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Friday, January 5, 2018

Stock futures climb in strong week for Wall Street

(Reuters) - Futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Friday as U.S. stocks looked set to extend a new year rally that has pushed indexes to record levels on signs of robust growth across major economies.

U.S. job growth slows in December; wages increase

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. job growth slowed more than expected in December amid a decline in retail employment, but a pick-up in monthly wage gains pointed to labor market strength that could pave the way for the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates in March.

Apple, researchers eye patches to solve Intel chip flaws

FRANKFURT/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Security issues with Intel Corp microchips are only slowing computers slightly, technology companies said, as researchers played down the need for mass hardware replacements to protect millions of devices from hackers.

Uber ex-CEO Kalanick selling nearly a third of stake for $1.4 billion: source

(Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc co-founder Travis Kalanick, who was ousted as chief executive in June, is selling nearly a third of his 10 percent stake in the ride-services company for about $1.4 billion, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Morgan Stanley to take $1.25 billion hit in the fourth quarter from the tax bill

(Reuters) - Morgan Stanley said on Friday it would take a $1.25 billion hit in its fourth-quarter earnings due to a cut in corporate tax rate as part of the U.S. tax code overhaul.

Saudi Arabia converts Aramco into joint-stock company ahead of historic IPO

DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has changed the status of its national oil giant Aramco to a joint-stock company as of Jan. 1, in a key step for an initial public offering (IPO) planned for later this year.

Constellation misses on sales, wine and spirits disappoint

(Reuters) - Corona maker Constellation Brands Inc missed Wall Street estimates for third quarter sales on Friday and said wine and spirit volumes for the full-year would be at the low end of its prior forecast.

Apple to issue fix for iPhones, Macs at risk from 'Spectre' chip flaw

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc will release a patch for the Safari web browser on its iPhones, iPads and Macs within days, it said on Thursday, after major chipmakers disclosed flaws that leave nearly every modern computing device vulnerable to hackers.

Exclusive: Renault-Nissan sets up $200 million fund to tap startups: sources

PARIS (Reuters) - The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance is pooling $200 million in a new mobility tech fund, three sources said, in the latest move by major carmakers to adapt to rapid industry change by investing in startups through their own venture capital arms.

Investors sense opportunities in Big Oil - but mind the gap

LONDON (Reuters) - Investors are gaining confidence - up to a point - that 2018 will be the year of oil stocks.