IBT Staff Reporter

The U.S. Federal Reserve has not yet decided whether to embark on a third round of quantitative easing, or QE3, though it remains an option, an influential Fed official said on Monday.

Shares in Sprint Nextel fell more than 4 percent after an analyst report said there is an increasing risk that the No. 3 U.S. mobile provider could end up filing for bankruptcy as the debt-laden company faces steep costs due to factors such as its iPhone deal with Apple Inc .

U.S. stocks rose on Monday with the S&P 500 now less than 10 percent away from its historic closing high of October 2007, buoyed by Apple after the company said it will pay a dividend and buy back stock.

Viterra said on Monday it was in exclusive talks with one prospective buyer, pushing its shares lower as the prospect of a bidding war for Canada's biggest grain handler diminished.

The S&P 500 rose on Monday to trade less than 10 percent below its historic closing high set in October 2007, as news that Apple will start paying a dividend again added to optimism spurred by weeks of strong economic data in the United States to continue to lure investors into U.S. stocks.

Stocks were little changed on Monday, hovering near 4-year highs, while shares of Apple rose after it said it will begin paying a dividend and buy back stock.

Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook, moving swiftly after taking over from the late Silicon Valley icon Steve Jobs, fulfilled a longstanding desire of investors by initiating a quarterly dividend and share buyback that will pay out $45 billion over three years.

Apple Inc will start paying a regular quarterly dividend of $2.65 a share in July and buy back up to $10 billion of its stock beginning in the next fiscal year, the world's most valuable company said on Monday.

Chip maker Broadcom Corp said on Monday that it won a permanent injunction against rival Emulex Corp , but Emulex would be able to sell some products using Broadcom patents for a limited period.

Owners of the New York Mets baseball team have agreed to pay $162 million to settle a lawsuit by the trustee seeking money for victims of Bernard Madoff's fraud, just before a trial was scheduled to begin.

Apple Inc said it plans to pay a quarterly dividend of $2.65 per share and authorized a $10 billion stock buyback program to be carried out over three years.

Stocks were little changed on Monday, as equities stayed within reach of nearly 4-year highs and after cash-rich Apple said it will begin paying a dividend and buying back stock.

U.S. stocks were poised for a lower open on Monday, indicating equities may pull back from nearly 4-year highs after cash-rich Apple said it will begin paying a dividend and buying back stock.

Apple Inc, the world's most valuable company, said Monday it will initiate a regular quarterly dividend of $2.65 a share in July and will buy back up to $10 billion of its stock starting in fiscal 2013.

United Parcel Service will pay 5.2 billion euros ($6.85 billion) for Dutch peer TNT Express in a deal that will make the world's largest package delivery company the market leader in Europe.

U.S. stock index futures slipped on Monday, indicating equities may pull back from nearly 4-year highs as investors waited to hear what Apple will do with its massive $98 billion cash stockpile.

RUSAL , the world's top aluminum maker, took a $1.4 billion hit in its 2011 financials on Monday on the value of its stake in Norilsk Nickel , whose fate is at the centre of a row between two Russian billionaire shareholders.

World share markets edged back from near eight-month highs on Monday with European banking stocks under pressure ahead of an auction to determine the payout on Greek credit default swaps, while a broadly firm dollar kept riskier currencies in check.

U.S. stock index futures slipped on Monday, indicating equities may pull back from nearly 4-year highs as investors waited to hear what Apple will do with its massive $98 billion cash stockpile.

The accounting scandal at snack maker Diamond Foods in recent months may have shocked shareholders and some California walnut farmers.

Apple Inc, the world's most valuable company, will discuss on Monday what it plans to do with its $98 billion cash hoard, raising expectations it may meet demands to pay a dividend for the first time since 1995.

TNT Express has accepted a higher cash offer of 9.5 euro per share from U.S. rival United Parcel Service, which values the Dutch freight and delivery group at 5.2 billion euros ($6.9 billion).

Swiss private bank Julius Baer said on Monday Raymond Baer will head a special committee overseeing its cooperation with a U.S. tax investigation after standing down as chairman of the bank.

Starbucks Corp will open the first store in its new Evolution Fresh juice bar chain on Monday, its biggest move outside coffee and one it hopes will boost the company's position in the $50 billion health food sector.

Some big investors have shown interest in buying foreclosed properties being sold in bulk by Fannie Mae , the largest U.S. home funding source, the Wall Street Journal said citing people familiar with the process.

Foxconn Technology Group, the top maker of Apple Inc's iPhones and iPads, said on Monday it had no plans to take legal action over a U.S. radio program about its activity in China, parts of which have been retracted.

Global economic growth will slow this year, with the United States looking much improved but risks still to the downside as Europe's financial markets remain fragile, the deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund said on Monday.

South Korean carmaker Kia Motors <000270.KS> said on Monday that it would suspend production at its U.S. plant on Monday and Tuesday, after media reported said a fire broke out at a parts supplier.

Apple Inc said it would host a conference call on Monday morning to discuss the outcome of discussions about its cash balance as investors clamor for a return from its massive holdings.