- Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Calls Snap Election (WSJ) – as repeatedly priced in…
- Flash Boys Raising Volatility in Wild New Treasury Market (BBG)
- Not Greece again: Greek Bailout Review Stalls as Troika Demands Final Steps (BBG)
- Iran uses China bank to transfer funds to Quds-linked companies (Reuters)
- Porn Mags With Free Madrid Theater Tickets in Tax Protest (BBG)
- Hong Kong, China stocks ease on profit-taking after stock connect launch (Reuters) – Hang Seng down 500 points in past 2 days
- Halliburton Mega-Deal Sealed by CEOs Over Coke and Coffee (BBG)
- Wall Street to Reap $316 Million From Day of Mega Deals (BBG)
- Mass murderer Charles Manson gets marriage license, state says (Reuters)
- RBA’s Stevens Says Economy Needs Low Rates for Some Time Yet (BBG)
- Small Towns Go to Bat for Wall Street Banks (WSJ)
- German Investor Confidence Rebounds as Recession Averted (BBG)
- NATO leader sees ‘serious military buildup’ in Ukraine, urges Russia to pull back troops (Reuters)
- Youngest Oil Tycoon Finds Fortune After Washout as Trader (BBG)
- U.K. Annual Inflation Accelerates in October, Remains Below BOE Target (WSJ)
Overnight Media Digest
WSJ
* The Obama administration is undertaking a review of how it handles cases of U.S. citizens held captive by extremists abroad, according to a letter from a top Pentagon official made public Monday. (http://on.wsj.com/1uokSjl)
* Hong Kong officials began clearing the fringe of the main location of a two-month-long pro-democracy demonstration, in the start of the city’s effort to dislodge the encampments and ease the political standoff. (http://on.wsj.com/11fbm86)
* A Federal Reserve plan that could stop big banks from owning oil pipelines, metals warehouses and other physical-commodity assets is sounding alarm bells hundreds of miles from Wall Street. (http://on.wsj.com/1t6IpSe)
* The federal government’s safety-net program for private pensions is running a near $62 billion long-term deficit, largely due to long-standing problems in a type of pension plan that is common in transportation, construction and some other industries. The problems are likely to bankrupt the federal safety-net program for so-called multiemployer pension plans within the next decade. (http://on.wsj.com/1uI8R9M)
* Actavis PLC agreed to pay $66 billion in cash and stock for Allergan Inc in a deal that appears to have prevented a hostile takeover of the Botox maker by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (http://on.wsj.com/1xhdb0F)
* A 2013 recall of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s 1.6 million Jeeps over fuel-tank fires is becoming increasingly fraught as customers report a lack of parts and other problems preventing repairs to the vehicles. The challenges were highlighted last week when a Michigan woman died 15 miles from Chrysler Group’s headquarters in a Jeep that had been recalled nearly 16 months earlier. (http://on.wsj.com/1uogwZx)
* Samsung Electronics said it would reduce the number of smartphone models it offers next year, part of a move to cut costs to combat declining profit. It would cut the number of models by about 25 percent to 30 percent, Robert Yi, head of investor relations, said during a presentation in New York. (http://on.wsj.com/1wR87ML)
* Sub-Saharan Africa has long lagged the West in corporate-governance practices, but a growing number of African companies have adopted International Financial Reporting Standards to attract global investors. (http://on.wsj.com/1qQK0LS)
* Sprint Corp’s new Chief Executive Marcelo Claure is shuffling top executives as he tries to turn around the nation’s struggling, third-place wireless carrier. In the memo, Claure named more than two dozen executives who are part of his core leadership team and announced two new positions of chief experience officer and chief procurement officer. (http://on.wsj.com/1Hc2sJt)
* Merck & Co’s drug Zetia proved effective at reducing risk of heart attacks, strokes and other heart problems in a long-awaited trial, marking a milestone in the 40-year-old battle to fight cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol. (http://on.wsj.com/11fd8WK)
* SunEdison Inc and clean-power plant subsidiary TerraForm Power Inc are buying Boston-based renewable-energy company First Wind for $2.4 billion, a deal that would make SunEdison the world’s largest renewable-energy-development company. (http://on.wsj.com/1xyQzdE)
* Shipping freight rates from Asia to Europe, the world’s busiest trade route, logged their biggest-ever weekly drop, as European growth is stagnating and Japan just fell back into recession. Analysts said they expected further shipping-rate weakness because the peak demand season for Asian exports ahead of the end-of-year holidays is already over. (http://on.wsj.com/1u4hPcB)
* Honda Motor Co is pushing back the mass-market introduction of its fuel-cell car as it deals with the fallout from a series of safety recalls. Honda now plans to start selling its first mass-market fuel-cell car, which runs on hydrogen and emits only water vapor and heat, in Japan by the end of March 2016 instead of during 2015, Chief Executive Takanobu Ito said. (http://on.wsj.com/11kCiCT)
* The most active mergers-and-acquisitions market in years sped into an even higher gear, as companies took advantage of rising stock prices to announce more than $100 billion in takeover deals. (http://on.wsj.com/1u4a4mV)
FT
Former BP PLC chief Lord Browne will step down as the UK government’s most senior business person in Whitehall, halfway through his second term.
British soldiers will be able to use their own smartphones in the line of duty for the first time, while pilots will be carrying iPads as part of a overhaul of digital security measures by defence chiefs.
Insurance claims processor Quindell PLC has responded to months of turmoil by ejecting Rob Terry, its founder and chairman, in a dramatic attempt to revive investor confidence.
Marshall Bailey, president of the ACI Financial Markets Association, has admitted that a shift to regulated, exchange-based trading may be advantageous after the recent rate-rigging scandal
NYT
* Federal prosecutors are wrestling with whether to file a civil fraud lawsuit against Angelo Mozilo, the former chief executive of Countrywide Financial, which was at the center of the subprime mortgage boom and bust, people briefed on the matter say. (http://nyti.ms/1xK5wXK)
* Allergan Inc agreed on Monday to be acquired for $66 billion by Actavis Plc in a deal worth $219 a share in cash and stock. It would be the third-largest healthcare deal ever in the United States, according to Standard & Poor’s Capital IQ. (http://nyti.ms/1AaMrRS)
* SunEdison Inc and its publicly traded power plant subsidiary, TerraForm, said on Monday that they would buy First Wind, a leading developer and operator of wind farms, for $2.4 billion. (http://nyti.ms/1xyT4MM)
* The United States Marshals Service announced on Monday that it would auction 50,000 Bitcoins, worth around $19 million, seized in connection with the now-defunct online bazaar Silk Road. (http://nyti.ms/1xhoqq5)
* Goldman Sachs Group Inc executives will again come in for a grilling at a congressional hearing this Thursday. Two of the bank’s executives, along with executives from JPMorgan Chase & Co and Morgan Stanley, will appear at a hearing that will examine the role that Wall Street banks play in the commodities markets. (http://nyti.ms/1uowpzh)
Canada
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
** Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party have retained a pair of seats in by-elections on Monday evening, despite a surge by the Liberal Party in the riding formerly held by Jim Flaherty, Canada’s finance minister. (http://bit.ly/1qjrt08)
** The chair of Canada’s largest school board is calling on Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government to intervene with the board’s highest ranking staffer, alleging that director of education Donna Quan has blocked trustees from probing controversial payments and partnerships. (http://bit.ly/14DBsDG)
** The Competition Bureau is investigating Loblaw Cos Ltd pricing strategies in a probe that is demanding that some of the chain’s key suppliers hand over secret records about their dealings with the grocery giant. (http://bit.ly/1xiBzz2)
NATIONAL POST
** Calvin Nicol, a 31-year-old piercer and tattoo artist was walking home from work along Rideau Street at about 7 p.m. on Nov. 1 when he was attacked by at least four males who Nicol believes singled him out because of his unique look. (http://bit.ly/1yhDodR)
** After release from a U.S. prison, Canada’s embattled Mafia boss Vito Rizzuto summoned top henchmen to secret meetings in Cuba and the Dominican Republic to plot revenge on rivals, a court in Italy has heard. (http://bit.ly/14DLNPR)
** Activist investor Sandell Asset Management Corp is urging pipeline and power giant TransCanada Corp to make big changes to its corporate structure in order to boost its share price. (http://bit.ly/1xLk8pW)
China
– Shanghai’s prestigious Fudan University estimated China’s economic growth will reach 7.37 percent this year, it said in its monthly survey of economic and financial data on Monday.
SECURITIES TIMES
– China’s financial institutions purchased a net 66 billion yuan ($10.79 billion) foreign exchange in October, the highest in five months, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said on Monday.
SHANGHAI SECURITIES NEWS
– Chinese bourses will release an alcohol index in December which will include 25 firms involved in making fiery liquor baijiu, beer and wine, according to the China Securities Index Co Ltd.
CHINA DAILY
– China plans to accelerate the creation of laws covering activities in space, Tian Yulong, secretary-general of the China National Space Administration said on Monday. China landed a probe, the “Jade Rabbit”, on the moon last year.
21st CENTURY BUSINESS HERALD
– China will push forward with price reforms given the current low readings for the consumer price index (CPI) and the producer price index (PPI), Chinese premier Li Keqiang said at a State Council meeting on Saturday.
PEOPLE’S DAILY
– China’s economic development will be driven by continued reforms and innovation, the paper which acts as a mouthpiece for the ruling Communist Party, said in a commentary.
Britain
The Times Christmas turkeys in bird-flu zone as 6,000 ducks are culled
Farms rearing turkeys for Christmas have been restricted from moving their poultry after the first serious outbreak of bird flu in six years. (http://thetim.es/1ETwjSN)
Church of England to allow women bishops After the general synod voted to permit their consecration, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said half of the most senior bishoprics in the Church of England could be held by women in 10 years’ time. (http://thetim.es/1A8CULb)
The Guardian MPs’ report on tax compliance finds HMRC to be slow to take action HM Revenue and Customs is “unacceptably slow” at taking action against tax avoiders, which in turn is reducing the government’s ability to raise revenue, MPs have concluded. (http://bit.ly/1wQwKJd)
Higher Education Commission challenges funding sustainability The long-term consequences of the government’s changes to funding of England’s universities have been called into question by an influential think tank. A report by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) out on Tuesday said measures taken by the coalition had put the sector on a long-term footing that was “far from clear” and criticised politicians for failing to address how to safeguard higher education amid “significant and uncertain future liabilities”. (http://bit.ly/11m8Axp)
The Telegraph
Vodafone in talks with Sky to sell Now TV with broadband Vodafone is in talks to join forces with Sky by basing its forthcoming television service on Now TV, the broadcaster’s Internet streaming set-top box. (http://bit.ly/1vl77Vq) Supermarket groups must close one in five stores, says Goldman Sachs Britain’s biggest supermarket groups must close one in five shops in order to turn around their performance, analysts at Goldman Sachs have warned. (http://bit.ly/1ycM4lT)
Sky News
Controversial Quindell Boss Quits In Clearout Rob Terry, the controversial chairman of Quindell PLC, the listed insurance claims processor, is to step down following a turbulent few months during which billions of pounds have been wiped off its value. (http://bit.ly/1uG9JvC)
M&S Hires John Lewis’s Helen Weir As CFO Marks & Spencer has poached a top executive from the John Lewis Partnership to be its new chief financial officer as the rival retailers enter the crucial Christmas trading period. (http://bit.ly/11wUsm4) The Independent
Bank of England’s Mark Carney says crooked bankers should have pay and bonuses slashed to avoid wrongdoing Mark Carney has claimed bankers’ fixed pay as well as their bonuses should be cut if they behave badly in an effort to reinforce accountability in the City. (http://ind.pn/1t5VqLO)
David Cameron warns of new global economic crisis David Cameron has said the world is on the brink of a second global economic disaster, six years after the crash that “brought the world to its knees”. (http://ind.pn/1xyqBGY)
Fly On The Wall Pre-Market Buzz
ECONOMIC REPORTS
Domestic economic reports scheduled for today include:
Producer Price Index final demand for October at 8:30–consensus down 0.1%
NAHB housing market index for November at 10:00–consensus 55.0
ANALYST RESEARCH
Upgrades
Discovery (DISCA) upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Citigroup
Manitowoc (MTW) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies
Prestige Brands (PBH) upgraded to Hold from Underperform at Jefferies
Sony (SNE) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank
Terex (TEX) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies
Thoratec (THOR) upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse
Trinseo (TSE) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup
Wright Medical (WMGI) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays
Downgrades
Allergan (AGN) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at William Blair
Allergan (AGN) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Guggenheim
Allergan (AGN) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at SunTrust
Associated Estates (aec) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Cantor
Basic Energy (BAS) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at SunTrust
CBS (CBS) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Atlantic Equities
Himax (HIMX) downgraded to Perform from Outperform at Oppenheimer
Key Energy (KEG) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at SunTrust
Macy’s (M) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill
Statoil (STO) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JPMorgan
Urban Outfitters (URBN) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Telsey Advisory
Urban Outfitters (URBN) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at William Blair
Urban Outfitters (URBN) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Atlantic Equities
Walter Investment (WAC) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Evercore ISI
Wells Fargo (WFC) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at BMO Capital
Initiations
AK Steel (AKS) initiated with a Market Perform at BMO Capital
Alcoa (AA) initiated with a Market Perform at BMO Capital
Alpha Natural (ANR) initiated with an Underperform at BMO Capital
Arch Coal (ACI) initiated with an Underperform at BMO Capital
CGI Group (GIB) initiated with an Overweight at Barclays
CONSOL (CNX) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital
Century Aluminum (CENX) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital
Core Laboratories (CLB) initiated with a Buy at SunTrust
Dril-Quip (DRQ) initiated with a Buy at SunTrust
Eagle Point Credit (ECC) initiated with a Buy at Deutsche Bank
Electronic Arts (EA) initiated with an Overweight at Barclays
Forum Energy (FET) initiated with a Buy at SunTrust
Helix Energy (HLX) initiated with a Buy at SunTrust
Intersil (ISIL) initiated with an Outperform at Northland
New Senior (SNR) initiated with a Buy at Compass Point
Noranda Aluminum (NOR) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital
OM Asset Management (OMAM) initiated with a Market Perform at Wells Fargo
OM Asset Management (OMAM) initiated with a Neutral at Citigroup
OM Asset Management (OMAM) initiated with an Outperform at Keefe Bruyette
OM Asset Management (OMAM) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital
Open Text (OTEX) initiated with an Overweight at Barclays
Steel Dynamics (STLD) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital
Stillwater Mining (SWC) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital
Superior Energy (SPN) initiated with a Buy at SunTrust
Tesoro (TSO) coverage resumed with a Conviction Buy at Goldman
U.S. Silica (SLCA) initiated with a Buy at SunTrust
COMPANY NEWS
IBM (IBM) signed EUR 1B contract with Lufthansa (DLAKY)
Sony (SNE) targeting FY17 Pictures sales $10B-$11B, Music sales $4.8B-$5.2B
Disney Movies Anywhere (DIS) now available through Walmart (WMT) VUDU service
SunEdison (SUNE), TerraForm Power (TERP) to acquire First Wind for $2.4B
Xilinx (XLNX) announced an $800M share repurchase plan
Forest Oil (FST) to sell Arkoma Basin natural gas properties for after-tax cash proceeds of approximately $185M
NeoStem (NBS) announced initial positive data from Phase 2 PreSERVE AMI clinical trial
EARNINGS
Companies that beat consensus earnings expectations last night and today include:
Home Depot (HD), Corium (CORI)
Companies that missed consensus earnings expectations include:
Jacobs Engineering (JEC), Agilent (A), Urban Outfitters (URBN)
Home Depot (HD) backs FY14 EPS view of about $4.54, consensus $4.50
Jacobs Engineering (JEC) sees FY15 EPS $3.35-$3.85, consensus $3.76
AirMedia (AMCN) reports Q3 EPS (10c) vs.(6c) in Q313
EarthLink (ELNK) sees FY14 adjusted EBITDA $206M-$213M
Inter Parfums (IPAR) sees FY15 EPS 95c-98c, consensus $1.14
NEWSPAPERS/WEBSITES
Sprint’s (S) Chief Marketing Officer to leave company, WSJ reports
Blackstone (BX) to sell 1095 Ave. of the Americas for $2.25B, WSJ reports
Sony (SNE) looking to boost movie entertainment revenue, Reuters reports
AstraZeneca (AZN): ‘Hard to comment’ on whether Pfizer (PFE) will come back, Reuters reports
Nokia (NOK) to launch Android tablet, FT reports (GOOG)
Amtrak files complaint against CSX (CSX), Norfolk Southern (NSC), RailwayAge reports
Halliburton (HAL) could bring ‘substantial gains,’ Barron’s says
SYNDICATE
Advanced Drainage (WMS) files to sell 10M shares for holders
Amicus Therapeutics (FOLD) files to sell $75M in common stock
Continental Building (CBPX) files to sell 7M shares for holders
CorEnergy (CORR) files to sell 13M shares of common stock
Essent Group (ESNT) files to sell 13.8M shares of common stock
GoPro (GPRO) files to sell 9.07M shares for holders
La Quinta (LQ) files to sell 20M shares for holders
Moelis (MC) commences public offering of 5.5M shares of Class A common stock
Pinnacle Foods (PF) announces offering of 20M shares for holders
Receptos (RCPT) files to sell common stock
Rockwell Medical (RMTI) proposes $55M common stock offering
Transgenomic Inc (TBIO) files to sell 1.1M shares for holders
via Zero Hedge http://ift.tt/1uDlwv5 Tyler Durden