Newsletter BOX: Before the Bell: Futures point to flat open, Syria still main focus

09/4/2013

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

Futures point to flat open, Syria still main focus

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a mostly flat open on Wednesday as a Western military strike against Syria appeared more likely, though a decision remained several days away.

U.S. trade deficit widens in July as imports rebound

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit widened slightly more than expected in July as exports dipped, but a rebound in imports pointed to some firming in underlying demand early in the third quarter.

Chrysler U.S. August auto sales jump 12 percent

DETROIT (Reuters) - Chrysler Group LLC reported a 12 percent gain in U.S. August auto sales and predicted that the industry will continue on its hot streak as it heads into the fall selling season, when new models are introduced.

Mortgage applications rise first time in four weeks: MBA

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Applications for U.S. home loans rose for the first time in four weeks as mortgage rates fell from their highest level this year, although demand for purchase loans slipped, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday.

Rising demand adds to evidence world growth is picking up

LONDON (Reuters) - Euro zone businesses had their best month in over two years in August as orders increased for the first time since mid-2011 while growth in China's services sector hit a five-month high, underpinned by new orders and business optimism.

Savior or slayer? Either way, Nokia's Elop a contender for Microsoft chief

SEATTLE/HELSINKI (Reuters) - When a British bookmaker installed Stephen Elop as favorite to take over the soon-to-be-vacant CEO slot at Microsoft Corp last week, most tech observers laughed it off as a publicity stunt.

Dollar General results beat as customers flock to stores

(Reuters) - Value retailer Dollar General Corp reported second-quarter results that beat analysts' estimates as efforts such as selling more groceries and brand-name products attracted customers to its stores.

Exclusive: IMF sees emerging economies vulnerable to U.S. tapering

BERLIN (Reuters) - Advanced economies led by the United States will increasingly drive global growth while emerging countries are at risk of slowing due to tighter U.S. monetary policy, the International Monetary Fund said in a note obtained by Reuters on Wednesday.

Exports, spending pull euro zone out of recession

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A bounce in exports and spending pulled the euro zone out of recession in the second quarter of 2013, data shows, in the first signs of recovery after the bloc's longest slump.

India new RBI chief says economy 'fundamentally sound'

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The new governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Raghuram Rajan, said on Wednesday the country's economy was "fundamentally sound" and had a "bright future" in his first remarks after taking the helm at the central bank earlier in the day.