INVESTMENT

Wall Street looked set to rise at the open on Wednesday as investors were encouraged by data showing signs the economic downturn was moderating, and by positive comments from President Barack Obama.

Stock index futures added to gains on Wednesday after data showed new U.S. orders for long-lasting manufactured goods unexpectedly rebounded in February.

Stock index futures added to gains on Wednesday after data showed new U.S. orders for long-lasting manufactured goods unexpectedly rebounded in February.

Shareholder advocacy group Ethos on Wednesday called for UBS shareholders to reject a new pay system at an AGM on April 15, saying it could still lead to big bonuses that drive risk taking.

Stock index futures pointed to a mostly higher open on Wednesday after positive comments on the economy from President Barack Obama, as investors looked to upcoming data for signs of improvement.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc and Morgan Stanley are set to announce this week a merger of their securities businesses in Japan, a source said, creating a new powerhouse to rival industry leaders Nomura Holdings and Daiwa Securities Group .

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher opening on Wall Street on Wednesday, after investors booked profits on Tuesday amid questions whether the U.S. government's plan to clean up bank balance sheets would work.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc is likely to take a 60 percent interest in the venture it is forming with Morgan Stanley to merge their brokerage subsidiaries in Japan, the Nikkei business daily said on Wednesday.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc is likely to take a 60 percent interest in the venture it is forming with Morgan Stanley to merge their brokerage subsidiaries in Japan, the Nikkei business daily said on Wednesday.

Bridgewater Associates Inc, one of the world's biggest hedge-fund managers, said on Tuesday it might be interested in participating in the U.S. Treasury's public-private investment program, calling it a big transfer of money from the government to the banks and to the buyers.

U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with about a dozen top bank chief executives on Friday, including executives from JPMorgan & Co, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, two sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Bridgewater Associates Inc, one of the world's biggest hedge-fund managers, said on Tuesday it might be interested in participating in the U.S. Treasury's public-private investment program, calling it a big transfer of money from the government to the banks and to the buyers.

President Barack Obama will meet with about a dozen top bank chief executives on Friday, including executives from JPMorgan & Co, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc is prepared to pay back the U.S. government's $10 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program investment as soon as allowed by regulators, but some hurdles remain, a person familiar with the situation said on Tuesday.

World’s leading steel company, ArcelorMittal, said Tuesday that the initial 750 Million Euro ($1 billion) bond could increase up to 1.25 billion euro.

Time is making Warren Buffett's investment in Goldman Sachs Group Inc look better.

After sustaining record losses in 2008, U.S. pension funds are unlikely to return to the high level of stock market allocations favored before the global financial crisis and will probably favor greater bond allocations, the author of a study said on Tuesday.

After sustaining record losses in 2008, U.S. pension funds are unlikely to return to the high level of stock market allocations favored before the global financial crisis and will probably favor greater bond allocations, the author of a study said on Tuesday.

U.S. Stifel Financial Corp will acquire up to 55 branches of UBS Wealth Management Americas to expand across the United States in a deal that will boost the investment bank's profit in the first year.

Private equity funds will likely not be big players in a partnership with the U.S. government to buy toxic bank assets, but the approach offers other investors a good opportunity to make money, a top private equity investor said on Tuesday.

Stocks slipped on Tuesday as investors paused the day after a huge run-up to gauge if government plans to shore up the economy will be enough to sustain the recent market rally.