Yahoo! News: Business
                  -----------------------------------
                  as of Mon, 31 Oct 2005 12:55:42 GMT

    Novartis succeeds with bid for Chiron (Reuters)

Reuters - Drugmaker Novartis  has agreed to buy the remainder of U.S
 vaccine maker Chiron Corp.  that it does not already own for $5.1
 billion, or about $600 million more than an original bid rejected as
 inadequate.

    Valero profits climb, names new CEO (Reuters)

Reuters - Leading U.S. refiner Valero Energy Corp.  said on Monday that
 third-quarter profits climbed on tight refined products supply due to
 storm-shut U.S. refineries, and said that analysts' estimates for its
 fourth-quarter earnings were "significantly too low."

    Stock futures point higher (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher market opening on
 Monday as takeover activity lifted investor sentiment, including a bid
 by Swiss drug maker Novartis  for shares it does not already own of
 U.S. vaccine maker Chiron Corp.

    Humana profit falls on litigation (Reuters)

Reuters - Health insurer Humana Inc.  on Monday said third-quarter
 profit fell as costs related to a class-action lawsuit and Hurricane
 Katrina overwhelmed stronger revenues.

    Closing arguments expected in Vioxx trial (Reuters)

Reuters - Lawyers were set to deliver closing arguments on Monday in the
 second trial over Merck & Co Inc.'s  painkiller Vioxx, a case seen
 as key in determining the future of thousands of other pending lawsuits
 filed by users of the drug.

    Bank of Japan upbeat on economy, end to deflation (AFP)

AFP - The Bank of Japan said that it expects the world's number two
 economy to break decisively out of deflation by next year as it
 upgraded its forecasts to show 1.8 percent growth in the year to March
 2007.

    Stock futures point higher (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher market opening on
 Monday as takeover activity lifted investor sentiment, including a bid
 by Swiss drug maker Novartis  for shares it does not already own of
 U.S. vaccine maker Chiron Corp.

* Aged 2 of 9 ( 30th at 07:14 +/- 6h )
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