The Other Side of Life 24/7: Daily Investor Briefing: S&P 500 dips after four days of...

Friday, October 5, 2012

Daily Investor Briefing: S&P 500 dips after four days of...

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10/5/2012

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

S&P 500 dips after four days of gains; earnings eyed

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 broke a four-day string of gains, ending slightly lower on Friday as an unexpected drop in the U.S. unemployment rate was overshadowed by concerns about the coming earnings season, which begins with Alcoa next week.

Jobless rate tumbles to near four-year low

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to 7.8 percent in September, reaching its lowest level since President Barack Obama took office and providing a boost to his re-election bid.

Housing still impediment to U.S. growth: Fed officials

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A disappointing rebound in U.S. housing continues to trip up the country's overall economic recovery, two influential Federal Reserve officials said on Friday, highlighting a corner of the economy that still frustrates monetary policymakers.

Lehman's brokerage, Europe units settle $38 billion of claims

(Reuters) - The U.S. brokerage unit and a European unit of the former Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc said they settled litigation over $38 billion of asset claims, a major step toward customers and creditors recovering money.

EADS-BAE merger plan hits political crunch point

PARIS/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Tensions over a supermerger between EADS and BAE Systems spilled into the open on Friday and cast doubt on a rapidly approaching deadline as France, Britain and Germany jockeyed over the role of the state in the world's largest aerospace and arms group.

Sanofi's 900 planned layoffs could run higher: unions

PARIS (Reuters) - Sanofi's plan to restructure its research operations in France could lead to more job losses than the 900 layoffs mooted by the drugmaker, union representatives said.

France, Italy want single EU bank regulator by January

VALLETTA, Malta (Reuters) - France and Italy led a call by five euro zone member states for the European Union to press ahead toward setting up a single banking regulator by the end of the year to be running in 2013.

Merkel to visit Greece as money running out

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel will make her first visit to Greece next week since the euro zone debt crisis erupted, in a show of support for Athens after it said it will run out of money at the end of November without fresh international aid.

Opel "vital" for GM in Europe, not for sale

FRANKFURT/DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co said on Friday its European brand Opel was "vital" for GM's future in Europe, dismissing once again speculation it might sell the company should an alliance with French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen collapse.

Analysis: China slowdown could knock tech, materials earnings

NEW YORK (Reuters) - China was the world's turbocharged engine of growth for years, and U.S. technology, energy and industrial companies fattened their profit margins even if business struggled in other areas.