Business Today: Stock futures bounce as traders cite Merkel

Click to View in Browser 05/16/2012 Stock futures bounce as traders cite Merkel NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures rose on Wednesday after hitting three-month lows overnight as traders said comments from German Chancellor Angela Merkel about keeping Greece in the euro zone were encouraging markets. Housing starts rebound in April, permits fall WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Housing starts rose more than expected in April, according to a government report on Wednesday that offered signs of a nascent housing recovery, even though permits for future building fell after touching a 3-1/2 year high the prior month. Facebook boosts IPO size by 25 percent, could top $16 billion NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc increased the size of its initial public offering by almost 25 percent, and could raise as much as $16 billion as strong investor demand for a share of the No.1 social network trumps debate about its long-term potential to make money. Mortgage refinancing applications jump; rates fall: MBA NEW YORK (Reuters) - Applications for U.S. home mortgages surged last week, driven by increased demand for refinancing as interest rates hit fresh lows, an industry group said on Wednesday. GE finance arm resumes dividend to parent (Reuters) - General Electric Co's finance arm will resume paying a quarterly dividend to the parent company and make a special payout of $4.5 billion, paving the way for the largest U.S. conglomerate to increase its dividends and buybacks. FBI probes JPMorgan, shareholders back Dimon TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - The FBI has opened an inquiry into the multibillion-dollar trading losses at JPMorgan Chase, stepping up pressure on the bank after key U.S. agencies said they were looking into high-risk trades that first drew regulators' attention last month. Analysis: Key to Universal-EMI decision: Has music business lost control? WASHINGTON (Reuters) - On the face of it, Universal Music Group's bid to buy a big chunk of EMI stands to make the world's leading music company an even more formidable force, combining Universal's star lineup of Lady Gaga and Rihanna with the British company's deep library of The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Katy Perry. Swatch eyes single or double digit sales growth BIENNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Swatch Group , the world's biggest watchmaker, is expecting high single or double-digit sales growth this year as demand from China and for middle and lower-price products holds up in the face of global economic uncertainty. Analysis: Seaway helps bridge record oil gap, but analysts far apart HOUSTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Just ahead of the Seaway oil pipeline restarting in reverse to clear a bottleneck of crude in the U.S. Midwest, Wall Street analysts have rarely been more divided over the outlook for one of the hottest oil market bets in years triggered by the glut. GM to drop Facebook ads due to low consumer impact DETROIT/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - General Motors Co said on Tuesday it will stop advertising on Facebook, even as the social networking website prepares to go public, with a source familiar with the matter saying the automaker had decided Facebook's ads had little impact on consumers. Related Video Bank of England succession: the odds Market Pulse: BoE King's outlook opens door to more QE Economic News Housing starts rebound in April, permits fall April retail sales hint at slower spending pace 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