HEALTHCARE

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic leaders in the Congress voiced confidence on Sunday they will have the votes, possibly within a couple of months or so, to pass landmark legislation to overhaul the healthcare system.

President Barack Obama sought on Saturday to spark momentum for a final push to revive his stalled healthcare overhaul, insisting that Americans cannot wait another generation for us to act.

Joe Jimenez, the new chief executive of Swiss drugmaker Novartis, is targeting bolt-on acquisitions as the group digests the multibillion dollar acquisition of eyecare group Alcon.

Bayer's outgoing finance chief said the German drugs-to-chemicals company would not put its current credit rating at risk even if it launched a multi-billion euro takeover.

After a seven-hour healthcare summit that did little to change Republican hearts and minds, President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats face a challenge on Friday in deciding their next moves to reform the costly U.S. system.

President Barack Obama made a last-ditch bid to save his stalled healthcare reform on Thursday, clashing frequently with Republican leaders at a bipartisan summit and moving no closer to a compromise.

One of the more memorable speakers of Thursday's televised healthcare summit from Washington came from Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York.

President Barack Obama and Republicans clashed frequently on Thursday at a summit on his stalled healthcare overhaul, battling over the size and cost of the proposal and moving no closer to a compromise agreement.

President Barack Obama hosts Republicans and Democrats at a high-level meeting Thursday that seeks to break an impasse over how to revamp the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare industry.

The number of affluent investors worrying about jobs and the political environment rose in February as bipartisan cooperation remains elusive in Washington and the economy struggles with high unemployment.

President Barack Obama will appeal to U.S. business leaders on Wednesday to back his push to create jobs as he defends his agenda against conservative critics seeking to paint him as a big spender.

Diabetes is moving from being a disease of developed countries to a disease in developing countries like India and China, and this could put pressure on healthcare systems through rising healthcare costs, said Philip Clarke, associate professor at University of Sydney's School of Public Health.

British private equity firm 3i Group agreed to sell Ambea to rival buyout firm Triton for 850 million euros ($1.16 billion)

President Barack Obama made a last-ditch bid to revive his stalled healthcare overhaul on Monday with a plan to make insurance more affordable and to bolster government authority to regulate premium hikes.

Stocks finished flat on Monday as investors held back before congressional testimony by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, while scattered buying lifted shares of health insurers and banks.

Stocks finished flat on Monday as investors held back before congressional testimony by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, while scattered buying lifted shares of health insurers and banks.

U.S. stocks edged higher on Monday as takeover news and gains in bank shares on hopes of a regulatory reprieve were offset by uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's policy intentions.

U.S. stocks were little changed on Monday as investors were cautious before the head of the Federal Reserve was due to discuss interest rate policy this week after the Fed's hike in the discount rate.

In a volatile Monday session, the U.S. stock market dipped as declines in health and energy stocks overshadowed gains made in the financial sector.

President Barack Obama tried to rejuvenate his stalled healthcare overhaul on Monday with a revised plan to make insurance coverage more affordable and bolster federal authority to regulate premium hikes.

State governors want Congress and President Barack Obama to pay more attention to their concerns as they renew efforts to reform healthcare.