Monday, February 29, 2016

UK Stocks-Factors to watch on March 1

March 1 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening down 45 points, or 0.7 percent lower on Tuesday, according to financial bookmakers. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on * The UK blue chip index closed up 1.1 points on Monday at 6,097.09 points. * LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE: Exchange and clearing house operator Intercontinental Exchange Inc is planning a counter bid for London Stock Exchange Group Plc, in an attempt to scuttle a merger with Deut











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UPDATE 1-Toshiba mulls battery plant in Australia as Japan seeks sub deal - sources

* Toshiba eyes military, commercial sales of lithium batteries


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Toshiba mulls battery plant in Australia as Japan seeks sub deal - sources

* Toshiba eyes military, commercial sales of lithium batteries











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Macau posts best gambling revenue result in 20 months

HONG KONG, March 1 (Reuters) - The Chinese territory of Macau on Tuesday posted its best monthly gambling revenue performance since October last year, boosted by an increase in tourist numbers over the Lunar New Year holiday to the world's largest casino hub.


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UPDATE 1-Chinese pitch big M&A break-up fees, small stakes to allay U.S. regulatory fears

* China firms willing to pay record break-up fees for U.S. deals


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China's bold One Belt, One Road project eyes Australia detour













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UPDATE 1-Two major hedge funds lose in February but Einhorn gains

BOSTON, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Billionaire investors Barry Rosenstein and Daniel Loeb's hedge funds lost more money in February as both managers were hit by volatile markets shaped by fears about slower growth and uncertainty over how the Federal Reserve will react.


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GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares inch up after China stimulus step

* Downbeat PMI surveys raises hopes of more steps from Beijing











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UPDATE 2-N.Y. judge backs Apple in encryption fight with government

Feb 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. government cannot force Apple Inc to unlock an iPhone in a New York drug case, a federal judge in Brooklyn said on Monday, a ruling that bolsters the company's arguments in its landmark legal showdown with the Justice Department over encryption and privacy.


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JPMorgan follows competition with richer cash-back credit card

NEW YORK, Feb 29 (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co will offer a richer cash-back credit card in April to better compete against products from Capital One Financial Corp and Citigroup Inc.











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BRIEF-Greenspace Brands reports qtrly loss per share of $0.06

* Greenspace BRANDS INC. Reports third quarter revenue growth of 262% with significant gross profit improvement


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Chinese pitch big M&A break-up fees, small stakes to allay U.S. regulatory fears

* China firms willing to pay record break-up fees for U.S. deals


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Red faces, raised voices over late hitch in Foxconn's Sharp deal

TOKYO/TAIPEI, March 1 (Reuters) - A late hitch to Foxconn's takeover of Japan's struggling Sharp Corp brought simmering distrust between the two close to boiling point, people with direct knowledge of the matter said.











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Trader's ouster at JP Morgan affirms commitment to compliance

NEW YORK, Feb 29 (IFR) - JP Morgan has swiftly severed ties with a top bond trader who circumvented its compliance procedures earlier this year as the bank moves to reinforce its commitment to risk management.











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UPDATE 3-Google says it bears 'some responsibility' after self-driving car hit bus

Feb 29 (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's Google said on Monday it bears "some responsibility" after one of its self-driving cars struck a municipal bus in a minor crash earlier this month.











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US STOCKS-S&P 500 falls below closely watched threshold

* Indexes down: Dow 0.63 pct, S&P 0.64 pct, Nasdaq 0.53 pct (Updates to U.S. afternoon trading)











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UPDATE 1-Oscars telecast lowest in 8 years, Rock gets thumbs up

LOS ANGELES, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Some 34.3 million Americans watched the 2016 Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, the smallest TV audience for the Oscars in eight years, according to national ratings data, amid a Hollywood diversity controversy.


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UPDATE 1-AIG, Coventry First settle lawsuit over 'life settlements'

Feb 29 (Reuters) - American International Group Inc said on Monday that it had reached a settlement resolving a $2 billion lawsuit accusing a Philadelphia-area firm overcharging it for life insurance policies acquired from elderly people.











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What to Watch in the Day Ahead - Tuesday, March 1

(The Day Ahead is an email and PDF publication that includes the day's major stories and events, analyses and other features. To receive The Day Ahead, Eikon users can register at . Thomson One users can register at RT/DAY/US. All times in ET/GMT) A report from the Institute for Supply Management is expected to show that the manufacturing downturn is close to bottoming. The ISM's national manufacturing index likely edged up to 48.5 in February from a reading of 48.2 in January, according


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BRIEF-Citi, Mercuria to appeal UK court ruling on China metals fraud case

Feb 29 (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc regulatory filing and Mercuria spokesman:


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GE to "aggressively" cut costs in 2016: Immelt

Feb 29 (Reuters) - General Electric Co will continue to "aggressively" cut costs this year, Chief Executive Jeff Immelt said, reiterating the company's target for spending on restructuring in 2016.


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UPDATE 1-Judge allows case against media mogul Redstone to proceed-tentative ruling

LOS ANGELES, Feb 29 (Reuters) - A lawsuit that challenges the mental competence of media mogul Sumner Redstone, the former executive chairman of Viacom Inc, can proceed, a California judge said in a tentative ruling on Monday.


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UPDATE 3-Amazon to attack UK grocery market with Morrisons deal

* Rival share prices sink on competition fears (Adds detail, analyst comment, updates shares)











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News Corp faces U.S. trial over monopoly of in-store ads

NEW YORK, Feb 29 (Reuters) - News Corp went to trial on Monday in a class action lawsuit that accuses the company of monopolizing the market for in-store promotions at some 52,500 retail stores across the United States.


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UPDATE 2-FDA asks for more studies on Bayer's Essure contraceptive implant

Feb 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Monday it had asked German drugmaker Bayer AG to conduct further studies on its implantable sterilization device, Essure, following thousands of complaints and calls for its withdrawal.











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German court fines Facebook $109,000 in dispute over IP licence clause

BERLIN, Feb 29 (Reuters) - A German court has fined Facebook 100,000 euros ($109,000) for refusing to follow an order to adequately inform users about how it was using their intellectual property, a consumer group said on Monday.











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UPDATE 2-Barclays Africa tumbles as British parent signals exit

* Johannesburg-listed shares fall 5.5 pct (Recasts with shares, adds analysts)


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UPDATE 2-Icahn offers to buy rest of Federal-Mogul to boost auto business

* Federal-Mogul's Q4 loss falls as sales offsets dollar (Adds Federal-Mogul's results, background, shares)


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EU clears Dell's purchase of EMC Corp

BRUSSELS, Feb 29 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Monday it had cleared Dell Inc's planned $67 billion acquisition of data storage company EMC Corp.











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UPDATE 1-Buffett says owning IBM shares could prove a mistake -CNBC

NEW YORK, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett, chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., told CNBC on Monday the firm's ownership of IBM shares could prove a mistake and that he was buying more U.S. stocks overall since the end of last year.


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UPDATE 1-Citigroup to raise about $3 bln from Guangfa stake sale to China Life

* China Life to double stake in CGB with Citigroup purchase (Adds China Life statement, Guangfa shareholders, Citigroup comments, CGB's previous IPO plans)











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UPDATE 1-Lumber Liquidators quarterly sales fall more than expected

Feb 29 (Reuters) - Beleaguered hardwood flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc reported a bigger-than-expected drop in quarterly sales as it struggles to cope with falling demand after reports that some of its laminates contained excessive levels of cancer-causing formaldehyde.


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Thailand's TCC joins with Marriott to open 7 hotels by 2020

BANGKOK, Feb 29 (Reuters) - TCC Group, which is controlled by Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, said on Monday it planned to invest more than 23 billion baht ($644 million) through 2020 to build and renovate seven hotels in Thailand under the Marriott brand.











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Alibaba's Ma, Tsai to buy back $500 mln in shares

SHANGHAI, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Alibaba Group Holding Ltd said on Monday Chairman Jack Ma and Vice Chairman Joe Tsai have agreed to buy back a combined $500 million in company shares, part of a $4 billion stock repurchase scheme announced in August.


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UPDATE 1-Toshiba to sell entire medical unit, deal may see aggressive bids -sources

* Toshiba plans to sell entire unit to bolster finances -sources











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European shares retreat as G20 fails to strike new measures

LONDON, Feb 29 (Reuters) - European shares retreated from a three-week high on Monday and were on track for their third straight month of losses after a weekend meeting of the G20 group of leading economies failed to strike new measures to boost growth.


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SPOT GOLD RISES 1 PCT TO SESSION HIGH OF $1,234.40/OZ

SPOT GOLD RISES 1 PCT TO SESSION HIGH OF $1,234.40/OZ













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European Factors to Watch-Shares on track for third straight month of losses

LONDON, Feb 29 (Reuters) - European shares headed for a weaker start on Monday and stayed on track for their third-straight month of losses as a weekend meeting of the G20 group of leading economies failed to come up with concrete and new measures to boost growth.











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GlaxoSmithKline starts hunt for successor to CEO Witty

LONDON, Feb 29 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline's chairman is starting the process of seeking a new chief executive to succeed Andrew Witty, although a handover at the top of Britain's biggest drugmaker is not expected before 2017.


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Sunday, February 28, 2016

Upstart producer Open Road takes Oscar's top gold

LOS ANGELES, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Open Road Films, a small movie producer founded by two theater chains just five years ago, upstaged Hollywood's big studios on Sunday by winning the coveted best picture award and a likely sales boost for its Catholic Church scandal drama "Spotlight."


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UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Feb 29

Feb 29 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening down around 56 points, or 0.9 percent, on Monday, according to financial bookmakers. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on * The UK blue chip index closed 1.38 percent higher on Friday at 6,096.01, boosted by a rally in publisher Pearson and London Stock Exchange Group , though Royal Bank of Scotland reported its eighth full-year loss in a row. * LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE: The proposed merger of E











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UPDATE 2-Chris Rock transforms Oscars into biting racial commentary

LOS ANGELES, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Comedian Chris Rock launched his return stint as Oscar host on Sunday by immediately and unabashedly confronting the racially charged elephant in the room - the furor over the all-white field of performers nominated for Hollywood's highest honors.











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Blockbuster 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' fails to land Oscars

LOS ANGELES, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The on-stage Oscar antics of "Star Wars" droids C-3PO, R2-D2 and BB-8 may have charmed the Academy Awards audience, but "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" did not fare so well, failing to win any of its five nominations.


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UPDATE 1-Mark Rylance wins supporting actor Oscar for 'Bridge of Spies'

LOS ANGELES, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Mark Rylance won the Academy Award for best supporting actor on Sunday for his role as an unflappable Russian secret agent in Steven Spielberg's Cold War-era drama "Bridge of Spies."


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UPDATE 1-'Inside Out' wins Oscar for best animated film

LOS ANGELES, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The adventure comedy "Inside Out" from Walt Disney's Pixar studio won the Oscar on Sunday for best animated feature film.


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Nikkei rises on weaker yen, steady U.S. consumer sentiment

TOKYO, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks rose on Monday morning as strong U.S. economic indicators pushed the dollar to a more than one-week high against the yen, lifting sentiment and increasing profits for Japan's exporters.


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PRESS DIGEST- British Business - Feb 29

Feb 29 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.











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PRESS DIGEST- Financial Times - Feb 29

Feb 29 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.


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GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares off to cautious start after G20, US data

* Futures pricing in over 50 pct chance of Fed rate hike this year











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Valeant CEO Pearson to return effective immediately

NEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International said on Sunday that Chief Executive Officer Michael Pearson will return from medical leave effective immediately, and the drugmaker will postpone the release of fourth-quarter results planned for Monday.


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MEDIA-Google's parent could be big winner in Intel tax dispute-WSJ

Source link: http://www.wsj.com/articles/googles-parent-could-be-big-winner-in-intel-tax-dispute-1456698129


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Perseus Mining bids to take over Amara in West Africa gold push

MELBOURNE, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Australia's Perseus Mining has made an all-scrip bid worth $85 million to take over London-listed Amara Mining, looking to pool their West African gold resources as bullion prices defy gloom in the commodities sector.











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SE Asia's white-hot mobile games market to mirror Thai growth slowdown

BANGKOK, Feb 29 (Reuters) - The world's hottest region for mobile video games, Southeast Asia, may be set to cool off amid early signs of the curse of makers of titles like "Minecraft" and "Candy Crush Saga" - the prospect of market saturation after a wave of smartphone buying.


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MEDIA-Bill Gates cautions on unicorn valuations-FT

NEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) - - Source link: (http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/3ef8d37a-dc07-11e5-9ba8-3abc1e7247e4.html) -- Note: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for its accuracy (Reporting by Caroline Humer)


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UPDATE 1-Tech CEO Whitman calls Trump "unfit" to be U.S. president

NEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Meg Whitman, the head of technology firm Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co, said on Sunday that Donald Trump was "unfit" for the U.S. presidency, and criticized New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, whose failed presidential bid she supported, for endorsing Trump.











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Medtronic is a good defensive pick for sector - Barron's

NEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Medical equipment maker Medtronic Plc is a solid pick in its sector and will likely deliver a smoother ride to earnings growth than competitors, weekly investment newspaper Barron's reported in its Feb. 29 edition.











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CORRECTED-HP's CEO calls Trump "unfit" to be U.S. president

NEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Meg Whitman, the head of technology firm Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co said that Donald Trump was "unfit" for the U.S. presidency on Sunday, NBC reported, and criticized New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, whose failed presidential bid she supported, for endorsing Trump.


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Reformist gains in Iran elections clear way for business boom

* Rouhani administration has freer hand to push economic reforms











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UPDATE 2-Former Christie campaign finance chair slams Christie endorsement of Donald Trump

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - A former finance co-chair of Chris Christie's presidential campaign on Sunday slammed Christie's recent endorsement of Donald Trump, according to NBC, calling for the New Jersey governor's supporters to reject the Republican front-runner.











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RPT-Wall St Week Ahead-As earnings season wraps up, investors turn to data

NEW YORK, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Investors hoping that U.S. stocks will build on a strong two-week run will look to a host of data next week, highlighted by the monthly jobs report, for signs the economy is improving.


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RPT-Proposed Honeywell-United Tech deal could result in greater pricing power

NEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Honeywell International Inc's proposal to buy rival United Technologies Corp would create an industrial giant bigger than aircraft makers Boeing Co or Airbus Group, potentially changing the balance of power between manufacturer and supplier.


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CHRISTIE CALLS WHITMAN "A GREAT FRIEND," SAYS HAS "DIFFERENCE OF POLITICAL OPINION" WITH HER ON TRUMP ENDORSEMENT- ABC

CHRISTIE CALLS WHITMAN "A GREAT FRIEND," SAYS HAS "DIFFERENCE OF POLITICAL OPINION" WITH HER ON TRUMP ENDORSEMENT- ABC


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MIDEAST STOCKS-Oil prices buoy Gulf; Global Telecom aids Egypt

DUBAI, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Major Middle East stock markets gained in active trade on Sunday after oil prices rose sharply last week. Egypt's bourse climbed on the back of Global Telecom , a favourite of foreign investors.


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Former Christie campaign finance chair slams Christie endorsement of Donald Trump

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - A former finance co-chair of Chris Christie's presidential campaign on Sunday slammed Christie's recent endorsement of Donald Trump, according to NBC, calling for the New Jersey governor's supporters to reject the Republican front-runner.











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WRAPUP 1-DiCaprio is Oscar shoo-in, but host Chris Rock may shock

* Chris Rock to break silence on diversity in opening monologue


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UPDATE 1-Miners trapped after accident in Russia's Arctic pronounced dead

MOSCOW, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The 26 miners who were trapped in a Russian coal mine above the Arctic circle have died and rescue operations have been halted after a third blast underground killed several rescue workers, emergency services said on Sunday.











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Macau investigates former top prosecutor over corruption scandal

HONG KONG, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Macau's anti-corruption agency has begun an investigation into a former senior figure in the public prosecutions office, an official and lawmakers said on Sunday, the most high-profile graft case in the world's largest gambling hub in a decade.











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Miners trapped after accident in Russia's Arctic pronounced dead

MOSCOW, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The 26 miners who were trapped in a Russian coal mine above the Arctic circle have died and rescue operations have been halted after a third blast underground killed several rescue workers, emergency services said on Sunday.


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VW ex-CEO told of defeat device admission weeks before news was public -BamS

FRANKFURT, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's former chief executive Martin Winterkorn was informed that the carmaker had told regulators it was using defeat devices two weeks before the scandal became public, German tabloid Bild am Sonntag reported on Sunday.


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Saturday, February 27, 2016

Amazon sizes up UK restaurant delivery market

LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc has begun surveying UK customers about their use of restaurant delivery services, in what analysts said was likely the first step in an international expansion of a business it rolled out in the United States last September.











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UPDATE 2-Warren Buffett defends 3G, touts economy in record year for Berkshire

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett on Saturday used his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway Inc shareholders to launch vigorous defenses of an aggressive private equity partner and a maligned mobile home unit, as his conglomerate recorded robust profits.











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RPT-Buffett defends Clayton Homes after critics fault its lending

NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) - At last May's annual meeting of his Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Warren Buffett said he had "no apologies whatsoever" for the lending practices of the company's Clayton Homes mobile home unit, which had been accused in a published report of predatory lending.


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UPDATE 1-Buffett rails against presidential candidates who talk down economy

NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett bemoaned the "negative drumbeat" on the U.S. economy from presidential candidates in his annual Berkshire Hathaway Inc shareholder letter on Saturday, saying they are misleading Americans into believing their children will be worse off than they are.


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Buffett defends Clayton Homes after critics fault its lending

NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) - At last May's annual meeting of his Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Warren Buffett said he had "no apologies whatsoever" for the lending practices of the company's Clayton Homes mobile home unit, which had been accused in a published report of predatory lending.











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Disney resets theme park ticket prices for slow, busy times

LOS ANGELES, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co unveiled new single-day ticket prices on Saturday for the company's U.S. theme parks, switching to a three-tiered system that charges visitors more on the year's busiest days and less during typically slower periods.


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HIGHLIGHTS-Warren Buffett attacks Wall Street analysts over 'phony' earnings

NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The following are excerpts from Warren Buffett's annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway Inc shareholders, which was released early Saturday:











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Warren Buffett defends 3G, Clayton Homes as Berkshire profit grows

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett on Saturday launched vigorous defenses of a private equity firm and a mobile home unit that critics say employ controversial business practices antithetical to Buffett's own at Berkshire Hathaway Inc .











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UPDATE 1-Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Q4 profit rises 32 pct

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc on Saturday said fourth-quarter profit rose 32 percent, helped by improved results in its insurance operations and higher gains from investments and derivatives.











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Buffett rails against presidential candidates who talk down economy

NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett bemoaned the "negative drumbeat" on the U.S. economy from presidential candidates in his annual Berkshire Hathaway Inc shareholder letter on Saturday, saying they are misleading Americans into believing their children will be worse off then they are.


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Berkshire Hathaway Q4 profit rises 32 pct

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc on Saturday said fourth-quarter profit rose 32 percent, helped by improved results in its insurance operations and higher gains from investments and derivatives.


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United States sets out limits on its spying as part of new data pact with EU

* Previous one struck down by EU court on U.S. spying concerns











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Australian minister surprised by Holden closure

SYDNEY, Feb 27 (Reuters) - An Australian minister has vowed to "get to the bottom" of a dropped takeover plan for a Holden car assembly plant in Adelaide that would have kept the factory open.


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Friday, February 26, 2016

UPDATE 1-Blackstone CEO took home $810.6 million in 2015

NEW YORK, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Blackstone Group LP Chief Executive Stephen Schwarzman took home $810.6 million in 2015, after the New York-based asset manager returned a record amount of cash to its shareholders following a wave of lucrative asset sales.


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Proposed Honeywell-United Tech deal could result in greater pricing power

NEW YORK, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Honeywell International Inc's proposal to buy rival United Technologies Corp would create an industrial giant bigger than aircraft makers Boeing Co or Airbus Group, potentially changing the balance of power between manufacturer and supplier.











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CORRECTED-UPDATE 4-United Tech rejects Honeywell's $90.7 bln offer

Feb 26 (Reuters) - U.S. industrial conglomerate United Technologies on Friday rejected a $90.7 billion offer by rival aerospace supplier Honeywell International Inc, saying that pursuing a merger would be "irresponsible" toward its shareholders.


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CORRECTED-UPDATE 4-United Tech rejects Honeywell's $90.7 bln offer

Feb 26 (Reuters) - U.S. industrial conglomerate United Technologies on Friday rejected a $90.7 billion offer by rival aerospace supplier Honeywell International Inc, saying that pursuing a merger would be "irresponsible" toward its shareholders.











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EMERGING MARKETS-Colombia, Mexico pesos fall after last-minute oil price drop

SAO PAULO, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Both the Mexican and Colombian pesos dropped on Friday, hurt by fresh U.S. data that boosted the dollar and a slump in the oil price late in the session.


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UPDATE 2-China's loan to Petrobras may help pay most 2016 debt -source

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 26 (Reuters) - China's loan to Brazil's Petrobras announced Friday is for $5 billion to $10 billion and can be paid in cash or oil at China's request, and may help pay the bulk of the $12 billion in debt the state-run oil company must pay this year, a source involved in debt talks told Reuters late Friday.











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UPDATE 1-Venezuela in advanced talks for $5 bln loan -cenbank president

CARACAS, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Venezuela is in advanced talks for a $5 billion loan from international banks and investment funds, the head of the central bank said on Friday, potentially providing an influx of cash for the OPEC member country, which faces heavy debt payments this year.


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UPDATE 2-Samsung wins appeal in patent dispute with Apple

Feb 26 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday overturned a $120 million jury verdict against Samsung, finally handing the South Korean smartphone maker a significant win in its longstanding patent feud with top rival Apple.











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DEALTALK-How Honeywell turned the tables on United Tech

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Honeywell International Inc Chief Executive David Cote was sporting the casual jeans and sweater he often likes to wear in the office when he was visited by his then-counterpart at United Technologies Corp in 2012, Louis Chenevert.











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UPDATE 1-GE units get DoJ subpoenas over subprime mortgages

Feb 26 (Reuters) - General Electric Co said the U.S. Department of Justice in January issued subpoenas to WMC Mortgage Corp and GE Capital seeking documents as part of an industry-wide investigation of subprime mortgages.


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Twenty-First Century Fox shares could get rare Oscars season boost

NEW YORK, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Shares of 21st Century Fox could be set for a rare Oscar rally if the global media conglomerate takes home gold at this Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony.











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General Dynamics, Rockwell Collins, Harris Corp awarded $12 bln Pentagon contract

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - General Dynamics, Rockwell Collins and Harris Corp were awarded a contract for more than $12 billion for manpack radios, the Pentagon said on Friday.


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FOR THE WEEK, THE DOW ROSE 1.5 PCT, THE S&P 500 GAINED 1.6 PCT AND THE NASDAQ CLIMBED 1.9 PCT

FOR THE WEEK, THE DOW ROSE 1.5 PCT, THE S&P 500 GAINED 1.6 PCT AND THE NASDAQ CLIMBED 1.9 PCT











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GRAINS-Hefty supply pushes soy to 10-week low, meal to 6-year low

* South America crop weather looks favorable -traders (Adds closing prices, potential for wheat to be used as livestock feed)


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CORRECTED-UPDATE 8-Oil slides on profit-taking; U.S. crude still on to big week

NEW YORK, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Friday as investors cashed out weekly profits after an earlier rally driven by disruptions to crude supplies and Wall Street's gains from U.S. economic data.











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UPDATE 9-Oil ends down on profit-taking but still up strongly on week

* Early rally during session on supply disruptions, Wall St gains


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UPDATE 4-Michigan governor's aides urged switch away from Flint River

DETROIT, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Quality problems prompted two of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder's top lawyers to urge that Flint be moved back to the Detroit water system just months after a decision to draw water supply from the Flint River, according to emails released on Friday.











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BRIEF-Production of oil derivatives in brazil in january rises 3.1 percent from year ago - anp

Volume Of Refined Oil In Brazil Rises 2.3 Pct In January From Same Month A Year Earlier











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U.S. oil drillers cut rigs for 10th week in a row -Baker Hughes

Feb 26 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week cut oil rigs for an 10th week in a row to the lowest levels since December 2009, data showed on Friday, as some producers focus more on completing their drilled but uncompleted wells instead of drilling new ones. Looking forward, analysts forecast the rig count will bottom in a few months before recovering later this year when they expect crude prices to rise. Drillers removed 13 oil rigs in the week ended Feb. 26, bringing the total rig cou


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U.S. sets conditions for Hikma's takeover of Boehringer's Roxane

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Drug manufacturer Hikma Pharmaceuticals Plc will sell the rights and assets of two generic drugs and relinquish its U.S. marketing rights to a third generic drug in order to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that Hikma's proposed $2 billion acquisition of Roxane would likely be anticompetitive, the FTC said on Friday.











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Doubleline's Gundlach says firm purchased some equities two weeks ago

NEW YORK, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Jeffrey Gundlach, the co-founder and chief executive officer of DoubleLine Capital, said on Friday that his firm purchased some U.S. stocks two weeks ago after their rocky start in January.


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Collins Capital shutters hedge fund for retail investors-filing

BOSTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The Collins Alternative Solutions Fund, a mutual fund that offered hedge fund strategies to retail investors, was shut down after suffering double-digit losses in 2015 and falling more this year.


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Sumner Redstone's lawyers say competency lawsuit illogical, in run-up to hearing

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Sumner Redstone's attorneys reiterated a request for a California court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the media mogul's mental competency on Friday, describing the suit's case as "factual spaghetti thrown at a wall."


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Mexico's Grupo Televisa expects 2016 capex similar to 2015

MEXICO CITY, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Mexico's Grupo Televisa expects its capital expenditure in 2016 will be similar to its investment in 2015, the company's Executive Vice President Alfonso Angoitia said on a conference call on Friday. (Reporting by Christine Murray)


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UPDATE 1-New Northrop bomber to be designated B-21, U.S. Air Force says

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah James, unveiling the first image of a new Northrop Grumman Corp long-range bomber on Friday, said it would be designated the B-21.











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Honeywell says had offered to buy United Tech for $108 per share




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Turkey could build long-range missile system domestically -minister

ANKARA, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Turkey has the ability to build a planned long-range missile system domestically, the defence industry undersecretary said on Friday, adding he did not rule out the possibility of working with companies that had previously submitted bids in a tender.











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PRECIOUS-Gold price set for weekly gain on fund inflows

* European shares gain 2 pct to three-week highs (Updates prices)


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CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-Dow Chemical to pay $835 mln to settle price-fixing case

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Dow Chemical Co said on Friday it has agreed to pay $835 million to settle a decade-old lawsuit brought by customers, but denied that it had conspired to artificially inflate polyurethane prices.











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Moody's says LSE-Deutsche Boerse merger would be positive for bondholders

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - A merger of the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Boerse would be "credit positive" for bondholders in both companies, Moody's ratings agency said on Friday.


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EMERGING MARKETS-China support signals lifts stocks, rand wilts

* MSCI EM index rises 1 percent on G20, China signals * Rand falls again after drubbing earlier in the week * Eastern European stocks hit highest since start of year * Venezuela expected to scrape bond repayment, focus on H2 By Marc Jones LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Emerging market stocks rose for the first time in four days on Friday as signals from China that it is readying another dose of economic medicine put the asset class of course for a modest weekly gain. MSCI's











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UPDATE 1-Hilton to spin off real estate, timeshare businesses

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, the owner of Waldorf Astoria and Conrad hotel chains, said it would spin off a bulk of its real estate business into a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT).


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Auto parts maker Magna's profit falls due to strong U.S. dollar

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Canadian auto parts maker Magna International Inc reported a 6.4 percent fall in quarterly profit, hurt by the impact of a strong U.S. dollar.











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Ford China to recall 191,368 vehicles over brake booster seal

BEIJING, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Ford's China joint venture will recall 191,368 vehicles to inspect brake booster seals, a company spokeswoman told Reuters on Friday.


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BASF CEO says very comfortable with crop chemicals portfolio

FRANKFURT, Feb 26 (Reuters) - BASF is generally open to growth via acquisitions but is "very comfortable" with how its crop protection business is currently positioned, its chief executive told Bloomberg TV on Friday.


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UPDATE 1-LSE's Rolet to bow out to ease Deutsche Boerse deal

* Firms say deal not conditional on 'Brexit' vote outcome (Adds detail from statement)











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UPDATE 1-Putin replaces head of VEB state development bank

MOSCOW, Feb 26 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin has removed the head of ailing Russian state development bank Vnesheconombank and named a successor from top lender Sberbank , the Kremlin said on Friday.











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Rally in miners help European shares to extend gains

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - European equities extended the previous session's strong rally on Friday, tracking gains on Wall Street and in Asia, with stronger metals prices and some encouraging company updates supporting the market.


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Thursday, February 25, 2016

BRIEF-Tetragon Financial Group declared a dividend of $0.1650 in respect of Q4 2015

* board of TFG declared a dividend of $0.1650 per share in respect of Q4 2015 Source text for Eikon:


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Nikkei rises to highest close in nearly three weeks

TOKYO, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei rose to its highest close in almost three weeks on Friday after risk sentiment recovered on a steadily weakening yen and overnight gains on Wall Street.


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Blackstone, Gaw Capital make initial bids for Ascendas Hospitality - sources

SINGAPORE, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Blackstone Group LP and Hong Kong-based Gaw Capital Partners are among three suitors that submitted preliminary bids to buy Singapore's Ascendas Hospitality Trust, people familiar with the matter said.











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UPDATE 1-J.C. Penney's quarterly sales rise due to higher Home, Sephora sales

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Department store operator J.C. Penney Co Inc reported a better-than-expected quarterly revenue, helped by strong sales at it its Home, Sephora, Footwear and Handbags divisions.











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UPDATE 3-Sharp, Foxconn chiefs to meet after $5.8 bln takeover deal put on hold

* A deal would help Foxconn gain pricing power with Apple (Recasts lead paragraph, adds details from source on Sharp's liabilities)


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UPDATE 2-Australia's Woolworths posts first loss in 23 yrs, names new CEO

* Promotes food boss Banducci to CEO (Recasts, adds shares, chairman quote, investor quote)











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UPDATE 1-As U.S. shale exports begin, Australia readies world's costliest gas project

* LNG industry facing over-supply until at least 2023 (Adds Chevron comment; detail on costs)


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UPDATE 2-California methane leak was biggest ever in U.S., scientists say

LOS ANGELES, Feb 25 (Reuters) - The months-long natural gas leak that forced thousands of Los Angeles residents from their homes ranks as the largest known accidental methane release in U.S. history, equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of nearly 600,000 cars, scientists reported on Thursday.


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Mexico's Alfa unit suspends some U.S. oil projects

MONTERREY, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Mexican conglomerate Alfa on Thursday said its energy services unit Newpek suspended some exploration and drilling projects in the United States in the face of the persistent fall in petroleum prices.











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PRESS DIGEST- British Business - Feb 26

Feb 26 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.











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Big verdict doesn't assure more wins for plaintiffs in talc-cancer cases

NEW YORK, Feb 25 (Reuters) - The $72 million verdict this week against Johnson & Johnson in a U.S. case alleging links between talc-based powder and ovarian cancer has prompted global headlines, social media buzz and calls to lawyers from would-be plaintiffs.


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UPDATE 2-Republic Air files for bankruptcy protection, blames pilot shortage

CHICAGO, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Regional carrier Republic Airways Holdings Inc filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday, blaming several quarters of falling revenue after having to ground aircraft amid a pilot shortage.


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UPDATE 3-Sears names outside investor Berkowitz to board as losses grow

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Sears Holdings Corp appointed its largest outside investor Bruce Berkowitz to the board on Thursday after he signaled he wanted to play a more active role in trying to turn the loss-making retailer around.











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LATAM CLOSE-No deals price in LatAm primary market

* Ecuador to struggle to close funding gap * Oi bonds sink on collapse of merger talks * Pemex launches debt exchange * Moody's downgrades BR Malls, BRF and Odebrecht By Mike Gambale NEW YORK, Feb 25 (IFR) - No deals priced in the LatAm primary market on Thursday. Here is a snapshot of LatAm sovereign credit spreads: SOVEREIGN 2/24 2/23 2/22 1D 10D YTD 2015/16 HIGH BARBADOS 656 656 653 0 -3 52 659 (2/11/16) BRAZIL


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UPDATE 1-Germans talk tough, fete Facebook's Zuckerberg

* Disarms audiences with human touch (Recasts with favourable German reception)











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NFL player who lost finger to fireworks sues ESPN reporter

NEW YORK, Feb 25 (Reuters) - New York Giants football player Jason Pierre-Paul, who lost a finger in a fireworks accident last year, has sued an ESPN reporter for posting a copy of his medical records on Twitter.


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UPDATE 1-Boeing to skip legal challenge to Northrop bomber deal-source

WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Boeing Co has told senior U.S. Air Force leaders that it will not take legal action challenging its loss of an $80 billion contract to Northrop Grumman Corp for work on a new long-range bomber, a source familiar with the decision said.











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Apple files arguments in court opposing FBI iPhone request

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Apple Inc submitted a legal brief on Thursday opposing the U.S. government's attempt to force the technology company to unlock an encrypted iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino shooters, one day before the filing deadline.


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UPDATE 1-New York judge grants request to depose Viacom CEO

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Viacom Inc Chief Executive Philippe Dauman's lawyers failed to persuade a New York judge to quash his deposition in a high-profile lawsuit over media mogul Sumner Redstone's mental competency.











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UPDATE 2-Brazil telecom Oi sinks as LetterOne drops M&A funding plan

SAO PAULO/MOSCOW, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Shares and bonds of Oi SA, Brazil's most indebted telephone operator, tumbled on Thursday after Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman's investment firm dropped an offer to finance the takeover of a Brazilian rival.











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UPDATE 1-Democratic senators raise concerns about Charter-Time Warner Cable tie-up

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Five Democratic U.S. senators, including presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, told the Justice Department and Federal Communications Commission on Thursday that they had "significant concerns" about Charter Communications Inc's planned acquisition of Time Warner Cable Inc and Bright House Networks.


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Potential profit from U.S. 'latency arbitrage' trading may be $3 bln-study

NEW YORK, Feb 25 (Reuters) - A University of Michigan doctoral candidate has estimated the potential annual profit from "latency arbitrage" on the S&P 500, a trading tactic at the heart of Michael Lewis' claim in his book "Flash Boys" that markets are rigged, at about $3 billion.











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UPDATE 2-Soccer-Africa could hold key as FIFA rivals make last pitches

* Key African vote is hard to predict (Recasts with uncertainty over African voting)











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Chesapeake says parties seeking collateral after debt downgrade

HOUSTON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - U.S. shale producer Chesapeake Energy Corp on Thursday said debt downgrades from ratings agencies in December have its counterparties including pipeline companies asking for collateral as the downturn in crude prices lingers.


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UPDATE 1-Airlines worry Zika may be hurting Americas travel -IATA CEO

NEW YORK, Feb 25 (Reuters) - A number of airlines have raised concerns that the rapidly spreading Zika virus may be discouraging travel in the Americas, the International Air Transport Association's Director General and CEO Tony Tyler told reporters in New York Thursday.











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UPDATE 2-Pound tumbles to the centre of Britain's EU battle

* For full multimedia coverage please click: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=brexit (Adds pound prices, graphic on polls)











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Ecuador to struggle to close funding gap: BAML

NEW YORK, Feb 25 (IFR) - Ecuador will struggle to cover growing financing gaps in 2016 as funding options narrow for the Latin American oil exporter in the face of political pressures and rock-bottom crude prices.


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UPDATE 1-Petrobras may get $6 bln in sale of natgas pipeline unit - paper

* Canada's Brookfield and CPPIB, France's Engie may bid -paper


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Codelco suspends production line at Andina copper mine, output OK

SANTIAGO, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Chilean state-owned copper miner Codelco suspended on Thursday a production line at its massive Andina mine after a pipeline burst, though output was not affected, the company told Reuters. (Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Anthony Esposito; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)











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UPDATE 1-Kohl's warns of full-year sales decline

Feb 25 (Reuters) - U.S. department store operator Kohl's Corp forecast full-year earnings largely below analysts' average estimate and warned that sales could fall this year.


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McDonald's announces belated foray into Kazakhstan market next month

MOSCOW, Feb 25 (Reuters) - McDonald's will open its first restaurant in Kazakhstan in March and another 15 soon afterward in a belated foray into Central Asia's largest economy, a company executive and its Kazakh licencee said on Thursday.











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BRIEF-Vimpelcom Russian unit convenes EGM to discuss spin off of National Tower Company

* Vimpelcom 100 pct unit PAO Vimpelcom to hold extraordinary general shareholders meeting (EGM) to discuss spin off of National Tower Company











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UPDATE 1-Leviathan partners raise annual natgas production forecast

JERUSALEM, Feb 25 (Reuters) - The partners developing Israel's massive Leviathan offshore natural gas field increased their annual production forecast on Thursday and said they expect to bring the project online by the end of 2019.


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UPDATE 1-Dynegy, Energy Capital to buy Engie's US gas-fired thermal plants

* Dynegy, Energy Capital JV to buy fossil portfolio worth $3.3 bln











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Brazilian miner vale reports Q4 net loss of $ 8.57 bln

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Brazilian miner Vale SA reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $8.57 billion on Thursday, missing analyst forecasts and heaping further pressure on the world's largest producer of iron ore. (Reporting by Stephen Eisenhammer)











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UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Feb 25

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening up 74-77 points, or 1.3 percent, on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers. Futures were up 1.2 percent ahead of the cash market open. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on











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UPDATE 2-Domestic strength helps Deutsche Telekom to beat forecasts

* Shares seen up 1.3 pct, outperforming DAX (Adds detail on Germany, shares, analyst, outlook, rivals)


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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

UPDATE 2-BHP Billiton investors sue in U.S. over Brazil dam disaster

NEW YORK, Feb 25 (Reuters) - BHP Billiton Ltd was sued in the United States by investors who accused the Anglo-Australian mining company of fraudulently overstating its ability to manage safety risks prior to November's fatal dam burst at a Brazilian mine it co-owned and operated.











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Engie sells generation assets to cut debt by 5.5 bln euros

PARIS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - French utility Engie said it is buying OpTerra Energy Services to boost its offering in the United States and selling 13 gigawatts of power generation assets to cut debt.


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European Factors to Watch-Shares seen higher at open

LONDON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - European stocks were seen opening higher on Thursday to recover some poise after two consecutive sessions of losses that pushed a benchmark equity index down to a one-week low.


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UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Feb 25

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening up by 74-77 points, or 1.3 percent, on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on * The UK blue chip index FTSE 100 ended down 1.6 percent at 5,867.18 on Wednesday, as mining stocks and FTSE heavyweight Standard Chartered came under pressure for a second straight session. * SHELL: Royal Dutch Shell's U.S. head Marvin Odum will step down after the compa











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GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian stocks slip as crude heads south

TOKYO, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Asian shares slipped on Thursday as a fragile recovery in volatile crude oil unravelled, reviving anxiety about the health of the global economy, and Chinese shares skidded.











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UPDATE 2-Japan's Sharp decides to accept Foxconn takeover offer - sources

* Foxconn has offered to invest over $5.8 bln in Sharp -source











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UPDATE 2-SpaceX delays launch, ocean-landing try due to technical issue

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Feb 24 (Reuters) - SpaceX on Wednesday postponed for at least 24 hours the scheduled Florida launch of a Falcon 9 rocket on a satellite-delivery mission and attempted return-landing at sea to allow extra time to chill the rocket's propellant, the company said.


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UPDATE 2-Profit slumps at Australia's Crown as Chinese VIPs fold

* Shares down 3 pct (Recasts, updates shares, adds broker, CEO comment, Star result)











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UPDATE 2-Ackman's fund off 17.3 pct for year, erases banner gains from 2014

BOSTON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Billionaire investor William Ackman has managed to erase his entire 40 percent return of 2014, a performance that put him at the pinnacle of the hedge fund world.











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U.S. exports first shale gas as LNG tanker sets sail from Sabine Pass terminal

SINGAPORE, Feb 25 (Reuters) - The United States has exported its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from the lower 48 states, after a tanker set sail from Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass export terminal in Louisiana.


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Ternium not considering selling Usiminas stake -CEO

BRASILIA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Ternium SA is not considering at this moment selling its stake in Brazilian steelmaker Usiminas, the company's chief executive officer, Daniel Novegil, said on Wednesday.


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PRESS DIGEST- Financial Times - Feb 25

Feb 25 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.











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UPDATE 1-Verizon supports 'strong encryption with no backdoors' -CEO

NEW YORK, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc supports "the availability of strong encryption with no backdoors," Chief Executive Lowell McAdam said on Wednesday, weighing in the showdown between Apple Inc and U.S. authorities over mobile device encryption.


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UPDATE 2-HP Inc says to accelerate job cuts by 2016

Feb 24 (Reuters) - HP Inc said it was accelerating its restructuring program and now expects about 3,000 people will exit by the end of fiscal 2016 instead of over three years as it announced in September.











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Mexico's Pemex says crude output fell in January

MEXICO CITY, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Crude oil production at Mexico's state-owned oil company Pemex fell slightly in January compared to the prior month, the firm said on Wednesday.


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UPDATE 1-ESPN, Verizon say progress made in Custom TV legal fight

Feb 24 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co's ESPN sports network and Verizon Communications Inc have made progress in their talks to settle a legal dispute over a TV package that lets customers choose bundles of channels, according to a court filing on Wednesday.


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GLOBAL MARKETS-Oil rebound buoys Wall St; bonds, gold erase gains

NEW YORK, Feb 24 (Reuters) - A sharp rebound in crude prices lifted stocks on Wall Street on Wednesday in a late rally, but a gauge of equities across the globe closed lower on lingering concern about economic growth.











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Restoration Hardware sees Q4 profit, revenue below analysts' estimates

Feb 24 (Reuters) - Home furnishings retailer Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc estimated fourth-quarter revenue and profit well below analysts' estimates, hurt by shipping delays, weak demand in certain regions and higher discounting.


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Apple CEO Tim Cook: Unlocking San Bernardino iPhone would be 'bad for America'

WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Apple CEO Tim Cook on Wednesday said that complying with a court order to help the FBI break into an iPhone belonging to a San Bernardino shooter would be "bad for America," and set an "offensive" legal precedent.











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UPDATE 1-Deutsche Boerse CEO set to run merged LSE company -sources

* LSE chairman seen as chairman of new company -source (Releads, adds details throughout)


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Wells Fargo faces ongoing mortgage probes despite recent FHA settlement

Feb 24 (Reuters) - Wells Fargo continues to face federal and state mortgage probes, even after the $1.2 billion settlement it reached in early February to resolve claims of misconduct related to mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration.


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U.S. Fed reschedules mortgage bond operation

NEW YORK, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve rescheduled its purchase operation of mortgage-backed securities to later on Wednesday following a technical glitch that caused a postponement of the operation, the New York Federal Reserve said on its website.











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UPDATE 2-Target comp sales beat shows turnaround efforts gaining traction

* Shares rise as much as 4 pct (Adds details from conference call, updates shares)











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UPDATE 2-Honeywell seeking buyer for building solutions business - WSJ

Feb 24 (Reuters) - Honeywell International Inc is seeking a buyer for its building solutions business, the Wall Street Journal reported, adding that the business could fetch $3 billion to $4 billion.











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UPDATE 1-Obama admin. hosts meeting with social media companies to combat extremism

WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department said it had convened a meeting with social media companies and other groups on Wednesday to discuss ways to counter the use of cyberspace by militant extremists.


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ON THE MOVE-Merrill Lynch names Sabina McCarthy vice chairman

Feb 24 (Reuters) - Sabina McCarthy will take on the newly created role of vice chairman at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Bank of America Corp's global wealth and investment management business, according to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters.











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Activists press In-N-Out on antibiotic policy amid superbug worries

LOS ANGELES, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Hamburger chain In-N-Out Burger is the newest target in a push by public health, environmental and consumer groups to convince high-profile food sellers to stop serving meat from animals fed a routine diet of antibiotics.


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Quebec pension fund manager Caisse posts strong returns in 2015

MONTREAL, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Caisse de depot et Placement du Quebec, Canada's second-largest pension fund manager, reported weighted average returns of 9.1 percent in 2015 on Wednesday, benefiting from diversifying out of equities and bonds into higher-yielding assets such as infrastructure and real estate.











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CANADA STOCKS-TSX tumbles to a one-week low as oil falls, bank stocks drag

TORONTO, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index tumbled to a one-week low on Wednesday as lower oil prices weighed on the resource-linked market, and weaker-than-expected bank earnings dragged down financial stocks.


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BRIEF-Royal Dutch Shell says U.S. Country Chair, Marvin Odum, to leave Shell

* Royal dutch shell (shell) today announced that after a 34-year career with the company, unconventional resources director and u.s. Country chair, marvin odum, will leave shell at the end of march, 2016. 











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BRIEF-Encana expects 10 pct oil and gas production decline this year

* Says expecting to see a 10 percent production decline in oil and gas from Q4 2015 to Q4 2016 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting By Nia Williams)


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UPDATE 1-Off-price retailer TJX's sales beat analysts' estimate

Feb 24 (Reuters) - TJX Cos Inc, the owner of off-price chains T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, reported higher-than-expected quarterly sales as it attracted more bargain-hungry shoppers in the holiday season.











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YOUR MONEY-Where to find products that last a lifetime

NEW YORK, Feb 24 (Reuters) - In a consumption economy, most people are looking for a good price, regardless of quality. But one young British entrepreneur is trying to help the environment and people's wallets with a website that researches and recommends products with lifetime guarantees.


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Brexit is the wrong prescription, says European pharma industry

LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Britain's departure from the European Union would threaten scientific research and jeopardise the 28-nation bloc's system of drug regulation, the European pharmaceutical industry said on Wednesday.











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Sony Pictures hackers linked to breaches in China, India, Japan-report

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The perpetrators of the 2014 cyber attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment were not activists or disgruntled employees, and likely had attacked other targets in China, India, Japan and Taiwan, according to a coalition of security companies that jointly investigated the Sony case for more than a year.


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PRESS DIGEST- Canada - Feb 24

Feb 24 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.











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UPDATE 3-Airbus Group lifts A330 output goal as profits meet expectations

LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Airbus Group performed a partial U-turn on plans to cut production of its profitable A330 aircraft on Wednesday, easing the delicate transition to newer models as it posted 2015 profits in line with expectations on Wednesday.


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BlackBerry buys cyber security consultancy; moves deeper into services

BARCELONA/TORONTO, Feb 24 (Reuters) - BlackBerry said on Wednesday that it has acquired U.K.-based cyber security consultancy Encription, moving the company deeper into the services business as it continues to morph into a more software-focused entity amid its ongoing turnaround.


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Main Street banks launch new trade group

Feb 24 (Reuters) - A group of regional and middle market U.S. banks have created their own lobbying organization, as they seek to differentiate themselves from major Wall Street firms.











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Goldman says banker Leissner, who advised 1MDB on bonds, leaves

SINGAPORE, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs' senior investment banker and chairman of its Southeast Asia business Tim Leissner has left the bank, a spokesman said.











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European shares extend losses, commodities-related stocks weigh

LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - European stocks fell for a second straight session on Wednesday, with commodities-related shares coming under further selling pressure as prices of copper and crude oil slipped.


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BRIEF-Iberdrola CFO says waiting on Siemens-Gamesa merger final terms

* Says the company is still waiting to see the final terms on the planned merger of Siemens with Gamesa


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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares, oil retreat as Saudi plays down output cuts

TOKYO/SINGAPORE, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Asian shares fell on Wednesday as oil prices skidded after Saudi Arabia effectively ruled out production cuts by major producers anytime soon, sending investors into safe-havens such as the yen and gold.











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European Factors to Watch-Shares seen opening lower

LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Financial spreadbetters predicted Britain's FTSE 100 to open 24 to 32 points lower, or down as much as 0.5 percent, Germany's DAX to fall 42 to 46 points, or as much as 0.5 percent, and France's CAC 40 to drop 20 to 29 points, or as much as 0.7 percent, on Wednesday.


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PRESS DIGEST- New York Times business news - Feb 24

Feb 24 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.


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INSIGHT-Trump's outrage finds ready audience in struggling South

LUCEDALE, Miss. Feb 24 (Reuters) - Mississippi's vast flatlands, laced with the remains of a fading industrial base, are fertile ground for the incendiary populism of Donald Trump.











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Panama cancels Finmeccanica radar contract after simmering row

PANAMA CITY, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The Panamanian government said on Tuesday it had agreed the cancellation of a $125 million radar contract with a subsidiary of Italy's Finmeccanica SpA that had become mired in a dispute over alleged corruption.











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UPDATE 1-Mexico court orders Nextel to pay damages to consumers

MEXICO CITY, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Mexico's federal consumer protection agency said on Tuesday a local court had ruled that the domestic business of wireless provider Nextel will have to compensate consumers for poor service and improper charges between 2012 and 2014.


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Asia's oil markets in upheaval as China, India change the game

* India overtakes Japan in oil imports, China goes for top spot


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Nikkei falls to 1-week low on renewed oil price drop

TOKYO, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average stumbled to a one-week low on Wednesday morning hit by a renewed drop in oil prices while a stronger yen dragged down exporters.











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UPDATE 6-U.S. lawmakers say Takata manipulated data to hide airbag problems

WASHINGTON/DETROIT, Feb 23 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday stepped up pressure on federal regulators and Takata Corp to accelerate the recall of millions of airbag inflators, citing evidence that the Japanese company manipulated data to cover up problems with its products.











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PRESS DIGEST- Financial Times - Feb 23

Feb 23 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.


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Statoil sees oil price drop as 'great opportunity' to improve

HOUSTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Norwegian oil producer Statoil ASA sees the crude price downturn as a chance to slash costs and become more efficient, with a senior executive calling it a "great opportunity" to improve operations.











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UPDATE 1-Venerable Boston mutual fund shuts doors after 48 years

BOSTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - One of the mutual fund industry's oldest funds, run by one of its most enduring fund managers, Kenneth Heebner, went out of business last week, when Natixis Global Asset Management liquidated its CGM Advisor Targeted Equity Fund.


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UPDATE 1-J&J must pay $72 mln for cancer death linked to talcum powder - lawyers

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson was ordered by a Missouri state jury to pay $72 million of damages to the family of a woman whose death from ovarian cancer was linked to her use of the company's talc-based Baby Powder and Shower to Shower for several decades.


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Thousands of apps running Baidu code collect, leak personal data - research

SINGAPORE/BEIJING, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Thousands of apps running code built by Chinese Internet giant Baidu have collected and transmitted users' personal information to the company, much of it easily intercepted, researchers say.


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India's ONGC $500 mln San Cristobal investment deal imminent - PDVSA

CARACAS, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA is about to clinch a deal for India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp to invest some $500 million in their San Cristobal joint venture, the South American company's president said on Tuesday.











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UPDATE 1-Australian takeover target Asciano posts 5.3 pct rise in H1 net profit

SYDNEY, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Australia's Asciano Ltd, the target of a A$9 billion ($6.5 billion) takeover battle that has seen rival bidders merge to make a joint assault, on Wednesday posted a 5.3 percent rise in first-half net profit after increasing coal haulage.


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UPDATE 1-Honeywell does not see regulatory hurdles for United Tech deal

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Aerospace component supplier Honeywell International Inc confirmed on Tuesday that it had engaged in deal talks with United Technologies Corp over the past year, and said it did not see regulatory process as a "material obstacle" to the deal.











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UPDATE 2-Rousseff campaign chief Santana surrenders to Brazilian police

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The architect of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's 2010 and 2014 campaigns, João Santana, landed in Brazil from the Dominican Republic on Tuesday and was taken in a police jet to the city of Curitiba, the epicenter of a massive corruption probe, his spokesman said.











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CANADA STOCKS-TSX falls, as lower oil prices weigh on energy, financial stocks

TORONTO, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell on Tuesday as lower crude oil prices weighed on energy stocks, while financials reversed course after being lifted in earlier trade by better-than-expected Bank of Montreal earnings.


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US and EU regulators urge Indian drug companies to step up standards

MUMBAI, Feb 23 (Reuters) - U.S. and EU drug regulators called upon India's pharmaceutical sector on Tuesday to step up efforts to improve manufacturing standards and ensure the reliability of data if it is to maintain its dominance in the generic drugs industry.


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U.S. business borrowing for equipment falls in January - ELFA

Feb 23 (Reuters) - U.S. companies' borrowing to spend on capital investment fell in January, the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) said.


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Viacom to consider selling minority stake in Paramount Pictures

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Viacom Inc is considering selling a minority stake in its Paramount Pictures movie studio, Chief Executive Philippe Dauman said on Tuesday.


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UPDATE 1-U.S. sought data from 15 Apple iPhones in last four months

NEW YORK, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Court records released on Tuesday show the U.S. Justice Department has in the last four months sought court orders to force Apple Inc to help investigators extract data from 15 iPhones in cases across the country.


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Nigeria's naira peg appears untenable - Stanbic chairman

LAGOS, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Nigeria's pegged exchange rate policy appears unsustainable and undermines government efforts to attract investment and diversify the economy away from oil, the chairman of local lender Stanbic said on Tuesday.











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Asustek Computer settles with U.S. FTC over consumer privacy charges

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday that Taiwan-based Asustek Computer Inc had agreed to settle charges that security flaws in its routers had put the home networks of thousands of consumers at risk.


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GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks retreat as oil gains dissipate

* Sterling still under Brexit pressure (Adds open of U.S. markets, byline, dateline; previous LONDON)


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WRAPUP 1-U.S. housing data strong; consumer confidence ebbs

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - U.S. home resales unexpectedly rose in January, reaching a six-month high, in the latest sign that the economy remains on firmer ground despite slowing global growth and tightening financial market conditions.











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UPDATE 2-Bank of Montreal profit up; U.S. unit offsets bad energy loans

TORONTO, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Bank of Montreal, Canada's fourth-largest lender, posted a higher quarterly profit that topped market expectations on Tuesday, lifted by growth in its U.S. retail banking business.


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PRECIOUS-Gold rebounds on fund inflows and weaker equities

* China and India turn sellers as gold prices rally (Updates prices, adds comment)











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UPDATE 2-JPMorgan puts another $500 mln aside for energy sector woes

Feb 23 (Reuters) - JP Morgan will set aside an additional half a billion dollars to cover potential bad loans to oil and gas companies in the first quarter, underlining the sharp deterioration in the U.S. energy sector.











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UPDATE 1-Israel's Team8 raises another $23 mln for cyber security firms

TEL AVIV, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Team8, an Israeli firm the creates cybersecurity companies, said on Tuesday it has raised $23 million from strategic partners, bringing the total amount raised so far to $40 million.


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Brazil Vale says court charges Samarco 2 bln reais for dam burst

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Brazilian miner Vale SA said on Tuesday a judge in Espirito Santo demanded its joint venture with BHP Billiton, Samarco, pay 2 billion reais to cover damage caused in the state by a burst tailings dam in November.


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FEATURE-Ahead of Oscars, fashion brands flock to Hollywood spotlight

LOS ANGELES, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Celebrities might be flocking to the front rows of this week's London Fashion Week shows, but some designers are swapping the runway for Hollywood's awards season red carpets as the fashion world seeks new ways to draw attention.











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Turkey's cenbank says to keep policy tight in face of inflation

ISTANBUL, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Turkey's central bank said on Tuesday it would stick to a tight monetary policy, taking into account expectations of inflation and pricing behaviour.


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UPDATE 2-Recovering housing market drives Home Depot sales, outlook

* Expects 2016 sales to grow 5.1-6.0 pct (Adds details, background; updates shares)











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GLOBAL MARKETS-Risk rally fades as stocks, oil slip back into the red

LONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The recent recovery in riskier assets fizzled out on Tuesday, with a fall in stocks, oil and the value of China's yuan currency boosting investor demand for safer assets such as the Japanese yen, government bonds and gold.











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Oracle buys Israeli cloud company Ravello

TEL AVIV, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Business software maker Oracle Corp, which is seeking to expand its cloud business, has agreed to buy Israeli cloud software company Ravello Systems, the two firms said on their websites on Tuesday.


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UPDATE 1-Scotiabank approaches BOC unit, other lenders for Thai bank stake sale-sources

* Scotiabank's strategy to exit Asia retail business-source (Adds detail on Scotiabank, quote from source)











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JAL jet aborts takeoff evacuates after smoke from engine enters cabin

TOKYO, Feb 23 (Reuters) - A Japan Airline Boeing 737 passenger jet aborted a take-off and evacuated passengers at Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, northern Japan after smoke from its right engine entered the cabin.


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Monday, February 22, 2016

UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Feb 23

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening down 37 to 39 points, or as much as 0.6 percent, on Tuesday, according to financial bookmakers. For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on * Britain's FTSE 100 index rose 1.5 percent to close at 6,037.73 points on Monday as mining companies buoyed by strengthening metals prices outweighed worries over Britain's potential exit from the European Union and a drop for banking heavyweight HSBC * BHP BI


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Scotiabank approaches BOC unit, other lenders for Thai bank stake sale-sources

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Canada's Bank of Nova Scotia has approached a unit of Bank of China , Fubon Financial Holdings, Maybank and Japanese lenders to gauge interest for its $1.7 billion stake in Thai lender Thanachart, people familiar with the matter said.











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DEALTALK-Hunt for foreign assets pits Japan Inc vs China

* Chinese, Japanese are aggressively bidding for foreign assets


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REFILE-Valeant to restate results after Philidor review

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc said it would restate its financial results for 2014 and 2015 after identifying some sales to Philidor that should have been recognized when products were dispensed to patients.


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Bill Gates says Zika response better than for Ebola

NEW YORK, Feb 22 (Reuters) - The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has turned its attention to the Zika virus outbreak, and its founders said the response to the crisis, which may be linked to devastating birth defects in South America, has been better than for the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Africa.











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UPDATE 1-S.Korea's Doosan Bobcat plans IPO on North America housing market hopes

* 2015 stake sale valued company at more than $2 bln -analysts











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Michigan attacks may renew scrutiny of Uber vetting processes

NEW YORK/CHICAGO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - The deaths of six people in Kalamazoo, Michigan, who authorities say were shot by a driver for Uber Technologies Inc, have revived scrutiny over how the ride service vets its drivers, an issue that has plagued it for years.


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Nikkei edges up in thin, directionless trading

TOKYO, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Japanese shares edged up in thin, choppy trade on Tuesday morning as continued volatility in oil prices dampened excitement over Wall Street's overnight surge.











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UPDATE 1-AT&T says has edge in 5G due to expanded Internet access

BARCELONA, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Commitments AT&T Inc made to build out fixed high-speed Internet services to gain regulatory approval for its $48.5 billion purchase of DIRECTV will give it the edge over U.S. rival Verizon Communications Inc in the roll-out of the next generation of cellular technology, AT&T's strategy chief said on Monday.











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PRESS DIGEST- British Business - Feb 23

Feb 23 - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.


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GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares gain on commodity recovery hopes

* Hopes of recovery in oil and commodities improve risk sentiment


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UPDATE 2-BHP Billiton slashes dividend, posts $5.67 bln net loss

* Sees prolonged period of weak commodity prices (Recasts, adds CEO, analyst quotes, details)











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Doosan Bobcat to seek S.Korea IPO - top shareholder

SEOUL, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Doosan Bobcat Inc, a holding company that controls U.S. machinery maker Bobcat, will seek an initial public offering in the South Korean market, top shareholder Doosan Infracore said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday.











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UPDATE 1-Canada's Brookfield, Australia's Qube weigh joint Asciano bid

SYDNEY, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Consortiums led by Canada's Brookfield Asset Management Inc and Australia's Qube Holdings are considering joining forces to make a A$9 billion ($6.5 billion) bid for Asciano Ltd, the Australian port and rail giant said.


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UPDATE 5-Brazil police target Rousseff campaign chief in corruption probe

SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Brazilian police said on Monday they obtained an arrest warrant for the architect of President Dilma Rousseff's electoral campaigns, complicating her fight to survive an investigation of her re-election in 2014 and stave off impeachment by Congress.











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BRIEF-Midstream debt is a major issue for sector-Occidental CEO

* CEO Chazen says he believes industry is halfway through a 3-year down-cycle


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BHP Billiton slashes dividend, drops payout pledge

SYDNEY, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Top global miner BHP Billiton slashed its interim dividend by 75 percent on Tuesday, cutting it for the first time since 1988 following a collapse in prices for oil, iron ore, coal and other raw materials.


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US STOCKS-Wall St lifted by muscular oil rally but some still skittish

* Indexes up: Dow 1.39 pct, S&P 1.45 pct, Nasdaq 1.47 pct (Updates to close)











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US STOCKS SNAPSHOT-Wall St jumps as oil rallies

NEW YORK, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Wall Street surged on Monday, helped by a robust rally in oil prices that lifted recently-crushed energy stocks, including Chevron and Schlumberger.


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UPDATE 3-Honeywell, United Tech held merger talks -sources

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Aerospace component suppliers Honeywell International Inc and United Technologies Corp have held talks about a possible merger, but United Tech was convinced U.S. antitrust authorities would reject the deal, sources familiar with the talks said on Monday.











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Moody's warns on top Canadian banks; smaller rivals feeling the heat

TORONTO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Moody's warned on Monday that the oil price slump will strain profitability at Canada's largest banks, which begin reporting results this week, however analysts expect regional banks will feel the brunt of the pain as the energy-rich province of Alberta reels from the downturn.











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French consumer group warns on potential risks of beauty products

PARIS, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Some creams, shampoos, after-shaves and toothpastes made by groups such as L'Oreal and Procter & Gamble, may contain potentially harmful substances, according to a study by French consumer protection group UFC-Que Choisir.


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European shares rise as mining sector gains offset Brexit, HSBC concerns

* Signs of ECB attention lift bank stocks (Adds details, updates prices)











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UPDATE 1-Michigan Uber driver suspected of killing six set for arraignment

KALAMAZOO, Mich., Feb 22 (Reuters) - A Michigan man who worked as an Uber driver is due to be arraigned on Monday in the fatal weekend shootings of six people in Kalamazoo as police search for a motive in a case that raised questions about how the car service vets its drivers.


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IBM inks deal with VMWare, tries to bolster cloud credentials

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Computing giant IBM has expanded its partnership with VMWare, one of several initiatives it plans to announce Monday as it works to carve out a bigger role in the fast-growing field of cloud computing.


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Iran willing to buy 50 planes from Brazil's Embraer, says source

BRASILIA, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Iran is willing to buy 50 planes from Brazilian planemaker Embraer, a source in the Brazilian presidency with knowledge of the negotiation said on Monday.











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US STOCKS-Energy, materials lead Wall St gains as oil jumps

* Indexes up: Dow 1.09 pct, S&P 1.19 pct, Nasdaq 1.15 pct (Updates to open)


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UPDATE 2-Goldman scales back estimate of legal costs

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc has scaled back its estimate of the legal costs it may face, beyond what it has set aside, by more than half to $2 billion.











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UPDATE 2-Apple urges U.S. government to form commission on encryption issues

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Apple Inc on Monday called for the creation of a government commission or panel of experts on encryption to help resolve the standoff over national security and data privacy that began last week after the technology company refused a U.S. government demand to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.











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Starbucks tightens rewards program rules

LOS ANGELES, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp on Monday announced changes to its North American loyalty program that will mean some customers will have to spend more money at the coffee chain to earn free food and drinks.


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Police say probing Petrobras contracts with Singapore's Keppel

SAO PAULO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Brazilian police said on Monday they were looking into possible bribes paid in contracts signed by state-run oil company Petrobras and shipbuilder Sete Brasil with Singapore's Keppel Fels.











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Goldman cuts top end of legal loss estimate by 62 pct

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc cut the upper end of its estimate of legal losses it may face beyond what it has set aside by more than half to $2 billion.


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Cargill reaches deal to sell German chocolate unit

HAMBURG, Feb 22 (Reuters) - U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill said on Monday it had reached an agreement to sell its industrial chocolate production unit in Mannheim, Germany, to Dutch investment companies Nimbus and Varova.


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Ahold, Delhaize offer to sell some Belgian stores for merger approval

AMSTERDAM, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Retailers Ahold and Delhaize said on Monday they had proposed to sell a "limited number" of stores in Belgium in a bid to win regulatory approval from the country's competition authority for their merger.


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European shares led higher by miners, but HSBC falls

* Telecom Italia, Mediaset up on Vivendi moves (Adds details, updates prices)


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GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks gain broadly, pound falls on EU exit fears

LONDON, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Shares rose in Europe and Asia on Monday along with oil and commodity prices, while sterling fell against the dollar and euro on concerns Britain may vote to leave the European Union.











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Broadcaster CME raises Q4 core profit, refinances debt

PRAGUE, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Core profits at broadcaster Central European Media Enterprises (CME) rose 2 percent in the fourth quarter, resulting in earnings for the full year coming in on target, the company reported on Monday.











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European shares led higher by miners, but HSBC falls

MILAN, Feb 22 (Reuters) - European shares were higher in early trading on Monday following gains in Asia, and helped by a recovery in the prices of crude oil and other commodities.


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UPDATE 2-EFG to buy Brazilian group BTG's Swiss bank for $1.34 bln

* EFG to raise 750 million Sfr in equity and 250 mln in debt (Adds further details)


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BRIEF-Q-Free's Homeland Security Division awarded NOK 13 mln contract

* Q-Free's Homeland Security Division, Prometheus Security Group Global, has been awarded a contract at a value of 13 million Norwegian crowns ($1.52 million) with an option to increase the contract at a value of 5 million crowns











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Sunday, February 21, 2016

Marketers use of mobile phone data erodes consumers' trust -survey

BARCELONA, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Most consumers feel they lack control over personal information on their phones, are suspicious of attempts to use it for marketing appeals and many think the problem is getting worse, a survey in major countries of the world has found.


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HSBC says SEC probing its hiring practices in Asia

HONG KONG, Feb 22 (Reuters) - HSBC said on Monday it was being investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in relation to hiring practices of candidates with ties to government officials in Asia.











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Kit and Ace, Lululemon founder's new venture, fires 10 pct of HQ staff

VANCOUVER, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Kit and Ace, the retail start-up launched by Lululemon Athletica Inc founder Chip Wilson's family, has laid off roughly 10 percent of staff at its Vancouver headquarters, as the closely-held company slows its rapid pace of expansion.


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PRESS DIGEST - Wall Street Journal - Feb 22

Feb 22 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.











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Chinese banks freeze N.Korean accounts- S.Korean media report

SEOUL, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Chinese banks including a branch of China's biggest bank Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) have frozen accounts belonging to North Koreans, a South Korean newspaper reported on Monday.











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JPMorgan may hold steady on cost target despite low interest rates

NEW YORK, Feb 22 (Reuters) - At JPMorgan Chase & Co's annual investor day on Tuesday, one big question will be at the top of attendees' minds: How can the bank keep a tight lid on costs without hurting its ability to grow revenue?


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First LNG shipment imminent as tanker docks at US Cheniere's Sabine Pass

SINGAPORE, Feb 22 (Reuters) - A liquefied natural gas tanker on Sunday docked at the Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana, with only days to go before the United States ships its first export cargo of seaborne gas from the lower 48 states.











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GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia shares edge ahead with oil, pound slips

SYDNEY, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Asian share markets edged cautiously higher on Monday as investors awaited a rush of February industry surveys to take the pulse of the global economy, while sterling suffered on concerns the UK might yet vote to leave the European Union.











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BTG Pactual assets had bigger decline than previously reported

SAO PAULO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Assets at Grupo BTG Pactual SA , the Brazilian investment bank dismantling trading positions in the wake of the arrest of founder André Esteves, fell in the fourth quarter more than initially reported, audited numbers showed late on Sunday.


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Trafigura to ship West Texas oil to Israel in the coming weeks -FT

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Swiss commodities trading group Trafigura will ship one of the first crude oil cargoes of benchmark West Texas Intermediate in the coming weeks to Israel, as the lift of the decades old U.S. crude oil export ban allows entry of American oil into the international market, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.











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PRESS DIGEST- British Business - Feb 22

Feb 22 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.











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UPDATE 10-Uber driver suspected in Michigan shootings, six dead

* Uber confirms he was a driver for the company (Adds comments from police chief)


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London designers call upon Shakespeare, nature for inspiration

LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - London's fashion designers on Sunday drew inspiration ranging from nature to William Shakespeare, presenting oversized coats and embellished dresses while reassessing how to sell clothes faster to a new generation of online consumers.











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Mexico's foreign direct investment jumped by a quarter in 2015

MEXICO CITY, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mexico rose by a fourth last year to reach 28.382 billion pesos ($1.56 billion), the country's economy ministry said in a statement on Sunday.











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Dozens of University of Michigan students complain of norovirus symptoms

Feb 21 (Reuters) - An outbreak of norovirus has caused dozens of students living on the University of Michigan's main campus in Ann Arbor to fall ill with symptoms of the highly contagious disease, the school said.











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Nokia 5G pickup could begin as early as 2017 - chief executive

BARCELONA, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Mobile equipment maker Nokia sees the shift to the next generation of 5G wireless networks kicking off well ahead of 2020, the year when many in the industry consider mass-market upgrades will begin, its chief executive said on Sunday.


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UPDATE 1-LG Electronics displays first G5 modular smartphone

* Hardware modules turn it in old-school camera (Adds detail, analyst comment)











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MEDIA-Tesla acquires tesla.com domain name - Bloomberg

Feb 21 (Reuters) - -- Source link: (http://bloom.bg/1Qr1YAk)











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GM could cancel $1.6 bln investment in Brazil - company president

SAO PAULO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - General Motors Co will reconsider plans for new investment in Brazil if the economic and political situation does not improve, the company's president Dan Ammann said in an interview published on Sunday.


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MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf loses steam as optimism over oil producer deal fades

* GFH continues rising after Abu Dhabi Financial Group investment


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UPDATE 1-China suspends Ali Health-run online drug monitoring platform

BEIJING, Feb 21 (Reuters) - China's food and drugs regulatory body said it had suspended its electronic drug monitoring system, a platform operated by Alibaba Health Information Technology Ltd, while it drafts amendments to regulations monitoring pharmaceutical sales.











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UPDATE 1-U.S. EPA asks Volkswagen to make electric cars in U.S. -Welt am Sonntag

* VW chairman met German transport min -Bild am Sonntag (Adds no comment from EPA, Bild am Sonntag article, comment from VW)


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RPT-Saudi oil minister to face rival U.S. producers as price rout bites

HOUSTON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - This week, Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi will for the first time face the victims of his decision to keep oil pumps flowing despite a global glut: U.S. shale oil producers struggling to survive the worst price crash in years.











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China suspends Ali Health-run online drug monitoring platform

BEIJING, Feb 21 (Reuters) - China's food and drugs regulatory body said it had suspended its electronic drug monitoring system, a platform operated by Alibaba Health Information Technology Ltd, while it drafts amendments to regulations monitoring pharmaceutical sales.











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Takata air bag recall could cost VW up to $445 mln -Welt am Sonntag

FRANKFURT, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG may have to set aside up to 400 million euros ($445 million) in provisions to cover a recall of vehicles in the United States equipped with Takata air bags, German weekly Welt am Sonntag reported, citing an insider.


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RPT-HQ debate settled, HSBC spotlight turns to top-level succession

* Chmn Flint and CEO Gulliver likely to step down in next 2 years


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Murdoch's Sun newspaper opposes British PM Cameron's EU deal

LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's Sun on Sunday newspaper said Prime Minister David Cameron had failed to get a proper deal for Britain from other European Union leaders and was now on the wrong side of history by supporting membership.











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U.S. EPA asks Volkswagen to make electric cars in U.S. -Welt am Sonntag

FRANKFURT, Feb 21 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities have asked the German carmaker Volkswagen to produce electric vehicles in the United States as a way of making up for its rigging of emission tests, the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported.











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For some Nordic banks, boring may be better than bonuses

* As Europe's banks hit by sell-off, Nordic lenders fare better


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Saturday, February 20, 2016

REFILE-U.S. SEC looking into bank-loan, exchange-traded funds after Third Ave

WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is wrapping up reviews of bank-loan and exchange-traded funds that share some characteristics with the Third Avenue junk bond fund that buckled under a wave of redemptions in December, an official said on Saturday.











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Saudi oil minister to face rival U.S. producers as price rout bites

HOUSTON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - This week, Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi will for the first time face the victims of his decision to keep oil pumps flowing despite a global glut: U.S. shale oil producers struggling to survive the worst price crash in years.


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REFILE-Brazil's Hypermarcas books strong profit on asset sale

SAO PAULO, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Hypermarcas SA, the largest Brazilian maker of over-the-counter medicines, posted a strong fourth-quarter profit on Saturday after booking the first payment from the sale of its beauty care division to Coty Inc .


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Chinese film "The Mermaid" sets China box office record

SHANGHAI, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Chinese film "The Mermaid" has broken China's box office record, overtaking locally-made "Monster Hunt" and Hollywood action movie "Furious 7", as domestic and international film battle over China's rapidly growing cinema market.











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