--------------------------------------------------------
Today's Business Headlines - Market Close from MSNBC.com
--------------------------------------------------------
Market Closing Prices
DJIA: 10705.64 +14.19
NASDAQ: 2146.15 -16.40
S&P 500: 1203.20 -2.52
AMEX: 1407.90 -7.88
Wall Street Watch: Complete coverage
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032221/
-------------------------------
ADVERTISEMENT
-------------------------------
Get a Faster Internet Connection with MSN Broadband -- Now Available Nationwide!
http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/broadband/default.asp
-------------------------------
Business
-------------------------------
Stocks mixed amid economic concerns
Stocks closed Thursday mixed, as investors grew concerned over
less-than-stellar economic data that overshadowed upbeat corporate news,
including Johnson & Johnson�?Ts $25.4 billion deal to buy Guidant Corp.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3683270/
Bush urges Social Security reform
President Bush said Thursday that �?onow is the time to confront Social
Security�?� to deal with a projected $3.7 trillion shortfall over 75 years and
give younger workers the ability to invest some of their contributions into
personal accounts.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6718105/
Companies ordered to expense stock options
The nation�?Ts accounting rulemaker decided Thursday that companies will have
to begin deducting the value of stock options from their profits next year, a
move cheered by shareholder advocates but scorned by many companies who rely
heavily on options to beef up compensation packages.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6724584/
Johnson & Johnson to acquire Guidant
Johnson & Johnson said on Wednesday that it will acquire device manufacturer
Guidant Corp. for $25.4 billion. Under the terms of the deal announced on
Wednesday, each Guidant share will be exchanged for $30.40 in cash and $45.60
in Johnson and Johnson stock.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6722666/
Symantec to buy Veritas for $13.5 billion
Storage software firm Symantec Corp. said Thursday it agreed to purchase
computer security company Veritas Software Corp. in an all-stock deal valued at
about $13.5 billion.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6722695/
Kidde OKs takeover by United Technologies
Kidde PLC, the British fire and safety company, said Thursday it had agreed to
a 1.4 billion pound ($2.8 billion) takeover by United Technologies Corp.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6722670/
Greenspan declined move to Treasury
Senior Republicans sounded out Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve,
about taking over from John Snow as US Treasury secretary, the Financial Times
has learnt.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6722671/
Housing starts dropped sharply in November
U.S. jobless claims posted their sharpest drop in three years last week in a
sign of job market cheer, but housing starts in November logged their biggest
plunge in nearly 11 years, the government said Thursday.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6722999/
Hershey hiking price of candy bars by 6%
Hershey Foods Corp. is raising candy bar prices by nearly 6 percent, but
customers will get a reprieve on some price hikes until Valentine's Day, the
company said on Thursday.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6723376/
OPEC sees demand growth slowing next year
The OPEC oil cartel on Thursday said it expected a surge in oil demand to slow
next year, projecting weaker economic growth in North America and China.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6722673/
=========================================
This email is never sent unsolicited. You have received this MSNBC Daily Market
Close
newsletter because you subscribed to it or, someone forwarded it to you.
To remove yourself from the list (or to add yourself to the list if this
message was forwarded to you) simply go to
http://www.msnbc.com/tools/newstools/e/EmailExtra.asp?nfeature=3
Microsoft Corporation - One Microsoft Way - Redmond, WA 98052
MSN PRIVACY STATEMENT
http://privacy.msn.com
