Wall Street sees sense in Facebook’s $19 billion WhatsApp buy
(Reuters) – Facebook Inc’s purchase of fast-growing messaging startup WhatsApp for an eye-popping $19 billion largely won approval from analysts, who said the deal made strategic sense as it will solidify the social network’s position as a leader in mo…
Avon bets Hispanics, smaller selection, price hikes can fix U.S. sales
NEW YORK/BOCA RATON, Fla (Reuters) – Avon Products Inc hopes higher prices, a growing Hispanic market and smaller selection of beauty products will help it reverse years of declines in U.S. sales, top executives said on Thursday.
Nelson Peltz revives campaign to split up PepsiCo
(Reuters) – Activist Investor Nelson Peltz renewed his crusade to convince PepsiCo Inc to spin off its beverage business from its flourishing snacks division, less than a week after the company poured cold water on the idea.
Madoff said JPMorgan executives knew of his fraud: lawsuit
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Two senior officials at JPMorgan Chase & Co and predecessor companies repeatedly confronted Bernard Madoff over irregularities in his business, a new lawsuit said, suggesting that bank leaders had “direct knowledge” of his Ponzi scheme.
Goldman Sachs misses out on WhatsApp, 2014’s top deals so far
The world’s top deal adviser for nine of the past 10 years, Goldman Sachs Group Inc has been notably absent on 2014’s largest mergers and acquisitions, including Facebook’s $19 billion deal to purchase mobile messaging service WhatsApp.
Coca-Cola CFO Gary Fayard to retire
(Reuters) – Coca-Cola Co said Chief Financial Officer Gary Fayard would retire in May after serving the company for more than 20 years.
U.S. companies ramp up capex as confidence grows
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Earlier this month, Eaton Corp Plc made an announcement that captured little attention: the diversified manufacturer of heavy truck transmissions and residential circuit breakers said it would spend a record $700 million this year …
American Apparel approaches Skadden for restructuring advice: WSJ
(Reuters) – Clothing and accessories retailer American Apparel Inc has tapped restructuring advisers after being bogged down by weakening sales and heavy debt, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Italian banks’ bad debt cleanup to expose bigger capital gap
MILAN (Reuters) – A drive by Italian banks to come clean on bad loans during a European bank health check may force them to raise as much as 20 billion euros in capital, three times more than that penciled in so far, to shore up their balance sheets.
Jobless claims fall, weather clouds factory picture
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, suggesting the labor market continues to steadily improve despite severe weather that could hold back hiring again this month.
