Business Today: Stock futures edge higher as data awaited

		Click to View in Browser 08/16/2012 Stock futures edge higher as data awaited NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures edged higher on Thursday ahead of data on the housing and labor markets as well as a regional manufacturing report. Jobless claims edge higher but four-week average drops WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits edged higher last week although a trend reading fell close to a four-year low, pointing to ongoing healing in the labor market. Wal-Mart sees slowing international growth, stock falls (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc forecast full-year earnings that could fall short of Wall Street expectations as growth in international markets slows, even as its U.S. discount stores saw improved sales in a tepid U.S. economy. Housing starts unexpectedly fall in July WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Groundbreaking on new homes unexpectedly fell in July and gains from the prior month were revised lower, a reminder of the housing market's weakness despite some recent signs of recovery. Standard Chartered eyes joint deal after backing down in U.S. LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Standard Chartered is pursuing a collective settlement with other U.S. authorities after agreeing to pay $340 million to New York's financial regulator under mounting pressure from shareholders. Facebook shares down in premarket as lockup comes to an end NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Facebook Inc fell 2 percent in premarket trading on Thursday, ahead of an end to a lockup period that prevented some insider sales. Cisco shares rise as dividend hike eclipses sales worries (Reuters) - Shares of Cisco Systems Inc looked set to open up 7 percent on Thursday after the network equipment maker's dividend hike overshadowed a lackluster quarterly sales performance and prompted several brokerages to raise their price targets on the stock. GM's Opel in talks to shorten working hours HAMBURG (Reuters) - U.S. automaker General Motors' German unit Opel is in talks with workers to cut their hours at its main Ruesselsheim plant in response to weakening demand for cars in Europe, and could seek government subsidies to compensate lost wages. Founder Schulze to Best Buy: "I am not going away" NEW YORK (Reuters) - Best Buy founder Richard Schulze on Thursday repeated his call for the consumer electronics chain's board to grant him access to the financial information he needs to secure financing for a bid for the retailer. Daimler to expand output at Hungarian plant: paper BUDAPEST (Reuters) - German carmaker Daimler plans to expand its export plant in Hungary to double annual production to 300,000 vehicles by 2015, business newspaper Napi Gazdasag said on Thursday, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter. Related Video U.S. Morning Call: Facebook might get "de-friended" at open Market Pulse: UK retail sales boost £; GDP revised up? Economic News Jobless claims edge higher but four-week average drops Muted inflation supports more Fed easing A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend