*Today's Headlines* *Citigroup and Merrill face bigger writeoffs: analyst <http://links.reuters.com/r/I1C4N/MTH7P/8A2T5B/EYIR4/U4G50/YT/h>* *Apple and Fox planning movie rental deal: reports<http://links.reuters.com/r/I1C4N/MTH7P/8A2T5B/EYIR4/R7TZG/YT/h> * *Rio hits back at BHP offer in chairman's letter<http://links.reuters.com/r/I1C4N/MTH7P/8A2T5B/EYIR4/O2UVB/YT/h> * *Futures point to higher open as data awaited<http://links.reuters.com/r/I1C4N/MTH7P/8A2T5B/EYIR4/I8JGJ/YT/h> * *Boeing and British Airways finalize contract for 787s<http://links.reuters.com/r/I1C4N/MTH7P/8A2T5B/EYIR4/O2UV8/YT/h> * *Mortgage applications fall to lowest in a year<http://links.reuters.com/r/I1C4N/MTH7P/8A2T5B/EYIR4/PA12T/YT/h> * *Oil easier ahead of U.S. inventory data<http://links.reuters.com/r/I1C4N/MTH7P/8A2T5B/EYIR4/MC30H/YT/h> * *Qwest settles patent suit, to pay undisclosed sum for license<http://links.reuters.com/r/I1C4N/MTH7P/8A2T5B/EYIR4/DLI1N/YT/h> * *Sallie Mae to sell $2.5 billion stock, convertibles<http://links.reuters.com/r/I1C4N/MTH7P/8A2T5B/EYIR4/C1YUI/YT/h> * *Alitalia shares fall after board backs Air France<http://links.reuters.com/r/I1C4N/MTH7P/8A2T5B/EYIR4/T5BMH/YT/h> *
