Daily Investor Briefing: U.S. retail sales data point to...

	Click to View in Browser 02/12/2015 U.S. retail sales data point to slower economic growth WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending barely rose in January as households cut back on purchases of a range of goods, suggesting the economy started the first quarter on a softer note. Wall St. ends sharply higher on tech, Ukraine deal NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks ended sharply higher on Thursday, with a rally in technology stocks leading the Nasdaq to a 15-year high, while a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine also eased tensions. Greece agrees to talk to creditors in EU debt progress BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Greece agreed on Thursday to talk to its creditors about the way out of its hated international bailout in a political climbdown that could prevent its new leftist-led government running out of money as early as next month. AIG fourth-quarter earnings miss as corporate category underperforms NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insurer American International Group Inc reported lower-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday, hurt by the performance in its corporate category. Oil jumps on weak dollar, industry cuts in jobs, spending NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rallied sharply on Thursday after two days of losses as news of deeper industry spending cuts and a sinking U.S. dollar revived buying. Exclusive: Exxon wants five-year Beaumont pact to avert strikes during buildout - sources HOUSTON (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp's push to persuade workers at its Beaumont, Texas refinery to sign a five-year contract, nearly twice as long as the last one, is part of an effort to avert labor stoppages during a possible expansion that could make it the largest such plant in the United States, sources familiar with refinery operations said. HP moves annual meeting online-only as CEO face time fades BOSTON (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co will become the largest company to hold an online-only annual shareholder meeting this March, joining a trend toward virtual conferences that some activists worry keeps CEOs off the hotseat. Valeant secures financing for potential Salix bid: Bloomberg (Reuters) - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc has arranged financing for a potential bid for bowel-drug maker Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd , Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Airbus says A321 to account for 36 percent of A320 deliveries in 2015 SEATTLE (Reuters) - Airbus Group forecast on Thursday that 36 percent of its A320 aircraft family deliveries this year will be the A321 jetliner, up from 31 percent in 2014. Exclusive: GM turns to banks to help deal with activist investor group DETROIT/NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Motors Co has turned to two investment banks to help it come up with a response to a shareholder group demanding $8 billion in stock buybacks and a seat on the board of the No. 1 U.S. automaker, the company told Reuters. Related Video Gas savings stay in consumers' pockets Breakingviews: Apple of Elon Musk's eye Related News Watch Greek taxpayers and depositors: James Saft Lessons on life, and money, at summer camp 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