Daily Investor Briefing: Cold weather slams U.S. factory...

	Click to View in Browser 02/14/2014 Cold weather slams U.S. factory output, spurs growth fears WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. manufacturing output unexpectedly fell in January, recording its biggest drop in more than 4-1/2 years, as cold weather disrupted production in the latest indication the economy got off to a weak start this year. Obama weighs in on contentious union vote at Volkswagen plant CAMBRIDGE, Md./CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (Reuters) - P resident Barack Obama on Friday waded into a high-stakes union vote at Volkswagen AG's plant in Tennessee, accusing Republican politicians who oppose unionization of being more concerned about German shareholders than U.S. workers. Wall Street ends higher; indexes up for second straight week NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks closed higher on Friday, with major indexes notching a second straight week of gains as investors were once again willing to overlook some soft economic data stemming from bad weather. Bitstamp to resume withdrawals, steadying nervous bitcoin market NEW YORK (Reuters) - One of the bitcoin exchanges that recently suspended withdrawals of the digital currency on Friday said it planned to allow redemptions to resume later in the day, restoring some confidence to the shaken market. Investor Tom Perkins says progressive taxation 'persecutes' the rich SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Tom Perkins, the Silicon Valley venture capitalist who compared the plight of the wealthiest Americans to Jews in Nazi Germany, offered up a provocative new idea on what the rich deserve: more votes in public elections for every dollar they earn. eBay, Facebook and General Motors attract hedge fund buyers (Reuters) - Top U.S. hedge fund managers in the fourth quarter focused on the consumer sector, with investment plays ranging from high-end auction house Sotheby's to eBay Inc, the multinational Internet consumer-to-consumer corporation. U.S. to let banks do business with licensed pot shops WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration made it easier on Friday for banks to do business with licensed marijuana companies with less fear of prosecution, further encouraging U.S. states that are experimenting with legalization of the drug. Comcast turns to Davis Polk for Time Warner Cable merger WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Comcast Corp will again be working with its longtime antitrust counsel at Davis Polk & Wardwell, as the communications and entertainment group seeks to navigate the U.S. approval process to merge with rival Time Warner Cable Inc . Jos. A. Bank to buy Eddie Bauer in bid to stay independent (Reuters) - Men's clothing retailer Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc , the target of an unwelcome bid from rival Men's Wearhouse Inc , said it would buy outdoor clothing retailer Eddie Bauer for $825 million in its latest effort to stay independent. Republic Air says reaches tentative pact with pilots union (Reuters) - Republic Airways Holdings Inc said on Friday that it reached a tentative accord for a four-year labor contract with the Teamsters union, which represents more than 2,200 pilots at its Republic, Chautauqua and Shuttle America regional airline subsidiaries. Related Video Breakingviews: Ill-fitting deals Letta resigns on day growth returns Related News Investor Tom Perkins says progressive taxation 'persecutes' the rich eBay, Facebook and General Motors attract hedge fund buyers 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