That's it from the Business Live page. We'll be back tomorrow from 06:00.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed higher towards the close, but just failed to break even.

It closed a little lower at 18,456.

Ford ended 8% lower.

The S&P climbed into positive territory, but only just ending 3 points higher at 2,170.

And the Nasdaq Composite climbed 15 points to 5,154.

Image source, Getty Images

Amazon reported, external a second quarter profit of $1.93bn. Sales were up 31% to $30.4bn.

Its AWS unit which supplies software and computing services over the internet (also know as cloud computing) continues to be a star performer.

AWS had sales of $2.89bn in the second quarter, up from $1.82bn in the same quarter of last year.

Alphabet, the owner of Google, has reported second quarter results, external.

Net income was $4.88bn, up from $3.93bn in the same quarter of last year.

Sales rose 21% to $21.5bn.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, AP

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) will be under particular scrutiny on Friday. It is due to announce the results of its latest policy meeting.

Bank of Japan Governor, Haruhiko Kuroda holds a news conference at 07:30 BST.

Economists are expecting him to announce extra stimulus for the stagnant Japanese economy. 

The question is: how much?

"It's like trying to read Kuroda's mind - to be honest, we can't say we're very confident [about our predictions] and I think other analysts are the same," said BNP Paribas economist, Hiroshi Shiraishi.

"Unless the BoJ does something really big, it can't go above the already high expectations. But if it does do something really big, there's a chance the side-effects and future costs will be really big." 

BBC Scotland business and economics editor

John Moylan
BBC industry & employment correspondent

Following the EDF board decision to invest in a new nuclear plant in Somerset, the government and EDF were expected to sign a series of documents including the key 35 year contract that guarantees EDF a “strike price” for every unit of electricity the plant will generate.

The Department for Business now says the government will merely make a decision about signing that document in early autumn.

This from Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark:

Tom Greatrex from the Nuclear Industry Association and Professor Paul Ekins from University College London discuss the pros and cons of the scheme.  

The vote in favour of the Hinkley Project was pretty close among members of the EDF board.

Ten board members voted for the project, but seven voted against.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, which lobbies for renewable energy, is less excited about the approval of Hinkley's new reactors:

“What’s really striking about Hinkley is that EDF and the French government aren’t just betting the farm on this project, they’re effectively betting the entire hillside, the river at the bottom and the next few hillsides as well.

“With similar reactors in France and Finland seriously over time and over budget, France needs a Hinkley success if it’s to persuade anyone in the West that it’s still a serious player in the global nuclear industry.

“So it’s a risk worth taking for France; but is it for Britain? In a world moving towards cheaper, flexible, decentralised power systems, investing in eye-wateringly expensive always-on ‘baseload’ power plants increasingly looks like a 20th century solution for a 21st century problem.”

Unsurprisingly the Nuclear Industry Association has welcomed EDF's decision. Its chief executive Tom Greatrex said:

"This is an important moment for the UK nuclear sector. Over the last decade, the case has been demonstrated for nuclear power as part of a balanced, reliable, secure and low carbon electricity system of the future. 

"We are now entering an important new phase, creating jobs, security and skilled workers for the UK supply chain.

"This will be the first new nuclear power station to be built in a generation and the first to be built without direct state funding.

"This major infrastructure project will give a vital boost to UK industry, our manufacturing supply chain and construction industry - demonstrating that even with the prospect of leaving the EU, the country is open for business."

Image source, Reuters

"The two EPR reactors at Hinkley Point will strengthen EDF's presence in Britain, a country where its subsidiary EDF Energy already operates 15 nuclear reactors and is the largest electricity supplier by volume.

"HPC [Hinkley Point C] will also enable the Group to mobilise all its significant nuclear engineering skills following the final investment decision.

"The first concrete of reactor 1 of HPC, scheduled for mid-2019, will coincide with perfect continuity with the start-up of the EPR at Flamanville, scheduled for the end of 2018."

French energy giant confirms it has given the go-ahead for the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant development in the UK.

Image source, AFP

Continuing with EDF-related business news from France....

The economy ministry has chosen the winning bidders for the sale of 60% stakes in the airports of Nice Cote d'Azur and Lyon-Saint-Expury. 

Italy's Atlantia in cooperation with EDF's investment arm EDF Invest was chosen for Nice airport, and a consortium of Vinci, state bank Caisse des Depots et Consignations and Credit Agricole's insurance arm Predica was picked for Lyon. 

The government, looking to raise cash to help meet budget deficit targets, expects proceeds of €1.22bn (£1.03bn) for Nice and €535m for Lyon. 

Image source, PA

Sources in France are saying that the board of state-controlled energy giant EDF has given the go-ahead for its project to build two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point, UK.

Board member Gerard Magnin, an advocate of renewable energy, had resigned in protest over EDF's strategy ahead of the meeting.

It is understood the remaining 17 board members voted 10 to 7 in favour of the plans.

Hinkley Point would be the first new nuclear plant to be built in the UK in 20 years.   

  Ford's chief financial officer Bob Shanks says there are "no plans" to close plants.  

Image source, L'Oreal

The French market for cosmetics "remains difficult" according to L'Oreal.

The company reported, external second quarter like-for-like sales of €6.34bn, a 4.3% increase compared with 2015.