Business Today: Stock futures add to gains after data

		Click to View in Browser 10/11/2012 Stock futures add to gains after data NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures added to their gains Thursday after a bigger-than-expected drop in weekly jobless claims, a sign of improving labor market conditions. Jobless claims fall to lowest in four and a half years WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell sharply last week to the lowest level in more than four and a half years, according government data on Thursday that suggested improvement in the labor market. Trade deficit widens as exports fall WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit widened in August, in line with analyst expectations, as U.S. goods exports fell for the fifth consecutive month, a government report showed on Thursday. Softbank in talks for $12.8 billion Sprint stake TOKYO (Reuters) - Softbank Corp , Japan's third-largest mobile carrier, is in talks to buy a majority stake in U.S. operator Sprint Nextel Corp for more than 1 trillion yen ($12.8 billion), said a source with direct knowledge of the matter, as it seeks to expand overseas. JPMorgan CFO Braunstein may step down (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase and Co's chief financial officer, Doug Braunstein, may step down and take another position with the bank, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. Back to drawing board after Berlin halts BAE, EADS deal BERLIN/LONDON (Reuters) - Europe's two biggest aerospace firms will go back to the drawing board to find new strategies after Germany stymied the world's biggest arms and aviation company merger. Merkel says planned tax cuts to revive European economy BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's planned tax cuts could stabilize domestic demand and help stimulate the European economy, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday, noting the country was feeling the effect of economic collapse in southern Europe. Rating cut piles pressure on Spain to seek aid MADRID (Reuters) - Spain faced renewed pressure to take the politically humiliating step of seeking sovereign aid on Thursday after a credit agency cut its rating to near junk, triggering a spike in its borrowing costs. Twinkie maker Hostess files reorganization plan (Reuters) - Hostess Brands Inc, the bankrupt maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread, filed a reorganization plan that includes wage cuts, reduction in health and welfare benefits and a freeze on pensions for at least two years. Muted 2013 looms for Asian economies: poll BANGALORE (Reuters) - Asian economies will likely register another year of weak growth in 2013, despite pockets of mild recovery expected in some countries as central banks continue to keep policy accommodative, a Reuters poll showed. Related Video Market Pulse: Oil price rise unsustainable U.S. Morning Call: Softbank in talks to buy Sprint majority Economic News Jobless claims fall to lowest in four and a half years Fed's Yellen says Europe, housing strains stifling U.S. recovery 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