DOW, S&P SET TO START IN RECORD TERRITORY
U.S. stock futures surged, following big gains in Europe, as the
Bank of Japan's latest step to refill the punch bowl has the bulls
charging once again. Dow futures are up about 200 points.
APPLE WARNS ON CHANGE TO IRISH TAX
Apple Inc. has informed its shareholders that it could be
subject to changes in its tax rates as new international tax
legislation comes into effect.
RBS TAKES PROVISION TO COVER FOREX PROBES
Royal Bank of Scotland says it set aside $640 million to cover
potential fines for the alleged manipulation of foreign-exchange
rates, as the British bank swung to a third-quarter net profit.
BANCO POPULAR PROFIT SURGES
Banco Popular Espanol says third-quarter net profit rose 80%
from a year earlier, even as the bank more than doubled the amount
of funds it set aside to cover bad loans.
BRAZIL'S AMBEV PROFIT RISES
AmBev, the brewer of beer brands such as Skol and Brahma, said
its profit increased in its third quarter, as lower debt service
costs helped offset tepid sales.
HILTON WORLDWIDE PROFIT FALLS, OUTLOOK RISES
Hilton Worldwide Holdings' 3Q profit edged down to $183 million,
or 19c a share, from $200 million a year ago, on higher expenses,
but the hotel operator raised its outlook for the year on strong
revenue and occupancy rates.
INTESA SANPAOLO RULES OUT RESCUING MONTE DEI PASCHI
Intesa Sanpaolo CEO Carlo Messina has ruled out Intesa rescuing
crippled lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which has to come
up with a plan to plug a EUR2.1 billion capital shortfall
identified by European regulators' health check.
BNP PARIBAS PROFIT LIFTED BY INVESTMENT BANK
BNP Paribas reported an 11% jump in third-quarter net profit,
buoyed by its investment banking business as the French bank climbs
back from hefty losses caused by a U.S. fine in June for sanctions
violations.
AB INBEV HIT BY WEAKNESS IN RUSSIA, UKRAINE
Anheuser-Busch InBev reports that weakness in Russia and Ukraine
weighed on sales volumes in the third quarter, even as cost cuts
and strong sales elsewhere boosted profit.
FORMER ANDROID LEADER RUBIN LEAVING GOOGLE
Andy Rubin, co-founder and former leader of Google's Android
mobile business and the current head of its nascent robotics
effort, is leaving the Internet company, the company said.
SINOPEC TO BUY STAKE IN SAUDI ARABIAN PETROCHEMICAL FIRM
State-controlled China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., or
Sinopec, said Thursday it agreed to acquire stake in a Saudi
Arabian petrochemical company for $562 million to enhance its
global network and international operation of the refining
segment.