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Today's Business Headlines - Market Close from MSNBC.com
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Wall Street Watch: Complete coverage
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032221/
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Business
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Stocks edge higher as oil prices slump
Stocks managed only modest gains Monday, as Wall Street's pre-election jitters and a
mix of economic data kept the market subdued, and even as crude oil futures fell near
the $50 per barrel mark.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3683270/
Consumer spending jumped in September
Consumers, who substantially slowed down their spending in late summer, roared back to
life in September, boosting their purchases by 0.6 percent. The gain in spending
reported Monday by the government far outpaced the increase in incomes.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6380810/
Wall Street hopes for clear winner
Wall Street investors would be happy with having a clear winner -- George Bush or John
Kerry -- by the opening bell on Wednesday, no matter who it might be.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6377211/
Oracle raises offer for PeopleSoft
Software manufacturer Oracle Corp. said Monday that it raised its hostile bid for
rival PeopleSoft Inc. to $24 per share from $21, and said the new price represents the
company's "best and final offer."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6380490/
Oil prices plummet below $50 a barrel
The price of crude fell below $50 for the first time in weeks, as traders shrugged off
a possible strike in oil-rich Nigeria and speculated that a victory by Sen. John Kerry
in Tuesday's presidential election could bring oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum
Reserve to market.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5612507/
Report: Merck tried to bury Vioxx concerns
Internal e-mails and other documents from Merck & Co. show the company fought for
years to keep safety concerns from undermining the drug's commercial prospects, the
Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6380014/
Internet ad firm Doubleclick mulls sale
Internet marketer DoubleClick Inc., which is suffering from pricing pressures from
online advertisers, said it had hired Lazard Freres & Co. to evaluate options that
could include a sale of the company.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6380024/
Tyco swings to profit, warns on estimates
Manufacturing conglomerate Tyco International Ltd. said Monday that it swung to a
profit in the fourth quarter from a year-ago loss, but the company guided below
consensus estimates for the first quarter of fiscal 2005.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6380971/
Toyota reports record sales, profits
Toyota Motor Corp. reported Monday record group sales and profits for the six months
ended Sept. 30 as strenuous marketing and cost-cutting efforts boosted sales worldwide.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6380984/
The food giants go on a diet
The rise in obesity worries has forced many major food and beverage companies to make
some healthy changes.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6362472/
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