TOP STORIES
U.S. STOCKS RALLY
U.S. stocks rallied, along with overseas equity markets, as
deal-making buoyed the health-care sector. The Dow Jones Industrial
Average climbed 257 points in recent trading.
GERMANWINGS CO-PILOT HAD BEEN IN TREATMENT FOR SUICIDE RISK
The Germanwings co-pilot suspected of deliberately crashing an
airliner into a mountainside last week had undergone psychotherapy
because of suicidal tendencies over an extended period, the German
prosecutor in charge of the case said.
ONE PERSON REPORTEDLY KILLED AT FORT MEADE
One person was fatally shot after a car tried to ram a gate at
the National Security Agency headquarters south of Baltimore, the
Associated Press reported.
UNITEDHEALTH TO BUY CATAMARAN
UnitedHealth Group plans to buy Catamaran for about $12.8
billion in cash, bulking up its pharmacy-benefit business.
Catamaran shares up 24%; UnitedHealth up 3%.
U.S. PENDING HOME SALES UP 3.1% IN FEBRUARY
The National Association of Realtors said its pending home sales
index increased 3.1% to a seasonally adjusted level of 106.9 in
February from January's downwardly revised reading of 103.7.
Economists had expected pending home sales would rise 0.5% last
month.
U.S. CONSUMER SPENDING ROSE 0.1% IN FEBRUARY
Consumer spending rose only modestly in February as Americans
saved more, a sign of cautious consumption that could restrain the
broader U.S. economy.
TEVA TO ACQUIRE AUSPEX IN $3.2 BILLION DEAL
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries agreed to acquire Auspex
Pharmaceuticals in a deal valued at roughly $3.2 billion,
increasing its presence in market for treatments for central
nervous system disorders. Auspex shares up 41%.
AIG RAISING UP TO $507M IN PICC PROPERTY & CASUALTY SALE
American International Group is raising up to US$507 million by
selling shares in PICC Property & Casualty in an share
placement, according to a term sheet seen by The Wall Street
Journal.
SALUS CHANGES MIND ABOUT NEW BID FOR RADIOSHACK
Salus Capital Partners, the hedge fund trying to gain control of
RadioShack, has changed its mind about increasing its offer for the
battered retail operation.
WWE SUBSCRIPTIONS JUMP 31%, HELPED BY WRESTLEMANIA
World Wrestling Entertainment now has more than 1.3 million
subscribers for its online TV network, a 31% increase in just two
months that shows consumers' increasing willingness to pay for
channels outside of the traditional cable bundle.
OIL PRICES FALL AS SUPPLIES RISE FURTHER
Oil prices slid amid signs that U.S. supplies are still growing
and as the deadline for reaching a deal with Iran on its nuclear
program loomed. May Nymex crude dropped 49 cents, or 1%, to $48.38
a barrel. Brent, the global benchmark, fell 44 cents, or 0.8%, to
$55.97 a barrel.
======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES =======
Capital Journal
POSSIBLE FAILURE OF IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL DIVIDES U.S., ISRAEL
As profound as the disagreement is between Israel and the U.S.
over the nuclear deal being negotiated with Iran, the two countries
also differ over the consequences of failing to complete an
agreement, Gerald F. Seib writes.
MoneyBeat
BANKS FIND A SURPRISING SOURCE OF PROFITS
Earning season starts in a few weeks, and it's expected to be a
pretty dour one. Overall, S&P 500 corporate profits are
expected to contract by 4.8%, according to FactSet, the first
quarter without profit growth since 2009.