Sweden Abandons Rate Rises as Euro Crisis Hits Nordics: Economy - Bloomberg

Sweden

FTC opposed to Express Scripts-Medco deal, Reuters reports

Key officials at the Federal Trade Commission are gathering evidence in an effort to halt Express Scripts’ planned acquisition of rival Medco Health Solutions, Reuters reported today.
The deal between the two major pharmacy benefit managers , which was announced in July, still needs approval from Federal Trade Commission, which handles antitrust inquiries for that industry.
Reuters, […]

Unions: Nigeria strike over fuel resumes Monday

Two major labor unions in Nigeria say a paralyzing nationwide strike will resume Monday after negotiations with the government failed.
The Nigeria Labor Congress and the Trade Union Congress issued a joint statement Sunday confirming strikes would continue.
The strikes began Jan. 9 over spiraling gasoline prices following the removal of an estimated $8 billion in fuel […]

Groups lock horns over Missouri’s green energy future

There’s a battle afoot to reshape Missouri’s green energy law.
Renewable energy advocates and utilities are squaring off to establish how much of Missouri’s electricity is derived from renewable resources — with the cost to consumers in the balance.
Renew Missouri, the group formed several years ago to advance the state’s existing renewable energy initiative, known as […]

Indonesian Inflation Slows, Giving Central Bank Room to Cut Interest Rates - Bloomberg

Indonesia

Some local holiday sample sales

Bea Crowder’s pop-up store sale
Items

Rate on 30-year fixed mortgage falls to 3.98 pct.

The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage hovered above its record low for a fourth straight week. But cheap mortgage rates have done little to boost home sales or refinancing.
Freddie Mac says the rate on the 30-year fixed loan fell to 3.98 percent from 4 percent the previous week. Seven weeks ago, it dropped […]

Staples 3Q net income rises, lowers 2011 outlook

Staples Inc. says its third-quarter profit climbed 13 percent, helped in part by better sales of office and break room supplies to businesses as well as promotional products.
But the nation’s biggest office supply company cut its full-year adjusted earnings forecast on Tuesday as its international performance weakened a bit.
Office suppliers have suffered during the recession […]

Papademos is new Greek PM, vows to stick with euro

Senior banker Lucas Papademos was appointed prime minister Thursday of an interim Greek unity government that seeks to cement a European debt deal and stave off national bankruptcy.
Chosen after four tortuous days of power-sharing talks, Papademos immediately called for unity and promised to seek cross-party cooperation to keep Greece firmly in the 17-nation eurozone.
The 64-year-old […]

Billionaire battle: Russians take feud to UK court

They were once said to be like father and son, vacationing, signing deals, and socializing at the Kremlin together. But these days two of Russia’s richest men can’t stand each other _ and they’re trading insults in a spectacularly expensive public feud.
At more than $6.5 billion, the lawsuit brought by Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky against […]