Today's business beat

Here are some business stories you might have missed today:

United tries to humor us into watching flight-safety video

United Airlines has injected a little humor into a new flight-safety video in hopes passengers will look up from their cellphones and other devices.

SeaWorld, Southwest ending partnership

Southwest Airlines and SeaWorld Entertainment are ending their 25-year-old marketing partnership, as the airline has come under fire from animal rights activists over the relationship.

Nordstrom buys Trunk Club

Nordstrom went shopping in Chicago on Thursday, agreeing to buy Trunk Club, the men’s clothing shopping service. Trunk Club will operate independently under the same management.

Bidding war brewing over T-Mobile US

T-Mobile US Inc. has another suitor on its hands. Upstart French telecom company Iliad SA on Thursday said it has offered $15 billion for a majority stake in the fourth-largest U.S. cellphone company.

Broker pays $850,000 to settle charges he scammed terminally ill people

A broker has agreed to pay $850,000 in fines and has been barred from the securities industry to settle charges he schemed to profit from terminally ill patients’ deaths, including patients in Chicago, through variable annuity sales, federal regulators announced Thursday.

Hyatt Hotels’ profit slides but beats expectations

Hyatt Hotels Corp.’s earnings declined 34 percent to $74 million in its second quarter but that was better than analysts had expected.

Stocks plunge, wipe out July’s gains

U.S. stocks had their worst one-day drop since February as traders worried about weak corporate earnings and the looming end of economic stimulus from the Federal Reserve.

KFC owner says food scandal in China hurting sales

The owner of the KFC and Pizza Hut restaurant chains said Thursday a food safety scandal in China has hurt sales and might be severe enough to cut into the company’s global profit.

Target picks new chairman, CEO

Target has hired Pepsi executive Brian Cornell as its new chairman and CEO as it looks to recover from a huge data breach and troubles in Canada.