Business Today: Stock futures rise on earnings season optimism

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Good Morning Aron, MON 02 Aug 2010    Stock futures rise on earnings season optimism MetLife lowers outlook of Alico buy HSBC and BNP profits beat view after bad debts tumble China's Geely completes Volvo buy Goldman defends its collateral calls to AIG China slows to cruising speed as Europe perks up Loews and CNA earnings up on investment gains Humana raises forecast as profit rises 21 percent Coke stock seen rising on N. America growth: report Venture investors seek "Ninja assassin" entrepreneurs Asia budget carriers take off Asia stocks up on China hopes Iran: Stocks rise despite sanctions Stock futures rise on earnings season optimism August 02, 2010 07:35 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures were sharply higher on Monday, building on last month's solid gains, as investors focused on encouraging corporate results. Full Article MetLife lowers outlook of Alico buy August 02, 2010 08:35 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - MetLife Inc lowered its estimate of how much of a boost it will get from acquiring Alico, the foreign life insurance business of AIG, and announced fund-raising plans to help pay for the deal. Full Article HSBC and BNP profits beat view after bad debts tumble August 02, 2010 08:14 AM ET LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) - HSBC and BNP Paribas , two of Europe's top three banks, beat earnings forecasts after bad debts fell sharply, more than offsetting slowing investment banking growth. Full Article China's Geely completes Volvo buy August 02, 2010 07:41 AM ET BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's Geely on Monday completed its purchase of Ford Motor Co's Volvo unit, marking China's biggest acquisition of a foreign car maker and reflecting the nation's rapid rise in the auto world. Full Article Goldman defends its collateral calls to AIG August 02, 2010 07:47 AM ET BANGALORE (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs said that it believed its trades with the bailed out insurer AIG during the financial crisis were accurate and its collateral calls made to AIG were reflective of the conditions in a deteriorated market. Full Article China slows to cruising speed as Europe perks up August 02, 2010 07:48 AM ET LONDON/BEIJING (Reuters) - Manufacturing in China shrank in July for the first time since March 2009 while it perked up in the euro zone, according to surveys that underscored the unevenness of the global economic recovery. Full Article Loews and CNA earnings up on investment gains August 02, 2010 08:21 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Loews Corp , run by the billionaire Tisch family, posted an 8 percent rise in quarterly net profit, as the conglomerate recorded a gain on investments. Full Article Humana raises forecast as profit rises 21 percent August 02, 2010 07:37 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Humana Inc posted a 21 percent increase in quarterly profit on Monday, helped by growth in its Medicare plans for seniors, and the health insurer raised its full-year forecast. Full Article Coke stock seen rising on N. America growth: report August 02, 2010 07:35 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Coca-Cola Co could rise 10 percent or more in the next year after the company pinpointed North America as a growth market, Barron's business weekly reported on Sunday. Full Article Venture investors seek "Ninja assassin" entrepreneurs August 02, 2010 07:25 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - What does it take to make it as a technology entrepreneur? Full Article

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