Newsletter BOX: Before the Bell: Stock futures lower, suggesting recent decline will persist

08/12/2013

Reuters Election 2012 Daily round-up of the day's top news from the campaign trail, the White House and all the politics in between

Stock futures lower, suggesting recent decline will persist

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock futures were lower on Monday, indicating the previous week's decline would continue as investors found few reasons to buy.

BlackBerry says to explore strategic alternatives

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry has set up a committee to explore strategic alternatives, including joint ventures, partnerships or a sale of the company, Blackberry said on Monday.

Exclusive: CFTC subpoenas metals warehousing firm as inquiry heats up

LONDON (Reuters) - The U.S. commodities market regulator has subpoenaed a metals warehousing firm, seeking all of its documents and communications related to the London Metal Exchange since January 2010, as an inquiry into complaints about inflated metals prices gathers steam.

Plaintiffs win round versus Lockheed in stable value fund case

BOSTON (Reuters) - A federal appeals court handed a procedural victory to plaintiffs who say their Lockheed Martin Corp retirement plans were badly run, a boost for the closely watched lawsuit against the large 401(k) sponsor.

Analysis: Higher costs may slow Kirby, winner of U.S. energy boom

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A slow boat down the Mississippi may have been the best way to ride the U.S. energy boom.

Asia drive bears fruit for Prudential

LONDON (Reuters) - British insurer Prudential reported a 22 percent jump in its first-half profits on Monday, underscoring the appeal of its Asian business and bolstering chief executive Tidjane Thiam's decision to bet on the fast-growing region.

UK's Labour tones down criticism of Tesco and Next

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Labour party toned down its criticism of retailers Tesco , and Next on Monday, a day after it said it planned to accuse them of favoring cheaper workers from Eastern Europe over British employees.

Japan growth slows in second quarter, adds to sales tax uncertainty

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's economic growth slowed more than expected in the second quarter, offering ammunition to those seeking to temper a planned sales-tax increase even as government debt has risen past 1,000 trillion yen ($10.4 trillion).

Greece beats January-July budget target, helped by EU funds

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece easily beat its fiscal targets in the first seven months of the year, propped up by aid from euro zone central banks and European Union funds, finance ministry figures showed on Monday.

Italian police seize houses, hotels in Fondiaria-Sai probe

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's tax police said on Monday they are seizing houses, hotels and other assets totaling 250 million euros ($336 million) as part of an investigation into alleged false accounting and market manipulation by the former owners of insurer Fondiaria-Sai .