RTT - Top Stories
Global financial news, market analysis, economics and forex news

• Hollywood Set To Enjoy Another Big Weekend; "National Treasure" Hopes To Stay On Top []
  Though there won't be any wide releases hitting theaters for the first time Friday, there are still plenty of fresh movies to be seen. Leading those titles heading into its second weekend should be "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," which comes off an impressive $44.78 million opening weekend.
• CSC Receives Information Systems Network Support Contract Worth $613 Mln From DISA - Update [CSC]
  Friday morning, Information technology services provider Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) announced that it has been awarded a $613 million contract by the Defense Information Systems Agency or DISA. The contract, which is a continuation of its earlier contract awarded in June 1999, is for Defense Information System Network Management Support Services-Global Recompete Network Engineering or DNMSS-G/R.
• Dubai World Increases Stake In MGM Mirage To 6.5% - Update [MGM]
  Dubai World, an investment arm of the Dubai government, announced in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it has increased its stake in MGM Mirage (MGM) to 6.5%. Cayman LP, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai World, said it consummated acquisition of 5 million MGM Mirage shares at $84.80 per share from "father of the megaresort" Kirk Kerkorian's Lincy Foundation on December 24, 2007.
• Temasek, Goldman To Invest $1 Bln In India' Bharti Airtel - Update [GS]
  Thursday, leading international investors, including Singapore-based Temasek Holdings and U.S-based Goldman Sachs, have agreed to invest $1 billion in Bharti Infratel, a subsidiary of India's leading telecom service provider Bharti Airtel.
• Berkshire Hathaway To Buy ING Reinsurance Unit For About EUR 300 Mln - Update2 [BRKA]
  Friday, Dutch financial services company ING Group NV (ING, ISF, IDG, ISGQF.PK, INGVF.PK) announced an agreement for the sale of its reinsurance unit NRG N.V. to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B, BRK-A) for about EUR 300 million. The sale is part of ING's strategy to focus on its core insurance, banking and asset management business.
• Court Orders Finish Line To Perform Merger Deal Terms With Genesco - Update [GCO]
  Headwear and footwear retailer Genesco Inc. (GCO) said on Friday that the Chancery Court for the State of Tennessee ordered Finish Line, Inc. (FINL) to specifically perform the terms of its merger agreement with Genesco. Following the court order, Genesco's shares gained nearly 15% on the NYSE, while Finish Line stock fell over 22% on the Nasdaq.
• Fuel Costs Push Japan November CPI, Retail Sales Higher []
  Rising energy prices helped push Japan's November core consumer prices to their largest increase in nearly a decade.
• Checkpoint Systems Names Robert Van Der Merwe CEO; Reaffirms FY07 Outlook, Guides FY08 Above Street View - Update [CKP]
  Thursday, Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (CKP), an integrated system solutions provider for retail security and merchandising, named Robert van der Merwe as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the company to succeed George Off with immediate effect.
• Christopher & Banks Q3 Earnings Rise, Top Estimate; Cuts Q4, FY08 Earnings Outlook [CBK]
  Women's clothing retailer Christopher & Banks Corp. (CBK) said Thursday after the markets closed that third quarter earnings rose from last year, helped by strong same-store sales growth and improved merchandise margins. The company's quarterly earnings per share came in above analysts' expectations but its quarterly sales fell shy of analysts' forecast.
• Bhutto's Assassination Contributes To Weakness On Wall Street []
  Stocks closed sharply lower on Thursday after the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto sent the price of oil higher. The drop could have been exaggerated by light trading, with many traders on vacation.
• Benazir Bhutto Assassinated []
  Effecting a severe blow to hope for stability in Pakistan, former Prime Minister and leader of the biggest political party in the country, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a suicide attack during an election campaign on Thursday, media reports said, quoting military officials and her party officials.
• Wall Street Seeing Substantial Weakness []
  Wall Street remains in negative territory in early-afternoon trading on Thursday, as investors take in mixed economic reports in this abbreviated holiday week. Some negative sentiment has been generated by news that Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated.
• Patriot's Shot At History Will Be Simulcast For National Exposure []
  As the regular season of the National Football League draws to a close, all eyes are on the flawless New England Patriots. The team, so far undefeated, has only one more game standing in their way of achieving a perfect regular season, a feat that has not been accomplished since the 1972 Miami Dolphins went 14-0.
• Benazir Bhutto Assassinated []
  Pakistan's former Prime Minister and leader of the biggest political party in the country, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a suicide attack on Thursday, media reports said, quoting military officials and her party officials.
• PG&E To Buy 25.5% Stake In El Paso's Proposed $2 Bln Ruby Pipeline Project - Update [PCG]
  Thursday, utility company PG&E Corp. (PCG) said it signed a letter of intent to acquire 25.5% interest in El Paso Corp.'s (EP) proposed $2 billion Ruby Pipeline project.
• Boeing, British Airways Finalize $4.4 Bln Order For 24 787 Dreamliners - Update [BA]
  Thursday, Boeing Co. (BA) said it has finalized an order worth $4.4 billion, at list prices, for eight Boeing 787-8s and sixteen 787-9s from London-based British Airways (BAY.L, BAIRY.PK).
• Fuel Costs Push Japan November CPI, Retail Sales Higher []
  Rising energy prices helped push Japan's November core consumer prices to their largest increase in nearly a decade.
• Checkpoint Systems Names Robert Van Der Merwe CEO; Reaffirms FY07 Outlook, Guides FY08 Above Street View - Update [CKP]
  Thursday, Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (CKP), an integrated system solutions provider for retail security and merchandising, named Robert van der Merwe as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the company to succeed George Off with immediate effect.
• Christopher & Banks Q3 Earnings Rise, Top Estimate; Cuts Q4, FY08 Earnings Outlook [CBK]
  Women's clothing retailer Christopher & Banks Corp. (CBK) said Thursday after the markets closed that third quarter earnings rose from last year, helped by strong same-store sales growth and improved merchandise margins. The company's quarterly earnings per share came in above analysts' expectations but its quarterly sales fell shy of analysts' forecast.
• Bhutto's Assassination Contributes To Weakness On Wall Street []
  Stocks closed sharply lower on Thursday after the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto sent the price of oil higher. The drop could have been exaggerated by light trading, with many traders on vacation.
• Benazir Bhutto Assassinated []
  Effecting a severe blow to hope for stability in Pakistan, former Prime Minister and leader of the biggest political party in the country, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a suicide attack during an election campaign on Thursday, media reports said, quoting military officials and her party officials.
• Wall Street Seeing Substantial Weakness []
  Wall Street remains in negative territory in early-afternoon trading on Thursday, as investors take in mixed economic reports in this abbreviated holiday week. Some negative sentiment has been generated by news that Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated.