Business Today: Whole Foods, Qualcomm among biggest premarket movers

		Click to View in Browser 11/6/2014 Whole Foods, Qualcomm among biggest premarket movers NEW YORK (Reuters) - Whole Foods and Qualcomm Inc were among the biggest movers of Thursday's premarket session, with both seeing brisk trading in the wake of their quarterly results. Jobless claims drop, four-week average lowest since 2000 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, in the latest sign of tightening labor market conditions. U.S. third-quarter productivity beats forecasts; pay increasing WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Productivity at U.S. nonfarm businesses increased more than expected in the third quarter, keeping a lid on wage inflation. Companies sign secret tax deals with Luxembourg: report (Reuters) - More than 300 companies, including PepsiCo Inc , AIG Inc and Deutsche Bank AG , secured secret deals from Luxembourg to slash their tax bills, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) reported, quoting leaked documents. Tax changes weaken case for new Pfizer bid, says AstraZeneca CEO LONDON (Reuters) - Recent U.S. tax changes have weakened the case for companies like Pfizer to shift their tax bases overseas by striking so-called tax inversion deals, according to AstraZeneca's chief executive. ECB holds rates while waiting for stimulus to sink in FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank kept interest rates at record lows at it policy meeting on Thursday, waiting to see how stimulus measures laid out over the summer unfold. U.S. oil CEO Hamm goes out on a limb, scraps hedges WILLISTON N.D. (Reuters) - Harold Hamm, the chief executive of North Dakota oil producer Continental Resources Inc , has stunned a bearish crude market by scrapping all of the company's hedges - a bold bet that prices will recover soon after sliding some 25 percent. DirecTV revenue rises on higher U.S. subscription fees (Reuters) - DirecTV, the No. 1 U.S. satellite TV provider, reported a 6.3 percent rise in third-quarter revenue as it earned more from each subscriber in the United States. Media giants ride streaming, cable fees past ad uncertainty LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Major media companies have become far less dependent on the cyclical advertising market, reporting another strong quarter of profits boosted by checks written by streaming services such as Netlfix Inc and fees from cable operators. Ford declines comment on report saying Europe CEO will be moved BERLIN (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co declined comment on Thursday on a magazine report saying Stephen Odell, its European chief executive, will be replaced. Related Video Air bag maker Takata's loss warning Sports Spread: Tinkering Liverpool target Chelsea Economic News Jobless claims drop, four-week average lowest since 2000 U.S. third-quarter productivity beats forecasts; pay increasing 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