Business Today: Stock futures edge higher as housing data eyed

		Click to View in Browser 09/19/2012 Stock futures edge higher as housing data eyed NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures edged higher on Wednesday as investors look ahead to a fresh batch of housing market data that is expected to confirm a recent uptick in the sector and may help cement the recent central bank-inspired equity rally. Housing starts rise, multifamily projects weak WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Housing starts rose less than expected in August as groundbreaking on multifamily home projects fell, but the trend continued to point to a turnaround in the housing market. Blackstone to buy Vivint for over $2 billion (Reuters) - Blackstone Group LP will buy home security provider Vivint Inc for over $2 billion, the companies said in a statement. U.S. mortgage refinancing applications rise as rates hit record low: MBA NEW YORK (Reuters) - Applications for home mortgages dipped last week, though demand for refinancings rose as mortgage rates fell to a record low, an industry group said on Wednesday. Deloitte revenues reach $31.3 billion on Asia growth LONDON (Reuters) - Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd, one of the world's "Big Four" accounting firms, said a strong performance in Asia helped push annual global revenues to $31.3 billion, their sharpest rise since the height of the financial crisis in 2008. France, Germany to seek common position on EADS-BAE BERLIN/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The leaders of France and Germany will seek a common position at a series of meetings this week on a $45 billion defense merger that could involve them having to giving up strategic influence in aerospace group EADS . France gives initial green light to EU fiscal pact PARIS (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande's Socialist-led government kickstarted ratification on Wednesday of a European Union budget discipline pact it grudgingly accepts as the next step out of the euro zone debt crisis. Analysis: U.S. meltdowns - History lessons for the euro LONDON (Reuters) - In the early 1870s, property prices in Vienna, Berlin and Paris soared on the back of a state-promoted building boom fuelled by easy credit extended against the collateral of unbuilt or unfinished houses. Elop running out of time to turn Nokia around HELSINKI/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Stephen Elop only has a few months to show he can turn Nokia around if he is to survive but the new smartphone is unlikely to woo customers back from Apple and Samsung. Greek islands not for sale, red tape must go: minister ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece needs to cut bureaucracy and push through languishing investment projects, not sell its islands to attract funds crucial for its struggling economy to return to growth, a Deputy Development Minister told Reuters on Wednesday. Related Video U.S. Morning Call: AA gives layoff notices, flight cuts Market Pulse: Fed "big bazooka" to keep dollar down - BNP Economic News Fed's Lacker says open-ended easing moderates inflation risk Fed committed to growth push despite internal discord 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