Business Today: Stock futures higher as Ukraine concern eases; M&A boost

		Click to View in Browser 08/18/2014 Stock futures higher as Ukraine concern eases; M&A boost NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures were higher on Monday, as the threat of an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine appeared to lessen and the latest round of merger action supported equities. Dollar General enters race for Family Dollar with $8.95 billion bid (Reuters) - Dollar General Corp offered to buy Family Dollar Stores Inc for $8.95 billion, trumping an offer by Dollar Tree Inc , to strengthen its position as the No. 1 U.S. discount retailer. China finds Mercedes-Benz guilty of price fixing: Xinhua SHANGHAI/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's Mercedes-Benz has been found guilty of manipulating prices for after-sales services in China, the official Xinhua news agency reported, adding to pressure on foreign carmakers in the world's largest auto market. Food scare in China is good news for Thailand's CP Foods BANGKOK (Reuters) - Business is booming at Charoen Pokphand Foods Pcl (CPF) , Thailand's biggest meat and animal feed producer, especially now it has won orders for chicken products from McDonald's Holding Co (Japan) after a food scare in China. Monarch Airlines to cut workforce in shift to becoming low-cost carrier LONDON (Reuters) - British holidays airline operator Monarch Group is set to cut the airline's workforce by a third with the closure of its charter operations as it moves to reinvent the carrier as a scheduled European budget airline. China hopes WTO can 'resolve differences' and sign deal BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Monday it regretted World Trade Organisation members had failed to reach an agreement on simplifying global customs rules, a breakdown it said could damage multilateral trade. When companies flee U.S. tax system, investors often don't reap big returns WASHINGTON August 18 (Reuters) - Establishing a tax domicile abroad to avoid U.S. taxes is a hot strategy in corporate America, but many companies that have done such "inversion" deals have failed to produce above-average returns for investors, a Reuters analysis has found. With cigars and crystal, Volvo makes eyes at Chinese rich GOTHENBURG Sweden (Reuters) - With headlights shaped like Thor's hammer and space for a humidity-controlled cigar case, Volvo's new cars are sporting luxury features and designer glitz to catch the eye of the booming Chinese market and shed their safe-but-dull skin. No Fed fireworks, but plenty of clues, expected at Jackson Hole LONDON (Reuters) - Flashes of illumination rather than fireworks are expected at this week's annual meeting of top central bankers and economists in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Promise of more keeps investors hooked on Asia's frothy markets SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Calling the top in financial markets is never easy. Asian stock and bond markets may appear frothy at their near-record levels after a multi-year rally, but global investors are still betting on a mix of healthy returns and history to juice up their profits. Related Video Russia food ban isn't bad news for all Breakingviews: Brazil broadband battle Economic News China home prices fall for third straight month in July China January - July FDI falls for first time in 17 months 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