Business Today: Futures up ahead of factory, construction data

Click to View in Browser 05/1/2012 Futures up ahead of factory, construction data NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures edged higher on Tuesday ahead of data on the manufacturing sector that could offer evidence on the pace of the economic recovery. Pfizer beats profit forecast, helped by cost cuts (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings as cost controls partly offset plunging sales of its Lipitor cholesterol fighter, which now faces competition from cheaper generics. China data points towards economic recovery BEIJING (Reuters) - China's official purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to a 13-month high in April, signaling the economy has found a footing and may be recovering from a first-quarter trough, but smaller factories are still struggling. BP profit falls as Gulf spill costs still weigh LONDON (Reuters) - BP Plc reported a bigger-than-expected profit drop on the back of a fall in production prompted by the need to sell oil fields to pay for the Gulf of Mexico disaster, raising concerns about the oil group's turnaround plan. Avon's profit sinks as sales continue to slide (Reuters) - Avon Products Inc on Tuesday reported a disappointing quarterly profit as the company dealt with higher costs and declining sales, potentially giving new ammunition to smaller rival Coty's bid to take over the world's largest direct seller of cosmetics. Insight: As chip plants get pricey, U.S. risks losing edge CHANDLER, Arizona (Reuters) - It goes by the anodyne moniker Fab 42, but the new Intel Corp factory being built in the Arizona desert is hardly a run-of-the-mill production facility. Chrysler April sales rise 20 percent DETROIT (Reuters) - Chrysler Group LLC's U.S. new-vehicle sales rose 20 percent last month, marking the best April performance in four years, as the industry headed for another strong performance. India's exports fall for the first time since 2009 NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's exports in March fell for the first time since the 2009 global financial crisis as demand weakened in the United States and Europe, further clouding the outlook for the country's balance of payments. Analysis: Permit glut points to new EU carbon policy tool LONDON (Reuters) - Any one-off European Union intervention to clear the massive glut of permits now clogging its emissions trading scheme is likely to lead to a 'central bank' or other policy tool to manage future imbalances in the world's biggest carbon market. Dubai sukuk to fund airport expansion: Sheikh Ahmed DUBAI (Reuters) - Dubai will employ $1.25 billion raised through an Islamic bond last week to fund the expansion of its airport and sees no risk to repaying creditors at its flagship conglomerate Dubai World on time, a top Dubai official told Reuters on Tuesday. Related Video Breakingviews: More Gloom at Lloyds Reuters Today: Europe braced for May Day protests Economic News U.S. small business hiring takes step back in April Fed officials, hawk and dove, agree: no more easing 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