Business Today: Stock futures advance on commods strength, weak dollar

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Good Morning Aron, MON 04 Jan 2010    Stock futures advance on commods strength, weak dollar Novartis seeks to buy rest of Alcon for $39 billion U.S. considering lesser term for UBS whistleblower: report Whitman to step down as Third Avenue investment chief: report Asia's factory output picks up steam in December Tokyo bourse rolls out high-speed platform Weill faults Prince, management for Citi woes: report Watson Wyatt completes $4 billion merger with Towers U.S. growth prospects deemed bleak in new decade Indebted Dubai puts on brave face for tower opening Business Update: Upbeat 2010 start JAL soars on government bailout Last trading day of the decade Stock futures advance on commods strength, weak dollar January 04, 2010 07:31 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose on Monday, as crude oil prices jumped on jitters over an oil dispute between Russia and Belarus and as drugmaker Novartis moved to buy eye care group Alcon in a $39 billion deal. Full Article Novartis seeks to buy rest of Alcon for $39 billion January 04, 2010 07:22 AM ET ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis aims to buy the rest of the world's biggest eye care firm Alcon for $39.3 billion, including Nestle's majority stake, to help it diversify away from prescription drugs. Full Article U.S. considering lesser term for UBS whistleblower: report January 04, 2010 08:18 AM ET (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department is considering whether to ask a judge to reduce the jail sentence of Bradley Birkenfeld, the key informant in the U.S. tax fraud case against Swiss bank UBS AG, the New York Times said, citing a person briefed on the matter. Full Article Whitman to step down as Third Avenue investment chief: report January 04, 2010 12:47 AM ET (Reuters) - Veteran investor Martin Whitman will relinquish his role as Third Avenue Management LLC's co-chief investment officer, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. Full Article Asia's factory output picks up steam in December January 04, 2010 08:30 AM ET BEIJING (Reuters) - Factories in Asia stepped up production in December, with China's output growing at its fastest pace on record, suggesting economic activity is gathering pace in the region that is leading the global recovery. Full Article Tokyo bourse rolls out high-speed platform January 04, 2010 06:17 AM ET TOKYO (Reuters) - The Tokyo Stock Exchange successfully launched a high-speed trading system on Monday to better compete with major global rivals in the growing field of automated trading. Full Article Weill faults Prince, management for Citi woes: report January 03, 2010 05:12 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Citigroup Chief Executive Sanford Weill blamed the bank's problems on personnel decisions and faulted his successor, Chuck Prince, for letting its balance sheet balloon and taking on large risks, according to the New York Times, citing a series of recent interviews. Full Article Watson Wyatt completes $4 billion merger with Towers January 03, 2010 04:55 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Human resources consulting company Watson Wyatt Worldwide Inc completed its merger with rival Towers Perrin Forster & Crosby to form a combined company called Towers Watson & Co that will make its U.S. trading debut on Monday. Full Article U.S. growth prospects deemed bleak in new decade January 04, 2010 07:16 AM ET ATLANTA (Reuters) - A dismal job market, a crippled real estate sector and hobbled banks will keep a lid on U.S. economic growth over the coming decade, some of the nation's leading economists said on Sunday. Full Article Indebted Dubai puts on brave face for tower opening January 04, 2010 08:31 AM ET DUBAI (Reuters) - Dubai opened the world's tallest structure in a glitzy ceremony meant to put a brave face on crushing debt woes, leading some to wonder whether the Burj Dubai is the emirate's crowning glory or its last hurrah. Full Article

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