The computer networking company's revenue for its fiscal fourth quarter and forecast for revenue fell short of analysts' expectations. Other big stocks seen as vulnerable in a weak economy also fell. A weekly employment report that was weaker than expected also made investors uneasy about the strength of the economic recovery. The Dow fell 58.88 points, or 0.6 percent, to 10,319.95. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 5.86, or 0.5 percent, to 1,083.61. The Nasdaq composite index fell 18.36, or 0.8 percent, to 2,190.27.

-From wire reports