Business Today: Futures tick higher on central bank optimism

Click to View in Browser 06/19/2012 Futures tick higher on central bank optimism NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock futures edged higher on Tuesday as investor hopes for central bank stimulus measures rose after tepid German economic data and ahead of a two-day policy meeting of the Federal Reserve. Housing starts fall in May, permits up sharply WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Housing starts fell in May although permits to build new homes rose to the highest in well over three years, sending mixed signals about the health of the housing market. Spanish short-term debt costs reach alarm levels MADRID/ATHENS (Reuters) - Spain paid a euro era record price to sell short-term debt on Tuesday, pushing it closer to becoming the biggest euro zone country to be shut out of credit markets. Walgreen to buy 45 percent of Alliance Boots for $6.7 billion (Reuters) - Walgreen Co said it would buy a 45 percent stake in KKR & Co-backed Alliance Boots for $6.7 billion in a cash and stock deal that would bring together the two largest pharmacy chains in the United States and Europe. Julius Baer in talks over BofA non-U.S. wealth unit ZURICH (Reuters) - Julius Baer is in talks with Bank of America about buying Merrill Lynch's non-U.S. wealth management unit, valued at up to $2 billion, in what would be a transformative deal for the acquisition-hungry Swiss private bank. Europe vows closer union at G20 summit LOS CABOS, Mexico (Reuters) - Under pressure from financial markets and anxious world leaders, Europe agreed on Monday to move towards a more integrated banking system to stem a debt crisis that threatens the survival of the euro. French businesses fear "systematic strangling" PARIS (Reuters) - France's new Socialist government risks smothering businesses under new taxes and regulation, the head of the employers association said on Tuesday as figures showed company morale plummeting to crisis levels. Microsoft tackles iPad with Surface tablet LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp introduced its own line of tablet computers on Monday at a much-hyped press event in Los Angeles, marking a major strategic shift for the software giant as it struggles to compete with Apple Inc and re-invent its aging Windows franchise. RBS job losses hit 36,000 following latest cull LONDON (Reuters) - State-backed lender Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is making more than 600 staff redundant as a result of legislation due to come into force at the end of the year, bringing total staff reductions at the bank since its 2008 bailout to around 36,000. China may lean on RRR cuts in policy easing if slowdown persists BEIJING (Reuters) - China's central bank could rely on cutting the amount of cash the banks must hold as reserves to bolster growth but reserve further interest rate cuts as the last-resort policy option, economists familiar with Beijing's policy-making process said. Related Video Japan pension scandal The euro bailouts: the rhetoric, reality + €357 mln a minute Economic News June home builder sentiment highest in five years: NAHB Falling house, stock prices erode household wealth 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