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Monday, September 18, 2017

Futures higher as North Korea tensions ease

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were higher on Monday, indicating a continuation of last week's winning streak, as investor appetite for riskier assets increased on easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and ahead of Federal Reserve's rate-setting meeting.

Northrop Grumman to buy missile maker Orbital for $7.8 billion

(Reuters) - U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp said on Monday it would buy missile and rocket maker Orbital ATK Inc for about $7.8 billion in cash, giving it access to lucrative contracts with NASA and the U.S. Army.

Slack valued at $5.1 billion after new funding led by SoftBank

(Reuters) - Software startup Slack Technologies Inc said it raised $250 million from SoftBank Group Corp and other investors in its latest funding round, boosting the company's valuation to $5.1 billion.

Walgreens to revise Rite Aid stores deal for antitrust approval: Bloomberg

(Reuters) - Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc is set to revise its agreement to buy some Rite Aid Corp stores, a move that may be enough for the drugstore chain operator to resolve outstanding antitrust concerns, Bloomberg reported.

U.S. appeals WTO ruling that it failed to withdraw Boeing tax break

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States has appealed a ruling by the World Trade Organization which said it had not withdrawn a tax break for Boeing Co as required, a U.S. filing published by the global trade body showed on Monday.

Dollar Tree names Gary Philbin as new CEO

(Reuters) - U.S. discount retailer Dollar Tree Inc said on Monday Bob Sasser will be replaced as chief executive by Gary Philbin, the company's enterprise president, effective immediately.

Costly drugs to weigh on U.S. employers' expenses in 2018: survey

(Reuters) - U.S. employers are bracing for higher health care expenses in 2018 as spending on new drugs to treat diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and hepatitis C is expected to rise more than 7 percent, according to consultancy firm Mercer.

In shedding bonds, Fed aims for boring end to crisis-era measures

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve is set on Wednesday to announce the start of a plan to trim its $4.5-trillion portfolio of assets, much of it amassed in response to the 2007-2009 financial collapse, marking another milestone in bringing to an end the crisis-era measures.

GM Ontario plant workers strike as talks with union fail

(Reuters) - Canada's Unifor union said its members at General Motors Co's CAMI auto assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario are on a strike from 1059 pm local time Sept. 17 as it failed to reach a tentative agreement with the automaker.

From grudge to nudge: tech firms help insurers shift gear

LONDON (Reuters) - Insurers are counting on real-time technology to help them cut back payouts, from a system warning ships of nearby pirates to an app offering to buy sleepy drivers a coffee on the motorway.