Before the bell: SPLS, BJ, VIA, GE, WMT...

Before the bell: Concerns linger while bulls are really trying

Trying to compete with Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iTunes store, Viacom Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA) MTV unit may be setting up a partnership with online music operator RealNetworks (NASDAQ: RNWK) to create an online music store. This is the first online store I've heard of that I think might actually represent a threat to iTunes as MTV has such a name among young (and less young) listeners.

General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) may sell its Japanese consumer-finance unit, according to the Financial Times.

Following its purchase of Cricinfo.com, the world's largest specialist cricket web site, Walt Disney Co.'s (NYSE: DIS) sports network ESPN had bought Scrum.com, a leading rugby news web site.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) announced it is now selling DRM-free digital music downloads on its web site. Usually a copy-protection software is added to the songs to limit where consumers can play the songs, but Wal-Mart now has thousands of albums and songs from major record labels in its catalog.

Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) second-quarter profit rose 11% to $178.8 million, or 25 cents per share. Sales rose 11% to $4.29 billion. Analysts had expected net income of 25 cents per share on revenue of $4.3 billion. Staples also said it expects to post earnings growth of 15% for the full year, at the lower end of its guidance range. SPLS shares are down 1.3% in premarket trading (8:15 a.m.).

BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE: BJ) second-quarter profit rose 37% to $36.3 million, or 55 cents per share. Excluding charges, the company would have earned 46 cents per share in the latest period, compared with 41 cents in the second quarter of 2006. Sales for the second quarter increased 8% to $2.25 billion, while total revenue grew to $2.29 billion from $2.12 billion. Analysts had expected 41 cents per share on revenue of $2.29 billion. BJ shares are up 3.8% in premarket trading (8:07 a.m.).