N.Y. Fed manufacturing index rises in May

(Reuters) - The new orders component jumped to 8.02 from 3.94 in April, while the prices paid component fell to 34.44 from 40.48.

The survey of manufacturing plants in the state is one of the earliest monthly guideposts to U.S. factory conditions.


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General Motors, Heartland, Home Depot, Wal-Mart: U.S. Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies whose shares may have unusual price changes in U.S. exchanges tomorrow. This preview includes news that broke after exchanges closed. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names. Share prices are as of 7:30 a.m. New York time.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (A US) rose $1.31, or 3.7 percent, to $37.22 in Germany. The world's biggest maker of scientific- testing equipment said third-quarter profit excluding some costs will be 46 cents to 50 cents a share on sales of $1.36 billion to $1.4 billion. Analysts on average estimated profit of 45 cents and sales of $1.35 billion, according to a Bloomberg survey.


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Wal-Mart profit up; CEO not satisfied

(Reuters) - Earnings rose to $2.83 billion, or 68 cents per share, in the first quarter that ended April 30, from $2.62 billion, or 63 cents per share, a year earlier.

Analysts on average had been expecting profit of 68 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates.


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U.S. Stock-Index Futures Decline; Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Amgen Shares Fall

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stock-index futures fell after Wal- Mart Stores Inc. forecast earnings that trailed analysts' estimates, adding to concerns inflation data today will keep the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates as the economy weakens.

``We don't see a rate cut happening this year because inflation is there in the background,'' said Kevin Lyne-Smith, who helps oversee $100 billion as managing director at Julius Baer Holding AG's private-banking division in Zurich. ``We are underweight U.S. stocks. The economic slowdown is happening.''


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Home Depot posts lower-than-expected profit

(Reuters) - Earnings declined by about one-third to $1 billion, or 53 cents a share, in the first quarter ended on April 29, from $1.5 billion, or 70 cents a share, a year earlier.

Analysts on average expected profit of 59 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.


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UK fund says won't sell STATS ChipPAC shares to Temasek

(Reuters) - Temasek bid as much as S$2.44 billion for the 64.4 percent of STATS ChipPAC that it did not own.

"We will probably not tender our shares, but have no problem with others doing so," Jeremy Hosking, a co-founder of Marathon, said in an e-mailed statement late on Monday.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Steel Partners lambasts Sapporo response to offer

(Reuters) - Sapporo has crafted its takeover defenses based on guidelines put together by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Analysts said there is no limit on how many times it can ask for additional information. It can also make the answers public.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News