Business Today: Stock index futures dip as economy worries persist

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Good Morning Aron, FRI 20 Aug 2010    Stock index futures dip as economy worries persist BHP launches all-cash offer for Potash KNOC launches $2.9 billion hostile bid for Dana Petrlm Dell and HP shake off slowdown fears Hormel posts higher profit Fidelity: retirement fund withdrawals rise in downturn Ann Taylor profits as sales soar at namesake chain FAA close to fine against American Airlines: source Swiss banks face no US tax issues: Swiss envoy Sales strength of Starbucks' Via coffee questioned Sharp to cut LCD panel output Nikkei tanks as growth worries rise Looking for back-to-school bargains Stock index futures dip as economy worries persist August 20, 2010 07:58 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures fell on Friday, tracking global equity markets lower as weaker-than-expected economic data reinforced fears of a faltering recovery. Full Article BHP launches all-cash offer for Potash August 20, 2010 08:19 AM ET LONDON (Reuters) - BHP Billiton Group announced commencement of all cash-offer to acquire Potashcorp. Full Article KNOC launches $2.9 billion hostile bid for Dana Petrlm August 20, 2010 07:55 AM ET LONDON/SEOUL (Reuters) - State-run Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC) made a hostile cash bid worth $2.9 billion for Britain's Dana Petroleum Plc on Friday, highlighting a strengthening in South Korea's resolve to secure energy assets overseas. Full Article Dell and HP shake off slowdown fears August 19, 2010 08:44 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Dell Inc and Hewlett-Packard Co dismissed worries about weakening technology demand, reporting broad-based strength from corporate customers and only hints of weakness from consumers. Full Article Hormel posts higher profit August 20, 2010 08:07 AM ET CHICAGO (Reuters) - Hormel Foods Corp reported a higher quarterly profit on Friday, helped by strong sales of MegaMex Foods products and chili. Full Article Fidelity: retirement fund withdrawals rise in downturn August 20, 2010 12:13 AM ET BOSTON (Reuters) - A record number of U.S. workers are tapping into their retirement accounts to make it through the economic downturn, Fidelity Investments found in a survey released on Friday. Full Article Ann Taylor profits as sales soar at namesake chain August 20, 2010 08:15 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - AnnTaylor Stores Corp reported a quarterly profit on Friday as sales rebounded sharply at the women's clothing retailer's namesake stores and it sold more items at their full price. Full Article FAA close to fine against American Airlines: source August 20, 2010 12:42 AM ET WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) -The U.S. government is close to proposing a substantial fine against American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp, for alleged maintenance and inspection violations that led to the grounding of hundreds of planes and the cancellation of thousands of flights in 2008. Full Article Swiss banks face no US tax issues: Swiss envoy August 20, 2010 07:43 AM ET BERNE (Reuters) - Switzerland's banks should not run into further trouble with the U.S. taxman now that a damaging dispute with UBS AG has been cleared up, Switzerland's top tax diplomat, Michael Ambuehl, said on Friday. Full Article Sales strength of Starbucks' Via coffee questioned August 20, 2010 08:02 AM ET LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Better-than-expected sales of Starbucks Corp's Via coffee are being clouded by concerns that some employees have given customers free drinks in exchange for buying the fast-growing instant-coffee brand. Full Article

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