Daily Investor Briefing: Wall St. opens 2015 flat as data...

	Click to View in Browser 01/2/2015 Wall St. opens 2015 flat as data weighs NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed little changed on Friday in the first trading session of 2015, finishing well off session highs as economic data short-circuited early gains. U.S. factory sector suffers end-of-year chill WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. factory sector grew at its slowest pace in six months in December, a sign that weakness in the global economy is weighing on the United States. Fed's Mester sees rate rise in next six months: Fox TV (Reuters) - A top Federal Reserve official said on Friday she could see the U.S. central bank raising interest rates in the first half of the year, earlier than some expect, given that the economy is on a "very firm footing." Oil declines in thin, volatile trading NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global benchmark Brent crude oil closed down nearly a dollar a barrel Friday after a day of choppy trading despite expectations of new investments in the new year, as strong mid-day rallies in crude fizzled. Global factory growth ends 2014 on low note: PMI LONDON (Reuters) - Global manufacturing activity expanded at its weakest pace in more than a year at the end of 2014, even though factories cut their prices at the steepest rate for nine months, a business survey showed on Friday. Failure to stop Petrobras scandal could haunt Brazil's Rousseff RIO DE JANEIRO/BRASILIA (Reuters) - When federal investigators first identified signs of corruption at Petrobras in 2009, Dilma Rousseff insisted Brazil's state-run oil company had nothing to hide. Free delivery creates holiday boon for U.S. consumers at high cost SAN FRANCISCO/CHICAGO (Reuters) - For top U.S. retailers, free delivery is now the norm. That is good news for shoppers, but not so much for investors. Weak factory reports from Asia, Europe suggest more central bank action LONDON/SYDNEY (Reuters) - The global economy ended 2014 in a fragile state as factories struggled to maintain growth across Europe and Asia, business surveys showed, adding to pressure on central banks to implement more stimulus. Merkel ally urges ECB not to buy struggling states' bonds BERLIN (Reuters) - A senior member of Angela Merkel's party warned the European Central Bank not to pour money into Greece and other struggling euro zone states through bond purchases, saying this would reduce pressure on them to enact much-needed reforms. General Motors issues three new recalls, cites ignition systems NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Motors Co began the new year by announcing three new vehicle recalls on Thursday, as the ignition switch crisis continued to dog the automaker after millions of vehicles were recalled in 2014. Related Video New year, new data but new low for euro GM issues three new recalls Related News Ambac sues Bank of America over Countrywide mortgage bonds Pimco Total Return Fund posts 20th straight month of outflows in December 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