Alexis Tsipras: the Syriza leader about to take charge in Greece (Guardian) Tsipras to form anti-bailout Greek government after big victory (Reuters) Tsipras Forges Anti-Austerity Coalition in EU Challenge (BBG) East Coast braces, flights canceled as historic blizzard bears down (Reuters) Rebels press Ukraine offensive, Obama promises steps against Russian-backed aggression (Reuters) Syriza Victory Brings Hope for Immigrants of EU Access (BBG) For Saudis, Falling Demand for Oil Is the Biggest Concern (BBG) Oil prices fall on market relief over Saudi policy (Reuters) Chris Christie Joins Crowded GOP Fight for Donors (WSJ) NY insider trading ruling tests prosecutors beyond Wall Street (Reuters) Samaras’s Undoing Came Fast After Praise From Merkel (BBG) Pimco-Led Rescue of Batista Startup Seen Faltering on Oil (BBG) Packaging companies Rock-Tenn, MeadWestvaco to merge (Reuters) Overnight Media Digest WSJ * Coinbase Inc, a startup backed by $106 million from the New York Stock Exchange, banks and venture-capital firms, said its exchange will offer greater security for individuals and institutions to trade bitcoin and monitor real-time pricing of the cryptocurrency. (on.wsj/1yiGwUE) * Google Incs upcoming wireless service would aim to end subscribers reliance on a single carrier, instead giving them the ability to pick the best signal from a variety of sources, people familiar with the plan said. (on.wsj/1JLolgV) * Siemens Chief Executive Joe Kaeser is expected to face tough questions from investors on Tuesday over the high price he agreed in September to pay for U.S. oil equipment maker Dresser-Rand Group Inc. (on.wsj/1uurafu) * Axis Capital Holdings Ltd and PartnerRe Ltd said they have agreed to merge and form one of the worlds biggest reinsurance and specialist insurance companies, a firm with a combined market value of $11 billion. (on.wsj/1zMe6sZ) * New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his supporters have formed a political-action committee ahead of a likely bid for president, adding a third well-known Republican figure to the fight for campaign funds among the partys core donor class. (on.wsj/1Cr5lUB) * Cablevision Systems Corp said it will offer a Wi-Fi mobile-phone service starting next month, making it the first U.S. cable operator to take such a product to market. (on.wsj/1JLz8rz) FT * U.S. venture capital group Andreessen Horowitz has won a bidding process to invest in money transfer group TransferWise. The group will invest $58 million in the London-based company. * Standard Chartered is looking to replace its Chief Executive Peter Sands and has appointed Egon Zehnder to conduct the search. The move follows calls from some of the banks largest shareholders to accelerate the plan of succession. * A committee of MPs have called for a suspension on fracking, dealing a fresh blow to Britains shale gas industry. They have warned that the government was using undemocratic laws to help the industry. * Danish company Novo Nordisk is setting a $1 billion a year revenue target for its Saxenda medicine as it anticipates that pharmaceuticals will come to have an increasing role in helping people lose weight. NYT * After his term as mayor ended, Michael Bloomberg has moved quickly to reassert control at the company that he founded and that bears his name, especially in its media operation. (nyti.ms/1zM3PNp) * With the Federal Reserve expected to send a stronger signal on when it will raise its benchmark interest rate, three people who lost jobs in the downturn are working but not making as much as before. (nyti.ms/1yHY1m6) * Greece rejected the harsh economics of austerity on Sunday and sent a warning to the rest of Europe as the left-wing Syriza party won a decisive victory in national elections, positioning its tough-talking leader, Alexis Tsipras, to become the next prime minister. (nyti.ms/1EKDQoz) * Advertisers, and possibly other third parties, are finding ways to exploit a hidden tracking mechanism that Verizon Wireless users cannot delete. (nyti.ms/15z0Ava) * In this digital age when filling a shopping cart requires little more than clicking on a screen, the printed retail catalog keeps vying for a place on the coffee table. (nyti.ms/15z0UKi) * Sheldon Silver, the longtime speaker of the New York State Assembly, agreed on Sunday to relinquish his duties on a temporary basis as he fights federal corruption charges, according to people briefed on the matter. (nyti.ms/1yTWHwQ) * London-based TransferWise has announced that it has raised $58 million in a new round of fund-raising by a consortium of investors led by the Silicon Valley firm Andreessen Horowitz. (nyti.ms/1xWMn36) * The Raine Group plans to announce on Monday that it has hired Tom Freston, the former chief executive of Viacom , as a senior adviser. (nyti.ms/1JrCYrB) * Two big insurance companies, PartnerRe Ltd and Axis Capital Holdings, have agreed to merge, creating a new $11 billion player in the specialized field of reinsurance. (nyti.ms/1yI2rcF) Canada THE GLOBE AND MAIL ** Canadas oil producers are being told to brace for more bad news, even as they struggle to cope with a collapse that has driven prices down by nearly 60 percent from their peak last June. Toronto-Dominion Bank economist Dina Ignjatovic said she expects WTI prices to sink below $40 as bulging inventories weigh on the market in the next few months. (bit.ly/1CypDvH) ** Goldcorp Incs quest for new mines is a matter of survival, according to the companys chairman. The only way mining companies can grow is through acquisitions and the only way they can survive is through acquisitions. Sometimes, Im not sure people outside the mining business appreciate that, Ian Telfer said in a recent interview. (bit.ly/1BrgkMo) ** The federal government will not meet the Monday deadline set by the Thalidomide Victims Association of Canada to announce a financial aid package for Canadians harmed by the drug, an emotional setback for victims anticipating help to cope with their failing health. (bit.ly/1yIp4h8) NATIONAL POST ** A bitter dispute over a $112 million investment in Caribbean casinos has placed Michael DeGroote, one of Canadas wealthiest businessmen, at the center of bizarre accusations of mafia exploitation, death threats and fraud. (bit.ly/1CMiFkc) ** Owning BlackBerry Ltd shares requires a strong stomach and over the last few months many investors have decided to say goodbye to the stocks dips and peaks. (bit.ly/1xXFA9d) ** While President Barack Obamas new tax proposals may never see the light of day, given the Republican majorities in both the House and Senate, they have generated discussion among cross-border tax practitioners. Dual citizens living in Canada or Canadians who own U.S. properties may wonder whether they need to reopen their estate plans in case the proposals, referred to by the White House as an attempt to close the trust-fund loophole, ever come into law. (bit.ly/1yVHMkr) China CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL - The impact of cutting the interest rate and reserve requirement ratio (RRR) was limited for the real economy and funds might flow into the stock market, said Liu Shijin, vice-director of Development Research Center of the State Council. - The China Insurance Regulatory Commission and four other government regulators jointly released a guidance, saying they would support and encourage insurance companies to accelerate the development of credit warranty insurance. SECURITIES TIMES - Anbang Insurance Group has increased its stake in China Minsheng Banking eight times in two months, and is the largest shareholder with a holding of 18.35 percent. CHINA DAILY - China will increase visa privileges for foreign experts, the paper said. Foreign experts recruited through 55 talent programmes will be able to apply for visas, resident permits and permanent residency, a privilege previously only given to those on the 1,000 Talent Plan. - Shanghais decision to scrap the GDP target this year signals a shift in attention from quantity to quality of economic growth, said an editorial in the official paper. But underdeveloped regions cannot follow this example, it said. Britain The Times Bentley Motors is helping to create a university technical college in Crewe as part of efforts to meet a skills shortage and to produce the home-grown talent it believes is vital to preserve its quintessential Britishness. (thetim.es/1BbJwnO) Greece sent shockwaves across Europe last night as a radical left-wing party that has promised to end austerity and refuse to take orders from Berlin and Brussels triumphed in the countrys election. (thetim.es/1uu8tsm) The Guardian Security procedures are being reviewed at Downing Street after a hoax caller pretending to be the head of Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) managed to get through to David Cameron. Cameron spoke to the imposter, who was claiming to be the GCHQ director Robert Hannigan, but ended the call quite quickly after he released he was being tricked. (bit.ly/15IwExD) Philip Green has put BHS up for sale after receiving a number of approaches for the department store chain. The move comes after years of speculation that the retail tycoon was willing to part with BHS if a buyer could be found for the loss-making business. (bit.ly/1JqZ0Ld) The Telegraph Card Factory Plc is in the early stages of considering a bid for upmarket rival Paperchase. The retailer, which has 130 UK stores and 30 outlets overseas including the United Arab Emirates, France and Germany, has been put up for sale by its private equity owners with a price tag of around 150 million pounds. (bit.ly/15B0y6h) British companies paid out a record 97.4 billion pounds in dividends to investors last year after the bumper one-off payment from Vodafone Group Plc outweighed the drag caused by a strong pound. (bit.ly/1L9jbPy) Sky News The Post Office will this week publicly target becoming one of Britains leading financial services providers by the end of the decade, amid ministerial support for its vast network to play a greater role in banking provision. (bit.ly/15I6GKH) The parent company of British Airways has approached Aer Lingus about a fresh takeover bid for the Irish carrier. Sky News can exclusively reveal that International Consolidated Airlines Group submitted a revised proposal to the board of Aer Lingus within the last couple of days. (bit.ly/1C3GKGB) Fly On The Wall Pre-Market Buzz ECONOMIC REPORTS Domestic economic reports scheduled for today include: Dallas Fed manufacturing activity index for January at 10:30--consensus 4.0 ANALYST RESEARCH Upgrades American Axle (AXL) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) upgraded to Outperform from Perform at Oppenheimer DRDGOLD (DRD) upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JPMorgan DealerTrack (TRAK) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Stifel DreamWorks Animation (DWA) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at B. Riley First Niagara (FNFG) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies Fortinet (FTNT) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Citigroup Garmin (GRMN) upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital Harmony Gold (HMY) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan McDonalds (MCD) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Stephens Monro Muffler (MNRO) upgraded to Neutral from Reduce at SunTrust Pier 1 Imports (PIR) upgraded to Outperform from Perform at Oppenheimer Randgold (GOLD) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan Triumph Group (TGI) upgraded to Sector Perform from Underperform at RBC Capital Downgrades Aluminum Corp. of China (ACH) downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JPMorgan AmeriGas (APU) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Jefferies B2Gold (BTG) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman CenterPoint Energy (CNP) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup CommScope (COMM) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital Derma Sciences (DSCI) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Piper Jaffray Fortress (FIG) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Keefe Bruyette Gold Fields (GFI) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JPMorgan Graco (GGG) downgraded to Perform from Outperform at Oppenheimer Gran Tierra (GTE) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse HCP (HCP) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Mizuho IGM Financial (IGIFF) downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Barclays Insulet (PODD) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at William Blair KCG Holdings (KCG) downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Goldman Knight Transportation (KNX) downgraded to Hold from Buy at KeyBanc Maxim Integrated (MXIM) downgraded to Neutral from Positive at Susquehanna Praxair (PX) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at RW Baird Qualys (QLYS) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at JMP Securities State Street (STT) downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform at Bernstein Tandem Diabetes (TNDM) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at William Blair Trinseo (TSE) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citigroup UPS (UPS) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays UPS (UPS) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse VeriSign (VRSN) downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse Initiations Aruba Networks (ARUN) initiated with a Neutral at Citigroup KapStone (KS) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital Lear (LEA) resumed with a Neutral at JPMorgan Paramount Group (PGRE) initiated with a Neutral at UBS QAD Inc (QADB) initiated with a Buy at Canaccord Ruckus Wireless (RKUS) initiated with a Buy at Citigroup Ubiquiti Networks (UBNT) initiated with a Neutral at Citigroup COMPANY NEWS AT&T (T) to acquire Nextel Mexico for $1.88B, less outstanding net debt Post Holdings (POST) to acquire MOM brands for $1.15B RockTenn (RKT) and MeadWestvaco (MWV) entered into a definitive combination agreement to create a global provider of consumer and corrugated packaging in a transaction with a combined equity value of $16B Endo (ENDP) to replace Covidien (COV) in S&P 500 as of 1/26 close, HCA Holdings (HCA) to replace Safeway (SWY) in S&P 500 as of 1/26 close Gilead Sciences (GILD) expanded its hepatitis C generic licensing agreements to include the investigational NS5A inhibitor GS-5816. The expanded agreements will allow Gilead’s India-based partners to manufacture GS-5816 and the single tablet regimen of sofosbuvir/GS-5816, once approved, for distribution in 91 developing countries AXIS Capital (AXS), PartnerRe (PRE) to combine in $11B merger EARNINGS Companies that beat consensus earnings expectations last night and today include: Provident Financial (PROV), RockTenn (RKT) Post Holdings (POST) reports preliminary Q1 sales $1.07B, consensus $1.07B PartnerRe (PRE) sees Q4 EPS $4.20-$4.60, may not compare to consensus $3.04 AXIS Capital (AXS) sees Q4 EPS $1.15-$1.21, consensus $1.21 NEWSPAPERS/WEBSITES Apple (AAPL) to report China iPhone sales topped U.S. iPhone sales, Financial Times reports Teva (TEVA) rebuffed Pfizer (PFE) approach late last year, Bloomberg reports Yahoo (YHOO) may absorb Tumblr sales force, Re/code reports FXCM (FXCM) to consider selling assets to repay rescue loan, WSJ reports Private equity firm seriously considered buying Herbalife (HLF), NY Post reports (NUS, AVP) PepsiCos (PEP) new director nominee could ease tensions with Trian, Barrons says Twitter (TWTR) still has problems, Barrons says Urban Outfitters (URBN) could be more attractive, Barrons says Oracle (ORCL) shares could climb over 20%, Barrons says
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 12:54:50 +0000
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