--Telecom NZ first half net profit NZ$1.0 billion including discontinued operations --Company to buy back NZ$300 million worth of shares --Telecom NZ CEO says focus remains on cost-cutting plan (Recasts the first paragraph, adds background in the second paragraph, CEO comment in the fifth and seventh paragraphs, share price reaction in the ninth paragraph, and broker comment in the 10th-11th paragraphs.

Salesforce.com Inc. Thursday reported a fourth-quarter loss mostly on increased stock-based compensation and higher charges, both related to acquisitions. Earnings excluding these expenses were well ahead of the prior-year quarter with revenues increasing substantially, mostly in the U.S. Adjusted earnings as well as revenues for the quarter came in ahead of Street estimates.

Shares of American International Group Inc. rose 6 percent in after hours trade on Thursday, after the bailed out insurer reported a record rise in fourth-quarter profit, helped mainly by a huge tax gain and an appreciation in the value of its stake in Asian insurer AIA Group Ltd. Results also reflect turnarounds in AIG's property insurance division Chartis and aircraft leasing unit International Lease Finance Corp.

Design software maker Autodesk, Inc. (ADSK) said Thursday after the markets closed that its fourth quarter profit rose 17% from last year, as demand for suites, AutoCAD, and AutoCAD LT products led to strong revenue growth across all of its geographies.

Argentina’s equity index falls Thursday, logging its first loss in five sessions as shares of Tenaris lose ground, while gains in Empresas ICA help tip Mexico’s equity benchmark higher.

Apparel retailer Gap Inc. said Thursday after the markets closed that its fourth quarter profit fell 40% from last year, hurt by rising costs and lower sales at its namesake and Old Navy stores. However, the company's quarterly earnings per share came in above analysts' expectations and its quarterly sales met analysts' forecast. At the same time, the San Francisco-based company gave a fiscal 2012 earnings outlook range, the mid-point of which is below analysts' current consensus estimate.