Newsletter BOX: Before the Bell: U.S. producer prices flat in July, point to marginal inflation pressure

08/14/2013

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

U.S. producer prices flat in July, point to marginal inflation pressure

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. producer prices were flat in July and pointed to very little inflationary pressure in the economy, which could add to worries at the U.S. Federal Reserve that inflation is running too low.

Germany, France haul euro zone out of recession

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The economies of Germany and France grew faster than expected in the second quarter, bettering a widely heralded expansion in the United States and pulling the euro zone out of a 1-1/2 year-long recession.

Stock futures point to slight losses at the open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures pointed to slight losses at the open on Wednesday as investors found few reasons to make big bets with equities near all-time highs and little clarity over Federal Reserve policy.

Watsa to hold keys to a BlackBerry deal

TORONTO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - BlackBerry Ltd is expected to draw preliminary interest from technology companies, buyout firms and Canadian pension funds, but its fate may ultimately rest in the hands of its largest shareholder, Prem Watsa's Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.

Strong sales to farmers in Americas lift Deere's profit

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Deere & Co reported a much higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday as strong sales of its tractors and harvesters to farmers in the Americas offset the construction industry's continued weak demand for earth-moving equipment.

Macy's same-store sales fall as consumers pull back

(Reuters) - Macy's Inc on Wednesday reported lower-than-expected sales and profit, citing consumers' hesitation to spend on non-essentials, leading the department store chain to cut prices.

KPN foundation flags concerns over Slim bid

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - An independent foundation which has the power to block a takeover of Dutch telecoms group KPN has expressed its concern over the proposed 7.2 billion euros ($9.6 billion) offer by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim's America Movil.

China to launch fresh pharmaceutical bribery probe - Xinhua

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China is intensifying its investigation into rampant bribery in the pharmaceutical and medical services sector with a fresh three-month probe slated to begin on Thursday, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Bank of England divided on forward guidance, outlook for asset purchases

LONDON (Reuters) - Bank of England policymakers proved to be unexpectedly split on new governor Mark Carney's long-run commitment to keep interest rates low earlier this month, minutes of their August meeting showed on Wednesday.

Baidu says agrees to buy Netdragon's 91 Wireless for $1.85 billion

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Baidu Inc said on Wednesday it has agreed to buy the app store of Hong Kong-listed Netdragon Websoft Inc for $1.85 billion in cash in what would be the biggest deal in China's IT sector.