Daily Investor Briefing: Data helps lift S&P 500 to 5-year high...

	Click to View in Browser 01/4/2013 Data helps lift S&P 500 to 5-year high NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 closed at its highest in five years on Friday after data showed employers kept the pace of hiring steady in December and the services sector expanded at a brisk rate. Mediocre job growth points to slow grind for U.S. economy WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. employers kept their pace of hiring steady in December, falling short of the levels needed to bring down a still lofty unemployment rate and pointing to lackluster economic growth in 2013. Fed officials eye timeline for ending asset purchases NEW YORK/BALTIMORE (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve could be in a position to halt its asset purchases this year if the U.S. economy improves, a top Fed official said on Friday, while another warned the aggressive easing plan threatens the central bank's credibility. United Tech's Sikorsky sole bidder in U.S. helicopter contest WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force on Friday declined to confirm that it had received only one bid for a $6.8 billion helicopter competition that closed on Thursday, saying that information was "source selection sensitive." Clearwire investor steps up campaign against Sprint deal (Reuters) - A large Clearwire Corp shareholder said on Friday it plans to ask the U.S. telecoms regulator to block the sale of the wireless service provider to its majority owner, Sprint Nextel Corp , stepping up the investor's campaign against the deal. Wal-Mart fires back at rivals over ad campaign (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc has gone on the defensive after some competitors accused the world's largest retailer of using inaccurate information in recent ad campaigns and filed complaints with state legal officials. U.S. senators seek probe into royalties on coal exports WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two influential U.S. senators have asked the Interior Department to examine whether coal companies are dodging hundreds of millions of dollars in royalty payments on lucrative sales to Asia, citing a Reuters investigation into the matter. Strategist Mauboussin leaves Legg Mason (Reuters) - High-profile investment strategist Michael Mauboussin has left his job at Legg Mason Inc a company spokeswoman said on Friday, the latest turnover at the fund firm. Top New York Fed official Sack to resign this month NEW YORK (Reuters) - Brian Sack, formerly head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's open market operations who for the last six months served as a senior policy advisor, is to resign effective January 18. New rule could turn U.S. hedge funds into informers NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. financial regulators are pushing to turn hedge funds into informers on the white collar crime beat. Related Video Techquity: Facebook to benefit from Google deal with FTC Daily Digit: 155,000 new jobs Related News Shunning Japan gets riskier: James Saft Hedging "cliff" volatility might not get you too far 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