• Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA) posted second quarter 2011 earnings of $0.38 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.32
• VeriSign Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN) announced the resignation of its Chief Financial Officer Brian Robins, who stepped down to move on to other opportunities
• The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) posted second-quarter 2011 earnings of $0.41 per share, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.43 per share
• According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) is planning to lay off roughly 40,000 employees
• Ticonderoga Securities downgraded Lazard Ltd. (NYSE:LAZ) to “Neutral” from a “Buy” rating
• Credit Suisse downgraded Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE:SNY) to “Neutral” from an “Outperform” rating
• Bank of America Corporation downgraded Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) to “Underperform” from a “Neutral” rating
• Jefferies Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF) downgraded Research In Motion Limited (NASDAQ:RIMM) to an “Underperform” rating
