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Friday, June 30, 2017

Stock futures slightly higher ahead of consumer spending data

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were slightly higher on Friday, a day after Wall Street fell sharply, as investors awaited a slew of economic data, including on consumer spending, a key indicator for U.S. economy.

U.S. consumer spending rises modestly in May

WASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending rose modestly in May and inflation cooled, pointing to a slow-but-steady economic expansion that could still lead the

Berkshire to become BofA's top shareholder after share swap

(Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc will swap its preferred shares in Bank of America Corp into common shares worth about $17 billion, making it the biggest shareholder of lender.

Exclusive: Airbus CEO Enders to take control of plane sales in new shake-up

PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus is launching a reorganization of its commercial aircraft sales operations in a move likely to focus fresh attention on a delicate balance of power at Europe's largest aerospace company, people familiar with the situation said.

Siemens holds up new R&D site as evidence of commitment to U.S.

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German engineering group Siemens broke ground on a new $300 million research and development facility in Walpole, Massachusetts on Friday that it said underlined its commitment to manufacturing in the United States.

HSBC ends 20-month wait for China securities JV approval

LONDON (Reuters) - HSBC has won Chinese approval for its investment banking joint venture with a local state-backed fund, ending a twenty-month wait for a decision that will allow it to begin expanding its business in the world's second largest economy.

Markets bet Abe will 'pull stimulus from a hat' if Tokyo election stings

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has seen his popularity slump ahead of a local election in Tokyo following scandals and gaffes by officials close to him, but the stock market is betting that a poor showing by the premier's party would be good for shares.

BP's gasoline buying lifts European benchmark to record volumes

LONDON (Reuters) - An unprecedented gasoline buying spree by BP in June lifted trading volumes on Europe's benchmark Argus index to the highest on record, the price reporting agency said on Friday.

Bayer to cut profit view on Brazil, consumer health setbacks

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Bayer said on Friday it would cut its full-year earnings forecast due to high inventories at crop protection distributors in Brazil and a weaker-than-expected consumer health business.

Hong Kong home prices hit record high as Xi praises government on housing

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's private home prices hit a record high in May, according to government data released on Friday, just as Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the local government for "making progress" on its work on housing.