Business Today: Stock futures flat, but techs rally in premarket

		Click to View in Browser 01/23/2013 Stock futures flat, but techs rally in premarket NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures were flat on Wednesday, with investors reluctant to make big bets following a five-day rally that took major averages to levels not seen since December 2007. McDonald's December sales help fourth-quarter profit (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp reported an unexpected rise in sales in December at established U.S. restaurants, helping to lift its fourth-quarter profit above analysts estimates. Emerging market sales lift Unilever shares to new high LONDON (Reuters) - Anglo-Dutch consumer goods company Unilever Plc/NV's share price hit an all-time high on Wednesday as growth beat expectations, propelled by strong sales of its haircare products and soaps in emerging markets. Motorola Solutions profit beats estimates on government spending (Reuters) - Communications gear maker Motorola Solutions Inc reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit, boosted by higher government spending on public safety, but forecast current quarter revenue below analysts' estimates. Abbott 2013 earnings forecast tops Street view (Reuters) - Abbott Laboratories Inc , which spun off its branded prescription drugs business earlier this month, on Wednesday forecast 2013 earnings above Wall Street expectations. United Tech fourth-quarter profit down after restructuring charges (Reuters) - United Technologies Corp reported a 26 percent decline in profit, reflecting large restructuring charges at the end of a year that saw the company close its largest-ever acquisition and sell several small units. Exclusive: Brazil unsure about lowering budget goal - sources BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega does not want to reduce a key government savings goal this year, two administration sources told Reuters, highlighting the nation's dilemma over how to relax strict fiscal rules without triggering spending pressures. Dimon apologizes to shareholders for "whale" loss (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon apologized to shareholders for the $6 billion loss caused by the so-called "whale" trade, calling it a "terrible mistake," but said the bank has moved on and is still highly profitable. Europe finance tax to net tens of billions of euros: France PARIS (Reuters) - France plans to implement a tax on financial transactions at the end of 2014 and believes the levy to be rolled out by 11 European countries will raise "tens of billions of euros" a year, its finance minister said. Analysis: Deal with PM buys BOJ time, but probably just few months TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan appears to have accomplished a tactical masterstroke in giving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe an ambitious inflation target and an "open ended" commitment to buying assets, without expending any of its policy firepower. Related Video U.S. Morning Call: Bruised Apple set to report Breakingviews: Cameron's EU gamble a distraction Economic News Trade Rep Kirk to step down, successors eyed Mortgage applications up for 3rd week despite rate rise -MBA 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