Business Today: Stock futures cut gains after jobless data

Click to View in Browser 04/19/2012 Stock futures cut gains after jobless data NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures pared gains on Thursday after data showed new claims for weekly jobless benefits came in above forecasts and the figure for the previous week was revised higher, dampening hopes of a pick-up in job creation in April. Jobless data suggests slowdown in job creation WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans claiming unemployment benefits for the first time fell only slightly last week, dampening hopes of a pick-up in job creation in April after March's slowdown. France, Spain clear bond auction hurdle MADRID/PARIS (Reuters) - France and Spain sold all the bonds they wanted at auction on Thursday, though for Spain the cost was rising yields, indicating growing concerns the government will not be able to tame its deficit. Morgan Stanley loses money on accounting charge (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley lost money during the first quarter because a quirky accounting rule cost the bank $2 billion, but excluding that special item, its earnings rose on stronger wealth-management revenue and cost cutting. Bank of America profit falls but tops expectations (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp reported lower first-quarter profit as the second-largest U.S. bank took accounting charges related to its debt, but results topped analysts' estimates as credit quality improved. DuPont profit beats Street, helped by price hikes NEW YORK (Reuters) - DuPont's first-quarter profit beat Wall Street expectations, helped by price hikes and strong sales of insecticides and genetically modified seeds. GlaxoSmithKline pounces on Human Genome with $2.6 billion bid LONDON (Reuters) - Human Genome Sciences Inc said it had rejected an unsolicited bid worth around $2.6 billion from long-time partner GlaxoSmithKline, marking a new takeover battle in a drugs sector that has been swept by M&A recently. Nokia ditches sales chief as smartphone disappoints HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia ditched its sales chief and promised to slash more costs, as the Finnish cellphone maker runs out of time to reinvent itself under pressure from smartphone rivals. Ford invests $760 million for new China plant, more capacity HANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co is investing $760 million to build a new plant in eastern China as part of its effort to catch up with U.S. rival General Motors Co in the world's largest auto market. Verizon results slightly ahead of estimates NEW YORK (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc posted first-quarter earnings and revenue that were slightly higher than Wall Street expectations even as wireless growth slowed from the fourth quarter. Related Video Asian bond defaults expected to rise: IACPM Breakingviews: UK gas reserves potentially tricky Economic News Jobless data suggests slowdown in job creation Feature: Portuguese plant seeds to cope with crisis 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