Japan’s first trade deficit since 1980 raises debt doubts (Reuters)

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan first annual trade deficit in more than 30 years calls into question how much longer the country can rely on exports to help finance a huge public debt without having to turn to fickle foreign investors. The aftermath of the March earthquake raised fuel import costs while slowing global growth and the yen’s strength hit exports, data released on Wednesday showed, swinging the 2011 trade balance into deficit. Few analysts expect Japan to immediately run a deficit in the current account, which includes trade and returns on the country’s huge portfolio of investments abroad.

Stock index futures signal mixed Wall Street open (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stock index futures pointed to a mixed open for equities on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.2 percent, the Dow Jones futures down 0.1 percent and the Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.6 percent. The U.S. Federal Reserve looks set to keep monetary policy on hold on Wednesday, even as it releases forecasts expected to show interest rates will be near zero for at least two more years

Roche offers $5.7 billion to buy gene firm Illumina (Reuters)
(Reuters) – Roche Holding AG is offering $5.7 billion in cash to buy U.S. Go here to read the rest: Roche offers $5.7 billion to buy gene firm Illumina ... Fed set to push back timing of eventual rate hike (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Reserve looks set to keep monetary policy on hold on Wednesday, even as it releases forecasts expected to show interest rates will be near ... Apple returns to form, blows Street targets away (Reuters)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Apple Inc's quarterly results blew past Wall Street's expectations after U.S. Original post: Apple returns to form, blows Street targets away (Reuters) Two BSkyB shareholders to vote against Murdoch at AGM: reports (Reuters)
LONDON (Reuters) – Two top 10 shareholders in BSkyB will vote against James Murdoch remaining as chairman of the company at its AGM on Tuesday, according to newspaper reports ... Germany, France plan quick new Stability Pact: report (Reuters)
BERLIN (Reuters) – France and Germany are planning a quick new pact on budget discipline that might persuade the European Central Bank to ramp up its government bond purchases, ... US Business News
Small firms get help after Black Friday hangover (Reuters)
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Tired of suffocating crowds and seemingly never-ending lines? On Saturday, retailers want you to think small See the rest here: Small firms get help after Black Friday ... Retailers look to keep Black Friday momentum going (Reuters)
(Reuters) – U.S. retailers moved from the frenzied start of the holiday shopping season to the next phase on Saturday, hoping to avoid a drop after Black Friday and ...
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