Tablet computer shipment pace slows

Global tablet shipments slowed in the second quarter from the previous three months as consumers delayed purchases of Apple's iPad to wait for a new model expected later this year, according to researcher IDC. Unit sales declined 9.7 percent to 45.1 million, IDC said. IPad shipments slid to 14.6 million units from 19.5 million in the first quarter, IDC said. Other than a new MacBook Air laptop, Apple hasn't had a new product go on sale since last year, leaving investors and customers awaiting the release of a new iPhone and iPad, which may arrive later this year. Apple, which had previously debuted new iPads heading into the second quarter, is now holding off for the holiday shopping season, IDC said.

Pritzker buys all of Commune Hotels, Resorts

Billionaire John Pritzker, the son of the late founder of the Hyatt Hotels Corp. chain, bought the 50 percent of closely held Commune Hotels and Resorts that he didn't already own for an undisclosed amount. Through his private-equity firm Geolo Capital, Pritzker purchased the stake from the Pomeranc brothers — Jason, Michael and Lawrence — who had formed a joint venture with Pritzker in October 2011. The three contributed hotels from their Thompson chain, founded by the brothers in 2001, to the partnership. Pritzker is taking over six Thompson properties including two in New York, the Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles and the Belgraves in London, as well as the Thompson brand name.

Turner Broadcasting names new president

David Levy has been named president of Turner Broadcasting System Inc. by Chairman and CEO Phil Kent. In his new role, Levy adds oversight of Turner's domestic entertainment, animation and young adults networks and business portfolios to his current leadership of the company's advertising sales, affiliate sales and sports units.

Shale drillers pull ahead of global oil giants

Oil explorers focused on high-margin shale drilling from Texas to North Dakota are set to outperform Big Oil this year. EOG Resources Inc., Pioneer Natural Resources Co. and Continental Resources Inc. are poised to reap bigger returns for investors than energy titans 15 times their market values as they devote almost all their drilling capital to higher-margin, domestic crude wells, said Gianna Bern, founder of Brookshire Advisory and Research Inc. in Chicago. Houston-based EOG is estimated to more than triple profit in 2013 to $1.92 billion.

Goldman Sachs halts Brazil growth plan

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the U.S. bank that announced plans in April to hire 50 people in Brazil, has reversed course after the economy expanded less than analysts estimated and top executives left the company. "The outlook for the economy and equity and merger-and-acquisition deal volumes are worse than we expected," Michael DuVally, a spokesman for the New York-based bank, said. Brazil's benchmark stock index has lost 13 percent since the start of April and more than 20 percent this year. Foreign banks from Zurich-based UBS AG to London-based Barclays PLC have been reducing staff in Brazil as the investment-banking business shrinks and competition from local lenders intensifies.

EADS urged to sell combat jet maker Dassault

European Aeronautics, Defence & Space Co. (EADS), parent of Airbus SAS, is being urged by an activist investor to sell its stake in combat jet maker Dassault Aviation in a public offering. The EADS shareholding in Dassault could be worth 5 billion euros ($6.6 billion).

FROM NEWS SERVICES