Wall Street rallies for third day as Brexit bruises fade

(Reuters) - Wall Street rolled to a third straight day of gains on Thursday as Britain's central bank raised the prospect of stimulus and consumer staples shares gained on news of Mondelez International's $23 billion bid for Hershey.

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Oracle ordered to pay HP $3 billion in Itanium case

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A California jury ordered Oracle Corp to pay Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Co $3 billion in damages in a case over HP's Itanium servers, an Oracle spokeswoman said on Thursday.

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Visa, MasterCard $7.25 billion settlement with retailers is thrown out

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Thursday threw out a $7.25 billion antitrust settlement reached by Visa Inc and MasterCard Inc with millions of retailers that accused the card networks of improperly fixing credit and debit card fees.

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Disney to buy stake in MLB's video unit for $3.5 billion: Bloomberg

(Reuters) - Walt Disney Co has agreed to buy 33 percent stake in the video unit of Major League Baseball's digital arm MLB Advanced Media in a deal valued at about $3.5 billion, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

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Mondelez makes takeover bid for Hershey: source

(Reuters) - Mondelez International Inc , the maker of Oreo cookies and Cadbury chocolates, has made a takeover bid for chocolate and sugar confectionery company Hershey Co , a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

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U.S. jobless claims rise last week, trend still favorable

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose last week, but remained below a level associated with a healthy labor market.

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Exclusive: China willing to let yuan weaken

BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's central bank is willing to let the yuan fall to 6.8 per dollar in 2016 to support the economy, which would mean the currency matching last year's record decline of 4.5 percent, policy sources said.

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Santander, Deutsche Bank: U.S. stress test repeat offenders

New York (Reuters) - U.S. units of Deutsche Bank and Santander suffered the ignominy of failing U.S. stress tests yet again this year, less than a week after Britain's shocking vote to leave the European Union sent their investors running for cover.

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BMW, Intel, Mobileye team up to develop autonomous cars: source

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - BMW is close to unveiling a development partnership for autonomous cars with Israeli collision detection software maker Mobileye and U.S. chip maker Intel , a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

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EU tells UK single market access requires full free movement

LONDON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders met for the first time without Britain on Wednesday less than a week after it voted to leave, delivering a tough message that London can access the bloc's lucrative single market only if it agrees to allow free movement for EU workers.

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Wall Street surges as Brexit rebound continues

(Reuters) - Wall Street tallied big gains for a second day on Wednesday as investors continued to scour for bargains and digest the fallout from Britain's stunning vote to leave the European Union.

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U.S. consumer spending rises for second straight month

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending rose for a second straight month in May on increased demand for automobiles and other goods, but there are fears Britain's vote

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Global stocks gain as Brexit nerves settle

LONDON (Reuters) - European and Asian stock markets built on a recovery from the shattering aftermath of last week's Brexit vote on Wednesday as investors wagered central banks would ultimately ride to the rescue with more stimulus.

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Hong Kong regulator censures Bank of America units for takeover code breaches

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has publicly censured two units of Bank of America for breaches of the city's takeover codes in two deals last year, the regulator said on Wednesday.

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Toyota recalls 3.37 million cars over airbag, emissions control issues

WASHINGTON/TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Toyota Motor Corp has recalled 3.37 million cars worldwide over possible defects involving airbags and emissions control units.

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North America leaders meet with trade threats, Brexit on their minds

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The leaders of the United States, Canada and Mexico gather on Wednesday to stress the importance of trade at a time of mounting international doubts about the benefits of globalization.

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Tesla investor group wants more independent board, cites Musk ties

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - An investor group called on Tesla Motors Corp on Tuesday to add two independent directors to its board and separate the roles of chairman and chief executive as it highlighted founder and CEO Elon Musk's dominance of the board in the wake of Tesla's proposed bid for SolarCity.

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IKEA recalls 36 million chests, dressers after six deaths

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Swedish furniture retailer IKEA Group is recalling almost 36 million chests and dressers in the United States and Canada that have been linked to the deaths of six children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Tuesday.

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U.S. Attorney General Lynch says probe into VW scandal ongoing

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said on Tuesday that a Department of Justice investigation into the Volkswagen emissions scandal was continuing, and that it was important to look at the individuals involved.

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U.S. files Volkswagen settlement, details buybacks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - German automaker Volkswagen AG has agreed to pay more than $15.3 billion in a settlement with U.S. regulators over pollution caused by its diesel vehicles, according to a source briefed on the matter.

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U.S. first-quarter GDP revised higher, but consumer spending weak

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. economic growth slowed in the first quarter but not as sharply as previously estimated, with gains in exports and software investment partially offsetting weak consumer spending.

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Stock futures higher as bargain hunting begins after Brexit

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose sharply on Tuesday as investors rushed to pick up Brexit-hit stocks after Wall Street crumbled under fear and uncertainty to its worst two-day fall in 10 months.

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Dow Chemical to cut 2,500 jobs as part of Dow Corning deal

(Reuters) - Dow Chemical Co said it would lay off about 2,500 employees globally, or about 4 percent of its workforce, as part of a deal to assume full control of Dow Corning, which was a joint venture with Gorilla glass maker Corning Inc .

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UK will need to raise taxes after EU vote: finance minister Osborne

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will need to raise taxes and cut spending later this year to stabilize the public finances after last week's shock vote to leave the European Union, finance minister George Osborne said on Tuesday.

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U.S.-UK alliance seen outweighing Brexit trade concerns

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States looks unlikely to follow through on a threat to relegate Britain to second-class trade status once its ally leaves the European Union, as it weighs the potential costs of undermining the countries' close diplomatic and military ties.

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UK's Osborne says taxes will rise, spending will be cut after Brexit

LONDON (Reuters) - Finance minister George Osborne said on Tuesday that Britain would have to raise taxes and cut spending to deal with the economic challenge posed after Britons voted to leave the European Union.

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Viacom board rejected offer for director to meet Sumner Redstone

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Viacom Inc's board rejected an offer by Sumner Redstone's attorneys to have one of Viacom's independent directors meet face-to-face with the 93-year-old media mogul to get an understanding of his views on the media company, a spokesman for Redstone confirmed on Monday.

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Ratings agencies rip into UK's credit score after Brexit vote

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain suffered further blows to its economic standing on Monday as two top ratings agencies downgraded its sovereign credit score, judging last week's vote to leave the European Union would hurt its economy.

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U.S. banks' stress tests may offer comfort in Brexit tumult

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The stress tests created for banks by U.S. regulators after the 2008 financial crisis may prove their worth this week, providing a timely message on banks' hardiness in the midst of turbulence over last week's vote by Britain to leave the European Union.

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Britain's Osborne says further volatility ahead but economy is strong

LONDON (Reuters) - Finance minister George Osborne said Britain's vote to leave the European Union was likely to lead to further volatility on financial markets but said the world's fifth-biggest economy would cope with the challenge ahead.

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Brexit adds headwinds to U.S. companies slowing spending

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. business investment, already heading for its worst slowdown since the global financial crisis, could decline further as Britain's vote to leave the European Union creates more risks for companies, economists say.

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Wall Street futures lower on Brexit concerns

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures eased slightly in early trading on Sunday after Britain's vote to leave the European Union sparked a sharp sell-off in global markets on Friday, wiping out over $2 trillion from world equities.

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Goldman sees post-Brexit UK recession; cuts EU, U.S. growth views

(Reuters) - Britain is likely to enter a recession within the year as a result of last week's vote to leave the European Union, a decision that will stunt global economic growth as well, Goldman Sachs' top economists said on Sunday.

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IMF's Lagarde: markets got 'Brexit' vote wrong, but did not panic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Financial markets "vastly underestimated" the outcome of Britain's vote to leave the European Union but did not panic on Friday, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde said on Sunday.

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Oil extends decline as Brexit concerns linger

TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil prices dropped around half a percent on Monday, extending sharp declines after Britain's vote to leave the European Union sparked a sharp selloff in global markets on Friday amid concerns over risk aversion.

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Post-Brexit global equity loss of over $2 trillion worst ever: S&P

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The $2.08 trillion wiped off global equity markets on Friday after Britain voted to leave the European Union was the biggest daily loss ever, trumping the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy during the 2008 financial crisis and the Black Monday stock market crash of 1987, according to Standard & Poor's Dow Jones Indices.

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Wall Street eyes low rates, earnings after Brexit rout

(Reuters) - With markets reeling after Britain's vote to leave the European Union, some on Wall Street expect cooler heads to prevail over the next several sessions as investors focus domestically on the outlook for the U.S. economy and company earnings.

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UK's Osborne to make Brexit statement before markets open on Monday

LONDON (Reuters) - British finance minister George Osborne will seek to reassure financial markets on Monday following the country's decision to leave the European Union last week, setting out the government's economic response to the vote in a statement at 0600 GMT.

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Many U.S. firms playing catchup after surprise EU exit vote

NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) - The risk that Britain could yank itself out of the European Union had been telegraphed for over a year, but even U.S. companies with "Brexit" contingency plans have said they were shocked it is now on track to become reality, and are just beginning to work through all of the implications.

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Goldman shares could rise 30 percent in next year: Barron's

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group shares could rise as much as 30 percent over the next year if the U.S. bank buys back stock and cuts costs, according to a report in Barron's.

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Intel considers sale of cyber security business: FT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chipmaker Intel Corp is considering the sale of its cyber security business, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

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Central banks ready to cooperate after Brexit result

ZURICH (Reuters) - Central banks are ready to cooperate to support financial stability in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the European Union, the Bank for International Settlements said on Saturday.

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SolarCity recuses two more board members from voting on Tesla offer

(Reuters) - Two additional SolarCity Corp board members with ties to Elon Musk are recusing themselves from making decisions regarding Tesla Motors Inc's offer to buy the solar power company, in a bid to alleviate corporate governance concerns surrounding a potential deal.

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Investor George Soros says 'Brexit' means 'disintegration' of EU

(Reuters) - Billionaire investor George Soros said on Saturday that Britain's vote to leave the European Union makes "disintegration of the EU practically irreversible," and that the effects of Thursday's referendum will likely damage Britain.

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Wall Street eyes low rates, earnings after Brexit rout

(Reuters) - With markets reeling after Britain's vote to leave the European Union, some on Wall Street expect cooler heads to prevail over the next several sessions as investors focus domestically on the outlook for the U.S. economy and company earnings.

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TransCanada formally seeks damages over Keystone XL rejection

TORONTO (Reuters) - TransCanada Corp is formally requesting arbitration over U.S. President Barack Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline, seeking $15 billion in damages, the company said in legal papers dated Friday.

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Ratings agency Moody's says Britain at risk of credit downgrade

LONDON (Reuters) - Ratings agency Moody's said Britain's creditworthiness was now at greater risk after voting to leave the European Union, as the country would face substantial challenges to successfully negotiate its exit from the bloc.

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Brexit a knockout punch to Fed's interest rate divergence mantra

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Britain's shock vote to leave the European Union may tie the U.S. Federal Reserve to near zero interest rates for far longer than expected, according to new research indicating the U.S. central bank is now tightly bound to international economic conditions.

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U.S. business spending weak in May, Brexit seen adding more pressure

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New orders for U.S. manufactured capital goods unexpectedly fell in May as demand declined broadly, indicating business spending will remain a drag on economic growth in the second quarter.

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World stocks tumble as Britain votes for EU exit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global stock markets lost about $2 trillion in value on Friday after Britain voted to leave the European Union, while sterling suffered a record one-day plunge to a 31-year low and money poured into safe-haven gold and government bonds.

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Fed says ready to provide dollar liquidity after British vote

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve sought to calm global financial markets on Friday by saying it was ready to provide dollar liquidity following Britain's vote to exit the European Union.

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Good Morning America: Britain just voted out of the EU ... What's that mean for America?

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Britons have voted to leave the European Union, an outcome that has shocked global financial markets, sending stocks plunging and sovereign bonds and the U.S. dollar sharply higher.

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Carney: BoE to use extra 250 billion pounds to help markets, consider more action

LONDON (Reuters) - Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said on Friday the central bank was ready to provide 250 billion pounds ($345.93 billion) of additional funds to support financial markets after Britain voted to leave the European Union.

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World stocks in freefall as UK votes for EU exit

LONDON/SYDNEY (Reuters) - A British vote to leave the European Union sent sterling plunging on Friday and hammered equities across the world as turmoil swept through global markets.

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Japan signals readiness to intervene as Brexit boosts yen

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will respond as needed to "extremely nervous" exchange-rate moves in the wake of Britain's referendum on leaving the European Union, Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Friday, signaling a readiness to intervene to stem excessive yen strength.

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With a British adieu to EU, it's farewell to a Fed rate hike for now

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve, already undecided on when next to raise interest rates, now has one more reason to wait: Britain's vote on Thursday to leave the European Union.

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Traders weigh chance of Fed cutting U.S. rates after Brexit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. short-term interest rates futures rose to contract highs in early U.S. trading on Friday after Britons voted to leave the European Union, spurring traders to expect the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates to help shield the economy from any global fallout.

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UK markets plunge, sterling eyes biggest ever fall, as EU vote in balance

LONDON (Reuters) - British markets plunged on Friday, with sterling on track for its biggest ever one-day fall and UK stock futures pointing to a steep fall at the market open, after EU vote counts indicated Britons could be on course to leave the European Union.

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Nikkei see-saws in volatile trade as early UK vote shows tight race

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese stocks see-sawed in extremely volatile trade on Friday morning as investors watched early results on Britain's vote on European Union membership, which showed an extremely tight contest between the Leave and Remain camps.

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Yen rebounds, sterling turns tail as Brexit anxiety flares up

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Sterling reversed sharp early gains while the safe-haven yen staged a rebound on Friday as confidence that Britain will remain in the European Union was badly shaken after early vote counts put the 'Leave' campaign in the lead.

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South Korea issues arrest warrant for VW executive in emissions probe: prosecution official

SEOUL (Reuters) - A South Korean court issued an arrest warrant on Friday for a Korea-based Volkswagen AG executive in connection with the German automaker's cheating of vehicle emissions tests, a prosecution official said.

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S&P 500 futures fall as Brexit vote count shows tight race

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures fell in after-hours trading on Thursday after vote counts showed a tight race in Britain's referendum over whether to stay in the European Union.

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Yen sags as polling puts Bremain slightly ahead, sterling jumps

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Sterling surged early in Asia on Friday while the safe-haven yen fell broadly on growing confidence that Britain will stay in the European Union after polling stations across the United Kingdom closed.

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Britain's financial industry on edge as referendum result nears

LONDON (Reuters) - Traders are at their desks for the night, corporate lawyers are staffing a "rapid response" center and the Bank of England is on high alert; Britain's financial sector is as ready as it can be for a referendum that may change the industry forever.

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VW to pay over $10 billion for U.S. emissions scandal: source

(Reuters) - Volkswagen AG will pay nearly $10.3 billion to settle claims stemming from its diesel emissions cheating scandal with U.S. regulators, a source briefed on the agreement said on Thursday.

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Index shifts, Brexit vote could make Friday freaky on Wall Street

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Friday could offer an especially wild ride on Wall Street as traders react to the vote on British membership in the European Union and adjust their portfolios to the annual reconstitution of the widely followed Russell stock indexes.

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EU regulators to rule on $130 billion Dow, DuPont deal by July 28

LONDON - EU antitrust authorities will decide by July 28 whether to allow the $130 billion merger of U.S. chemical company Dow Chemical Co and its rival DuPont , one of several large agribusiness deals.

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U.S. new home sales drop from eight-year high

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - New U.S. single-family home sales fell in May from a more than eight-year high amid weakness in three regions, but the overall housing market remains intact.

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U.S. jobless claims fall to near 43-year low

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week to near a 43-year low, suggesting labor market resilience even though hiring slowed sharply in May.

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After setbacks, N.Y. prosecutors resume insider trading crackdown

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are pursuing insider trading cases on a pace not seen since 2012 - before a major appellate ruling limited their ability to bring charges against hedge fund managers and other traders.

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U.S. Supreme Court weighs review of canceled patent on prenatal test

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Companies, trade groups and universities who fear that many important discoveries may no longer qualify for patents are among a broad coalition urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review the cancellation of a patent on a less risky form of prenatal testing.

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Oil rises as investors await Brexit vote

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices edged higher on Thursday, shrugging off a smaller than expected draw on U.S. crude stocks as money and equity markets firmed on the last sweep of opinion polls showing Britons favored to remain in the European Union (EU).

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Viacom board stays in place as judge steers away from Redstone competence question

WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) - Viacom Inc's directors can stay in place, at least for now, as a Delaware judge said at a hearing on Wednesday that a legal fight over who should sit on the media company's board may turn on the mental competence of 93-year-old controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone.

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Fiat Chrysler speeds recall fix for 1.1 million rollaway vehicles

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said on Wednesday it is speeding up its software fix for 1.1 million recalled vehicles for rollaway risks like the recalled Jeep Grand Cherokee involved in the death of actor Anton Yelchin.

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U.S. policymakers, companies see a Brexit hurting investment, profits

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A vote by Britons to leave the European Union on Thursday may not drag the United States into recession, but its effects on U.S. monetary policy, trade and corporate profits are causing concern in Washington D.C. and boardrooms alike.

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Fed's Yellen says no special meetings scheduled over Brexit

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said she has not scheduled special meetings for Friday or Saturday in order to respond to the "Brexit" vote in Britain over its membership in the European Union.

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IMF sees U.S. economy in 'good shape', too many in poverty

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday the U.S. economy was "overall in good shape", with growth set to accelerate from recent setbacks despite an overvalued dollar, but the Fund warned that too many Americans were living in poverty.

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Fed's Fischer cites progress on too-big-to-fail rules

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley Fischer defended the Fed's approach to the too-big-to-fail issue on Wednesday, telling a conference in Sweden that the central bank's proposals would limit the fallout from a major failure and take taxpayers off the hook.

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Nervy global investors revisit 1930s playbook

LONDON (Reuters) - Global investors are once again dusting off studies of the 1930s as fears of protectionism, nationalism and a retreat of globalization, sharpened by this week's Brexit referendum, escalate anew.

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Fed's Powell says 'ready for whatever happens' in Brexit vote

(Reuters) - Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell said on Wednesday that the Fed was "ready for whatever happens" in Britain's close-to-call vote on European Union membership on Thursday.

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SoftBank names domestic telecom chief Miyauchi as president

TOKYO (Reuters) - SoftBank Group Corp said Wednesday that Ken Miyauchi, head of the group's Japanese telecommunications operations, would become president and chief operating officer to replace Nikesh Arora.

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Porsche SE to back endorsement of VW's former management at AGM

HANOVER, Germany (Reuters) - Porsche Automobil Holding SE , Volkswagen's controlling stakeholder, will endorse the carmaker's former top management at a shareholder meeting on Wednesday, a spokesman said, despite new regulatory probes related to the diesel emissions scandal.

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Oil prices above $50, buoyed by U.S. stock draw

TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil prices rose in Asian trading on Wednesday, with U.S. crude joining Brent above $50 a barrel after data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed a larger than expected draw on stocks.

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Tesla offers $2.8 billion for SolarCity in 'no brainer' deal for Musk

LOS ANGELES/DETROIT (Reuters) - Elon Musk on Tuesday sought to build a clean energy powerhouse as his electric car maker, Tesla Motors Inc , made an offer to buy his solar installation firm SolarCity Corp in a stock deal worth as much as $2.8 billion.

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Fed warns U.S. equity valuations 'well above' median

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve on Tuesday delivered its starkest warning yet under Chair Janet Yellen that by its assessment U.S. stocks are pricey.

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U.S. banks tell trading clients to brace for UK vote

(Reuters) - U.S. banks including Bank of America Corp and Morgan Stanley are warning clients about the potential for extreme price moves as Britain prepares to vote on its membership of the European Union (EU).

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Hedge fund manager charged with insider trading in apparent suicide: police

(Reuters) - Sanjay Valvani, a hedge fund manager at Visium Asset Management LP who was arrested last week on insider trading charges, has been found dead in an apparent suicide, the police said on Tuesday.

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Fed cautious on rates due to Brexit, hiring slowdown: Yellen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Global risks and a U.S. hiring slowdown warrant a cautious approach to raising interest rates as the Federal Reserve looks for confirmation that the country's economic recovery remains on track, Fed Chair Janet Yellen said on Tuesday.

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UK-dependent U.S. companies downplay 'Brexit' worries

(Reuters) - U.S. companies which depend on the United Kingdom for sales are downplaying the risk that a vote by Britain to leave the European Union could seriously harm their businesses, even as economists and Wall Street have expressed concerns about the trans-Atlantic economic impact.

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GE seeks to sell remaining Hyundai Capital stake: Hyundai Motor

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean car maker Hyundai Motor Co said on Tuesday General Electric seeks to sell out of its 20 percent stake in their joint venture, unlisted lender Hyundai Capital, to a third party.

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Oil prices fall for first time in three days

TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil prices fell in Asian trade after a strong two-day rally that was fed by easing concerns Britain would leave the European Union after a referendum this week, allowing market participants to focus on supply issues.

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Yellen makes 'uncertainty' new mantra as market doubts Fed view

WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve's dwindling confidence in its own outlook and resulting confusion among investors are creating a policy problem that may require chief Janet Yellen to lay out her own views more forcefully.

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Bondholders file proposed class action against Volkswagen AG

(Reuters) - Boston Retirement System, the public pension fund for Boston municipal employees, filed the first bondholders proposed class action against Volkswagen AG related to the company's diesel emissions scandal, law firm Labaton Sucharow LLP said.

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New York bill would ban Airbnb listings for some short-term rentals

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York State has passed legislation that would ban Airbnb users from listing some short-term rentals, a move that represents a new line of attack by legislators against the company in one of its most important markets.

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Ackman releases new Herbalife video; stock climbs

BOSTON (Reuters) - Billionaire investor William Ackman revved up his campaign against Herbalife on Monday as investors await the outcome of a U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) probe into the business practices of the nutritional supplements maker.

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Apple to lose weighting in Russell index, shares could fall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - After dropping more than $200 billion in market capitalization in one year, Apple shares could fall further as they are set to lose their weighting and be reclassified in the annual reconstitution of the widely followed Russell indexes.

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Wall St. sharply higher as Brexit fears recede

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened sharply higher on Monday as investors saw fewer chances of Britain ending its membership in the European Union when the country votes this week.

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Oil rallies as fears over Brexit abate

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rallied on Monday, lifted by a wave of investor confidence and a weaker dollar after polls showed a diminishing chance that Britain may vote to leave the European Union later this week.

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With oil price near $50, resilient U.S. shale producers eye new chapter

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Two years into the worst oil price rout in a generation, large and mid-sized U.S. independent producers are surviving and eyeing growth again as oil nears $50 a barrel, confounding OPEC and Saudi Arabia with their resiliency.

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Exclusive: Francisco Partners, Elliott near Dell software deal - sources

(Reuters) - Buyout firm Francisco Partners and the private equity arm of activist hedge fund Elliott Management Corp are in advanced talks to acquire Dell Inc's software division for more than $2 billion, three people familiar with the matter said.

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China to reinvestigate anti-dumping case into stainless steel tubes from EU, Japan

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Commerce Ministry said on Monday it would reinvestigate its anti-dumping case into imports of high performance, seamless stainless steel tubes from Japan and the European Union.

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Antitrust regulators worry about proposed Cigna-Anthem merger: WSJ

(Reuters) - U.S. antitrust regulators are concerned about health insurer Anthem Inc's proposed acquisition of Cigna Corp and not sure the companies can offer enough concessions to maintain competition in the industry, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

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Futures rise as 'In' regains momentum in British EU vote

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose on Sunday tracking gains in the British pound after weekend polls showed the campaign to keep Britain in the European Union had regained momentum ahead of Thursday's referendum.

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For Australia's big banks, July election may open Pandora's box probe

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's four leading banks face the biggest test to their dominance since the 2008 global financial crisis as politicians calling for a public inquiry into how they operate look set to emerge from national elections in July with decisive influence.

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German economy had good start to second-quarter, upswing to continue - finance ministry

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German economy had a good start to the second quarter and its upswing is likely to continue albeit at a slower pace than in the first three months of the year, the Finance Ministry said on Monday.

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Heavy trading predicted around Brexit vote

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock markets could see heavy trading and increased volatility as investors position for next week's referendum on whether Britain remains in the European Union.

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UniCredit to name former industry minister as CEO: paper

ROME (Reuters) - UniCredit , Italy's biggest bank by assets, is set to name former industry minister Corrado Passera as chief executive officer next week, Il Fatto Quotidiano newspaper reported on Sunday without citing sources.

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Indian central bank chief felt undermined in weeks before quitting: sources

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian central bank governor Raghuram Rajan's abrupt decision to quit came as he increasingly felt he lacked support from his political bosses Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to friends and colleagues.

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India seen pressing ahead with bank clean-up despite Rajan exit

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's move to clean up the books of its banks saddled with $120 billion of sour loans will be largely unaffected by the decision of central bank chief Raghuram Rajan to step down, say bankers and government officials.

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Iran says has finalised the deal to buy 100 Boeing airliners

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has reached a deal to buy 100 planes from U.S. planemaker Boeing , and the two sides are awaiting approval by U.S. Treasury authorities, the head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation said in remarks published by state media on Sunday.

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Volkswagen group to phase out more than 40 car models: report

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Volkswagen will stop producing more than 40 car models in the coming years as part of a new strategy by Europe's biggest automaker, German newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Saturday.

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Tracing the global market thread that could be unraveled by Brexit

LONDON (Reuters) - If Britons vote to take their country out of the European Union on June 23, no corner of the global financial market complex will emerge unscathed.

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Explosion reported at Kia plant in Mexico, at least three injured

MONTERREY (Reuters) - An explosion struck a Kia Motors factory in northern Mexico on Saturday, injuring at least three workers after an accumulation of gas ignited, a local emergency services official told Reuters.

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Indian central bank chief to step down in surprise move

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's "rock star" central bank governor Raghuram Rajan, feted by foreign investors but under pressure from political opponents at home, stunned government officials and colleagues on Saturday by announcing he would step down after just one three-year term.

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Greece could lift capital controls by year-end: bank association head

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece could lift most or all capital controls imposed at the height of the euro zone crisis by the end of the year, the head of the country's banking association said on Saturday.

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U.S. sees China investment talks productive after new offers: USTR

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bilateral investment talks between the United States and China "continue to be productive," the U.S. Trade Representative's office said on Friday after the two sides exchanged new offers.

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Apple says iPhones still available for sale in China

(Reuters) - Apple Inc said its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were still available for sale in China after Beijing's intellectual property regulators barred their sales saying the designs had infringed a patent held by a Chinese company.

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Viacom investors pay CEO's legal bills in Redstone spat

(Reuters) - Viacom Inc disclosed on Friday it would foot the bill for embattled CEO Philippe Dauman's legal fight against controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone, even as Wall Street cheers the executive's potential departure.

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U.S. housing starts hurt by weakness in multi-family units

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. housing starts slipped in May as the construction of multi-family housing units dropped, but further gains in building permits signaled a rebound that would support economic growth in the second quarter.

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St. Louis Fed's Bullard says U.S. may only need single rate hike for now

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy, stuck in a slow-growth pattern that is likely to persist for the forseeable future, may need no more than a single additional rate hike for as long as 2.5 years, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said on Friday.

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Wall Street opens lower as Apple drags, investors remain wary

(Reuters) - A drop in Apple dragged down all three major U.S. stock indexes on Friday even as investors remained wary of global economic growth worries and an impending referendum on Britain's European Union membership.

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Investors back rivals Uber and Didi, raising eyebrows

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Ride-hailing companies Uber and Didi have brought many new dimensions to the startup industry, such as making billion-dollar-plus funding rounds routine.

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Global oil majors look to shed refineries as crude prices rebound

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global oil majors Chevron Corp and Royal Dutch Shell Plc are putting small refineries on the auction block as they look to trim lower-margin assets in the face of headwinds from rising crude oil prices.

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Crude oil rises for first time in seven days

TOKYO (Reuters) - Crude oil prices rose in early Asian trade on Friday for the first time in seven days as markets took a breather from concerns about the impact of Britain's possible exit from the European Union.

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Sumner Redstone moves to oust five Viacom directors including CEO from board

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Sumner Redstone removed five of Viacom Inc's directors, including Chief Executive Philippe Dauman, from the board of the media company he controls on Thursday, a big step toward a potential management shake-up of the almost $20 billion company.

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Wal-Mart targets new sales of up to $60 billion by 2019: CEO

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores , the world's biggest retailer, expects to add $45 billion to $60 billion of new sales over the next three years, the chief executive said on Thursday.

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VW bets on electric cars, services to recover from crisis

WOLFSBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Volkswagen will invest more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion) by 2025 in areas such as electric cars and ride-hailing as it seeks to reshape its business in the wake of its emissions-test cheating scandal, it said on Thursday.

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Housing, medical care support U.S. underlying inflation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer prices moderated in May, but sustained increases in housing and healthcare costs kept underlying inflation supported, which could allow the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this year.

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Futures lower as Fed comments, Brexit vote spook investors

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were lower on Thursday, a day after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged but warned of slowing economic growth and the repercussions of Britain's possible exit from the European Union.

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U.S. consumer price gains slow; underlying inflation supported

WASHINGTON, June 16 (Reuters) - - U.S. consumer prices moderated in May, but sustained increases in housing and healthcare costs kept underlying inflation supported, which could allow the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this year.

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Asian stocks edges up on Fed's cautious rates outlook, dollar sags

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian stocks edged up on Thursday after the Federal Reserve refrained from hiking interest rates and signaled markets can count on relatively loose liquidity conditions over the short term, while the dollar sagged against its peers.

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U.S. Judge extends VW diesel emissions settlement deadline

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge late on Wednesday extended the deadline for Volkswagen AG to reach a final diesel emissions settlement with U.S. government regulators and owners of nearly 500,000 2.0 liter vehicles until June 28.

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U.S. producer prices rise on gasoline; underlying inflation weak

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. producer prices rose for a second straight month in May as the cost of energy products and services increased, but the lingering effects of a strong dollar and lower energy prices will likely keep inflation tame for a while.

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Wall Street set to open higher as focus shifts to Fed

(Reuters) - Wall Street was set to snap a four-day losing streak on Wednesday as lower chances of an interest rate hike offered solace to investors amid jitters of Britain's possible exit from the European Union.

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U.S. industrial output falls 0.4 percent in May, manufacturing slips

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. industrial production fell more than expected in May on a decline in utilities output and auto manufacturing, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday, a sign that the economy may be losing some steam in the second quarter.

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London traders brace for biggest night since 'Black Wednesday'

LONDON (Reuters) - The world's biggest banks including Citi and Goldman Sachs will draft in senior traders to work through the night following Britain's referendum on EU membership, set to be among the most volatile 24 hours for markets in a quarter of a century.

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Fed expected to hold rates steady as Brexit vote clouds outlook

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged on Wednesday and signal if it still plans to raise rates twice in 2016 amid concerns about a U.S. hiring slowdown and Britain's possible exit from the European Union.

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Twitter invests $70 million in SoundCloud: Re/code

(Reuters) - Twitter Inc has invested about $70 million in Berlin-based music service SoundCloud, technology website Re/code reported citing people familiar with the deal.

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Justice Department should analyze Dow-DuPont deal: senator

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday urged federal antitrust officials to conduct a "careful analysis" of Dow Chemical Co's proposed $130 billion merger with DuPont, adding pressure on officials to scrutinize how rapid consolidation in agriculture will affect farmers and consumers.

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DoubleLine's Gundlach says 'central banks are losing control'

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jeffrey Gundlach, the chief executive officer at DoubleLine Capital, said Tuesday that investors are dropping risky assets and turning to safer securities including Treasuries and gold because they are losing faith in central banks.

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Fed faces battle to escape world's low interest rate grip

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Evidence that the U.S. neutral rate of interest remains stalled near zero may slow Federal Reserve rate hikes even more than expected, tying the hands of policymakers until a rebound in global demand or other forces raise that key measure of the economy’s underlying strength.

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Business inventories rise modestly as sales surge

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - U.S. business inventories barely rose in April as sales recorded their biggest increase in more than two years, pointing to a slow pace of inventory accumulation that could weigh on economic growth in the second quarter.

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Wall Street little changed ahead of Fed meet

(Reuters) - Wall Street was little changed on Tuesday as investors kept to the sidelines ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting and a referendum on Britain's European Union membership.

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Import prices post largest gain in four years in May

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - - U.S. import prices recorded their biggest increase in more than four years in May on rising costs of petroleum and other products, pointing to firming inflation as the drag from a strong dollar and lower oil prices fades.

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May retail sales beat expectations; point to strong demand

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - - U.S. retail sales rose more than expected in May as Americans bought automobiles and a range of other goods, suggesting economic growth was gaining steam despite a sharp slowdown in job creation.

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Exclusive: EU set to clear unconditionally Marriott, Starwood deal - source

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU antitrust authorities are set to wave through U.S. hotel chain Marriott International's cash and share purchase of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc without demanding concessions, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

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Microsoft to buy LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in its largest deal

(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp will buy LinkedIn Corp for $26.2 billion in its biggest-ever deal, a bold stroke by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in his efforts to make the venerable software company a major force in next-generation computing.

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Quicken founder and Warren Buffett have ties beyond Yahoo deal

DETROIT (Reuters) - The connection between Quicken Loans Inc founder Dan Gilbert and billionaire magnate Warren Buffett became evident last month with news that Buffett was backing Gilbert's surprise bid for Yahoo Inc.

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Apple enhances Siri but still trails in artificial intelligence race

(Reuters) - Apple unveiled a series of improvements to its Siri digital assistant on Thursday, but the tech giant still trails rivals such as Google and Amazon in the red-hot field of artificial intelligence, experts say.

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Asian shares slip as Fed, Brexit loom

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian stocks slipped on Tuesday amid growing worries this month's referendum in Britain could see it exit the European Union, while markets were also nervous ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's two-day meeting that begins later in the day.

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U.S. firearm makers' shares jump after Orlando shooting

(Reuters) - Shares of U.S. firearm makers surged on Monday as renewed fears of tighter gun control after the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history led to expectations of a spike in firearm sales.

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Wall Street little changed as oil prices recover

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks were little changed on Monday as a recovery in oil prices limited earlier losses, a day before the Federal Reserve commences its policy meeting.

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Brexit fear factor sends stocks spinning

LONDON (Reuters) - Fears that Britain may be on the verge of voting to leave the European Union next week coursed through global financial markets on Monday, sending Asian and European shares sharply lower and the pound to an eight-week low.

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Apple expected to showcase new powers for Siri at developer event

(Reuters) - Apple Inc is expected to show off new abilities for its Siri digital assistant on Monday by debuting tools to let developers work with the company's artificial intelligence. Apple's iPhone sales have begun to level off and it is turning increasingly to services for growth. Key to that is satisfying developers of apps, who want more from Apple: high on their list is better use of Siri. Apple has been working on letting Siri work directly with applications created by outside

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Exclusive: Verizon, AT&T set to make final round of bids for Yahoo web assets - sources

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. telecommunications rivals Verizon Communications Inc and AT&T Inc are set to go through to the third and final round of bidding in the auction for Yahoo Inc's core internet assets, according to people familiar with the matter.

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Stock index futures point to lower open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were lower in early trading, indicating Wall Street may open with losses on Monday, the first trading day after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

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Euro, pound fall to lowest level vs yen since 2013

TOKYO (Reuters) - The British pound and the euro fell to their lowest level since 2013 against the yen on worries a UK referendum later this month could pull Britain out of the European Union, possibly disrupting European political and economic affairs.

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Elusive S&P record looms as investors weigh data, Fed

NEW YORK (Reuters) - With the S&P 500 again coming close to a record this week before falling back, investors will turn next week to a full slate of economic data and a Federal Reserve meeting in hope of fresh reasons whether to drive stocks to new highs.

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Siemens CEO says not interested in robot maker Kuka

BEIJING (Reuters) - Siemens has no interest in becoming a white knight for German robot maker Kuka , which is the target of a 4.5 billion euro ($5.06 billion) takeover bid by Chinese home appliance maker Midea , Siemens' chief executive said.

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China's yuan trade system to open branches in London, New York

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's state-owned currency marketplace said on Sunday it was preparing to open branches in London and New York as part of efforts to promote the yuan's global status.

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'Abenomics' doubts drive foreigners off Japanese stocks, volatility spikes

TOKYO (Reuters) - Foreign investors are bailing out of Japanese stocks as a wobbly economy feeds disillusionment about 'Abenomics', sparking bouts of volatility in a market increasingly shaken up by policy decisions of the Bank of Japan.

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Libya SWF trial against Goldman Sachs set to start at London High Court

LONDON (Reuters) - Libya's $67 billion sovereign wealth fund will go head-to-head with Goldman Sachs in London's High Court this week over claims that the U.S. investment bank exploited the fund by encouraging it to make risky and ultimately worthless investments.

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Global stocks slide on Brexit fears as investors seek safety

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors swapped equities for less risky assets such as U.S. Treasuries and the yen on Friday on fears about the impact of Britain's June 23 referendum on whether it should leave the European Union.

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Exclusive: Redstone's NAI talking to bankers about options for Paramount - sources

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sumner Redstone's National Amusements Inc is consulting investment bankers about strategic options for Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures, including a possible stake sale, sources familiar with the situation said on Friday.

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Tesla will clarify customers may disclose vehicle problems: source

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tesla Motors Inc has agreed to revise its customer repair agreements to allow owners to report potential safety issues to U.S. auto safety regulators, a source briefed on the matter said.

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Exclusive: Amazon is preparing to launch streaming music service - sources

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc is preparing to launch a standalone music streaming subscription service, placing it squarely in competition with rival offerings from Apple Inc and Spotify, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

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Wall St. down sharply on oil drop, global growth worries

(Reuters) - A sharp drop in oil prices and global growth worries sent jitters through Wall Street, leading the three major U.S. indexes lower for the second straight day in volatile trading on Friday.

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Investors avoiding risk on weak global GDP outlook: Gundlach

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jeffrey Gundlach, chief executive of DoubleLine Capital, said on Friday that investors are dropping risky assets from their portfolios because of falling global Gross Domestic Product expectations, fueled by China's slowing growth, and the intensifying U.S. presidential race.

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Gawker Media files for bankruptcy, to go up for sale

(Reuters) - Gawker Media LLC, the online publisher ordered by a U.S. judge to pay $140 million to former wrestler Hulk Hogan over the publication of a sex tape, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Friday and is planning to put itself up for sale.

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Viacom warns bylaw change may hurt stock: SEC filing

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Viacom Inc warned that controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone's bylaw change to restrict the planned sale of a stake in its Paramount film unit could have a "significant adverse effect" on the media company's share price, according to a regulatory filing on Friday.

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Chipotle shares at pricey multiples as Wall Street eyes May sales

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill appear expensive as Wall Street awaits fresh data on the burrito chain's struggle to recover from a string of food-borne illness outbreaks.

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Tesla says there is no safety defect in its Model S or X

(Reuters) - Tesla Motors Inc said on Friday there was no safety defect in its Model S or Model X, and that the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not opened any investigation or any "preliminary evaluation" on the matter.

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Redstone's National Amusements seeks new Viacom board members: reports

(Reuters) - Sumner Redstone's National Amusements Inc, which holds 80 percent of Viacom voting shares, has started looking for potential board members for Viacom, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

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U.S. reviewing suspension complaints in Tesla Model S cars

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal regulator said on Thursday it is reviewing reports of suspension problems in Tesla Motors Inc's Model S sedans, and is investigating whether the company urged customers to sign agreements not to disclose the problem.

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Drivers sue Uber, Lyft over exit from Austin, Texas

(Reuters) - Former Uber Technologies Inc and Lyft Inc drivers in Austin, Texas, on Thursday accused the ride-hailing companies of breaking a federal law by abruptly halting operations in the city after voters backed a measure requiring them to fingerprint drivers.

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U.S. economic outlook brightens on upbeat job, inventory data

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, pointing to sustained strength in the labor market despite a sharp slowdown in hiring last month.

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Tesla Motors introduces two less costly Model S versions

(Reuters) - Electric carmaker Tesla Motors Inc said on Thursday it would offer two slightly lower-priced versions of its electric Model S sedan, starting at $66,000 in the U.S. market.

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Viacom still pursuing Paramount Studios stake sale: CEO

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Viacom Inc is still looking to sell a minority stake in its Paramount film unit, but objections from controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone have slowed the process, CEO Philippe Dauman told investors on Thursday.

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Verizon's bid for Yahoo's web assets topped by others: source

(Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc did not submit the highest offer this week in the second round of bidding for Yahoo Inc's core internet assets, according to a person familiar with the matter.

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Wall St. set to open lower as oil prices dip

(Reuters) - Wall Street was set for a lower open on Thursday as a drop in oil prices more than offset strong weekly labor market data.

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Markets may be too complacent over Brexit risk, BlackRock says

LONDON (Reuters) - Financial markets, particularly equities, may be under-pricing the risk of Britain leaving the European Union, the world's largest asset manager said on Thursday, two weeks before Britons vote in a referendum on EU membership.

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Apple case against Samsung should go back to lower court - Justice Department

SAN FRANCISCO/SEOUL (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice asked the Supreme Court to overturn an appeals court ruling that had favored Apple Inc over Samsung Electronics Co Ltd in smartphone patent litigation, and asked that it return the case to the trial court for more litigation.

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Honda recalls more vehicles in Japan over Takata air bags

TOKYO (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co said on Thursday it was recalling around 784,000 vehicles in Japan, part of an expanded recall for potentially deadly Takata Corp airbags.

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Apple case against Samsung should go back to lower court: Justice Dept

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice asked the Supreme Court to overturn an appeals court ruling that had favored Apple Inc over Samsung Electronics Co Ltd in smartphone patent litigation, and asked that it return the case to the trial court for more litigation.

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Vodafone grabs control of Sky New Zealand in $2.4 billion merger

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Britain's Vodafone Group Plc on Thursday announced an effective takeover of leading New Zealand pay TV provider Sky Network Ltd in a NZ$3.4 billion ($2.42 billion) merger combining digital platforms with entertainment content.

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Services data suggest upward revision to first-quarter GDP

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy was probably not as weak as has been reported in the first quarter, with data on Wednesday showing stronger consumer spending and investment in intellectual products than previously estimated.

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Hiring in April at slowest pace in nearly two years

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The pace of hiring by U.S. employers slowed to near a two-year low in April, pushing up job openings in a potential sign that firms are having a hard time finding workers.

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Frustrated in China, U.S. industry hopes for post-election reset to annual talks

BEIJING (Reuters) - As the United States and China wrapped up talks this week touting bilateral cooperation on strategic and economic issues, many in the U.S. business community say the annual dialogue is delivering diminishing returns in resolving commercial disputes.

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OECD lead indicator flags first signs of growth stabilization

PARIS (Reuters) - Signs are emerging that a downturn in the United States and China, the world's two biggest economies, may have bottomed out, the OECD's monthly leading indicator showed on Wednesday.

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World stocks struggle to build on highs as Europe weighs

MILAN (Reuters) - World stocks struggled to build on six-week highs on Wednesday after mixed Chinese data, weighed down by a weak start to the session in Europe and political concerns that sent Germany's 10-year government bond yield to a record low.

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Yahoo hires investment bank to sell about 3,000 patents: WSJ

(Reuters) - Yahoo Inc has hired boutique investment bank Black Stone IP LLC to sell about 3,000 of the internet company's patents, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

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Valeant CEO cuts outlook for 'distracted' company, shares plunge

Reuters) - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc slashed its 2016 forecasts on Tuesday, as its new chief executive said he would focus on rebuilding the reputation of a "distracted organization" with a debt-loaded balance sheet.

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S&P edges closer to record high; energy shares lead

(Reuters) - The S&P 500 ended at its best level since July on Tuesday, helped by a big jump in energy shares and investor confidence that higher interest rates will not derail the economy.

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Airbus remains behind Boeing after 83 orders in May

PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus sold 83 aircraft in May, but remained behind rival Boeing in the race for orders after a slow start to the year, figures released on Tuesday showed.

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Weak U.S. productivity likely to remain a drag on profits

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. nonfarm productivity fell less sharply than initially thought in the first quarter and labor-related costs surged for a second straight quarter as companies hired more workers to raise output, suggesting profits could remain under pressure.

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China gives U.S. investment quota for first time to deepen financial ties

BEIJING (Reuters) - China said it will give the United States a 250 billion yuan ($38 billion) investment quota for the first time to buy Chinese stocks, bonds and other assets, deepening financial ties and interdependence between the world's two largest economies.

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Oil hits 2016 high on ebbing supply, softer dollar

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices hit their highest in eight months on Tuesday, buoyed by the dollar nearing one-month lows and by falling Nigerian oil output after a spate of attacks on infrastructure.

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U.S. presses China to reduce barriers for foreign business

BEIJING (Reuters) - Senior U.S. officials pressed China again on Tuesday to reduce barriers for foreign businesses, saying concerns have grown due to a more complex regulatory environment.

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Asia stocks hit five-week high after cautious Yellen

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares hit a five-week high on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said U.S. interest rate hikes are likely on the way, held back any reference to the timing.

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Fed's Yellen sees rate hikes ahead, but few hints on when

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen on Monday gave a largely upbeat assessment of the U.S. economic outlook and said interest rate hikes are coming but, in an omission that stood out to some investors, gave little sense of when.

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Viacom bylaw change raises bar for Paramount sale

(Reuters) - Sumner Redstone's National Amusements Inc amended the bylaws of Viacom Inc to require unanimous approval from Viacom's board for any deal related to Paramount Pictures, creating a new hurdle for Chief Executive Philippe Dauman's plan to sell a stake in the movie studio.

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Morgan Stanley seeks approval to offer first U.S.-listed ETFs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley has asked securities regulators for the right to launch its first U.S.-listed exchange-traded funds, marking the latest example of a massive Wall Street investment manager courting investors' growing use of those funds.

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Supreme Court rejects Google appeal in class action dispute

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected Google Inc's bid to throw out a class action lawsuit involving claims that the company deceived California advertisers about the placement of Internet ads through its Adwords service.

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Stock futures up marginally; Yellen in focus

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures inched higher on Monday as investors await Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's speech after a shockingly weak jobs report all but killed the prospects of an interest rate hike this month.

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Rosengren flags jobs report, yet says Fed rate hikes coming

HELSINKI (Reuters) - The U.S. economy's rebound from a weak winter has moved the Federal Reserve closer to raising rates, though last month's poor employment report might give it pause, a top Fed official said on Monday.

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BlackRock agrees to sell Singapore office tower to Qatar fund for $2.5 billion

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - BlackRock Inc has agreed to sell a 43-storey office building in Singapore to Qatar Investment Authority, a sovereign wealth fund, for S$3.4 billion ($2.45 billion), in what the U.S. firm said was the largest-ever single-tower real estate deal in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Asian shares rise, dollar nurses losses after jobs shock

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares rose on Monday and the dollar wallowed close to its lowest in nearly a month after U.S. nonfarm payrolls showed the slowest job growth in more than five years, quashing expectations for a near-term U.S. interest rate hike.

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Shoppers' paradise lost? Singapore's malls suffer as locals, tourists curb spending

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - After serving only a handful of customers in five hours on a recent weekday, Sam Goh said he was worried the sportswear shop he manages, LIV ACTIV, will eventually join other brands in leaving Singapore's Orchard Road shopping boulevard.

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Exclusive: As Iran's oil exports surge, international tankers help ship its fuel

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - More than 20 European and Asian-owned supertankers are shipping Iranian crude oil, data seen by Reuters shows, allowing Tehran to ramp up exports much faster than market analysts had expected following the lifting of Western sanctions in January.

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As Abenomics struggles, Japan PM pushes 'equal pay' to lift economy

TOKYO (Reuters) - When Fumiko Kasai returned to work a decade ago she found Japan's job market was very different to the one she had left in the 1980s to raise her four children.

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Exclusive: NY Fed first rejected cyber-heist transfers, then moved $81 million

DHAKA/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hours before the Federal Reserve Bank of New York approved four fraudulent requests to send $81 million from a Bangladesh Bank account to cyber thieves, the Fed branch blocked those same requests because they lacked information required to transfer money, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

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Whole Foods shares poised for rebound: Barron's

(Reuters) - Shares of upscale supermarket chain Whole Foods Market Inc are likely to rise over the next year, driven by cost cuts that have allowed for more competitive pricing and the launch of a new chain of smaller stores featuring value-priced items, the financial newspaper Barron's reported.

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Fed's Mester says gradual rate hikes still appropriate after jobs report

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The latest disappointing U.S. jobs number has not changed the overall economic picture and gradual rate hikes remain appropriate, Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester said on Saturday.

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Lew says global markets seeing distortions due to China

BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said on Sunday that global markets are seeing distortions due to China's excess industrial capacity.

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On southwestern fringe, China's Silk Road ambitions face obstacles

KUNMING, China/VIENTIANE (Reuters) - For the southwestern city of Kunming, China's plan to extend a high-speed rail link 3,000 km (1,875 miles) south to Singapore is already a boon: pristine expressways, a gleaming station and something of a real estate boom, as young buyers crowd property showrooms.

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Paraguay gets debt payment demand from Venezuela's PDVSA - Petropar president

ASUNCION, Paraguay (Reuters) - Paraguay's state-run oil firm Petropar said Saturday that Venezuelan state oil producer PDVSA [PDVSA.UL] had set a 10-day deadline for the Paraguayan company to pay off $287 million of long-standing debt.

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Wal-Mart says tech investments will boost online sales

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc executives touted the technology investments the world's No. 1 retailer is making to boost online sales, during the annual shareholder meeting on Friday.

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After grim payrolls, focus turns to economy

NEW YORK (Reuters) - With a June Federal Reserve interest rate hike likely off the table following Friday's dismal jobs data, U.S. equity investors may shift their focus again to whether the economy is losing too much steam to allow stocks to advance.

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U.S. lawmakers probe Fed cyber breaches, cite 'serious concerns'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. congressional committee has launched an investigation into the Federal Reserve's cyber security practices after a Reuters report revealed more than 50 cyber breaches at the U.S. central bank between 2011 and 2015.

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Exclusive: NY Fed first rejected cyber-heist transfers, then moved $81 million

DHAKA/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hours before the Federal Reserve Bank of New York approved four fraudulent requests to send $81 million from a Bangladesh Bank account to cyber thieves, the Fed branch blocked those same requests because they lacked information required to transfer money, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

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BMW revamps R&D for new era of self-driving cars

MUNICH (Reuters) - BMW is overhauling its research and development activities to focus on self-driving cars, board member Klaus Froehlich told Reuters, a move which includes a revamp of its "i" sub-brand of carbon-fibre based electric vehicles.

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Futures move sharply lower after weak jobs data

(Reuters) - U.S. stock futures fell sharply on Friday after weaker-than-expected May nonfarm payrolls data that raised concerns about the stability in the recovery of the economy.

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World stocks edge toward one-month high; U.S. jobs data eyed for Fed clues

LONDON (Reuters) - World shares advanced toward their highest level in a month on Friday, although investor wariness over the rising prospects of a near-term interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve subdued activity as traders awaited U.S. jobs data later in the day.

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Sumner Redstone has capacity to make trust decisions, says his doctor

(Reuters) - Sumner Redstone's spokesman said the 93-year-old is mentally capable of removing Viacom Inc Chief Executive Philippe Dauman and board member George Abrams from the Redstone National Amusements Trust, citing a report by the media mogul's psychiatrist.

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United Continental, Delta Air Lines possible bidders for Avianca: WSJ

(Reuters) - United Continental Holdings Inc and Delta Air Lines Inc are among the possible bidders for Colombia's Avianca Holdings SA , the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

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GM, regulators clash over latest Takata air bag recall

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The push by U.S. auto safety regulators to replace potentially dangerous Takata air bag inflators in millions of vehicles is running into resistance from General Motors Co, documents released on Thursday show.

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Apple, energy stocks drag down Wall St.

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday morning, weighed down by a fall in Apple as well as a drop in energy companies after OPEC failed to agree on output policy.

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U.S. private payrolls rise in May; weekly jobless claims fall

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. private employers increased hiring in May and new applications for jobless benefits fell last week, further boosting the economic outlook for the second quarter.

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Uber, Lyft set to defend driver settlements in court

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Uber and Lyft on Thursday will attempt to persuade separate U.S. judges to approve class action settlements which keep drivers classified as independent contractors instead of employees.

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Uber raises $3.5 billion from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Uber has raised $3.5 billion from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the U.S. ride-hailing service said on Wednesday, gaining a crucial partner in its expansion into the Middle East.

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Asian shares steady, but strong yen sinks Nikkei

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares were steady on Thursday as Wall Street eked out modest gains after the latest batch of U.S. data provided few clues on when the Federal Reserve might raise rates, while a resurgent yen pressured equity markets in Japan.

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Singapore buys $1 billion in Alibaba stock in SoftBank sale

(Reuters) - Singapore sovereign wealth funds bought $1 billion of Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's shares as part of an $8.9 billion sale by Japan's SoftBank Group Corp, Alibaba's biggest shareholder, the company said on Wednesday.

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Early days, but Apple Pay struggles outside U.S.

(Reuters) - More than 18 months after Apple Pay took the United States by storm, the smartphone giant has made only a small dent in the global payments market, snagged by technical challenges, low consumer take-up and resistance from banks.

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Granddaughter of Sumner Redstone backs Viacom's directors

(Reuters) - Sumner Redstone's granddaughter Keryn said on Wednesday she plans to support the independent directors of Viacom Inc to help free the 93-year-old media mogul from the "clutches" of his daughter, Shari.

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Fed report points to slight rise in inflation, tight job market

WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuters) - Inflation pressures grew slightly across most of the United States from April to mid-May, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday in a report that also pointed to rising labor costs for American companies.

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Gulf OPEC members seek to revive global oil output deal

VIENNA (Reuters) - Gulf OPEC members including Saudi Arabia are looking to revive the idea of coordinated oil-output action by major producers when the group meets on Thursday including by establishing a new output ceiling inside the group, OPEC sources said.

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World factories stuck in low gear on sluggish demand

LONDON/BEIJING/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global manufacturing activity remained stuck in a rut last month with factory output from Asia, Europe and the Americas barely improving as producers struggled to bring in new orders, surveys released on Wednesday showed.

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Wall St. opens lower on weak China data, oil prices

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks started the month in the red on Wednesday as falling oil prices and weak factory data from China reduced the chances of a rate hike this month, dragging on financial stocks.

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May U.S. auto sales seen down on two fewer selling days than year ago

DETROIT (Reuters) - The U.S. auto industry looks set to remain on course for another record year in 2016, even if new vehicle sales in May reported later on Wednesday fall as much as expected, analysts and economists said.

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Fed swimming against global tide of easier rates

LONDON (Reuters) - Rarely has the world's most important and powerful central bank been so isolated.

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World growth worries give stocks lackluster June start

LONDON (Reuters) - Global equity markets started the new month on the back foot on Wednesday, undermined by lackluster economic data and an oil price slide that took the edge off energy and mining shares.

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China's banks ramp up compliance as global push hits snags

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's biggest banks are beefing up their risk management and compliance programs, following a series of high-profile judicial investigations and regulatory probes in the United States and Europe.

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U.S. court rules $24.9 billion Dell buyout underpriced by 22 percent

WILMINGTON, Del (Reuters) - Michael Dell and Silver Lake Partners underpriced their 2013 $24.9 billion buyout of Dell Inc by about 22 percent and may have to pay tens of millions to investors who opposed the deal for the computer maker, a Delaware judge ruled on Tuesday.

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