TOP STORIES
BP TO PAY $18.7 BILLION TO SETTLE GULF SPILL CLAIMS
BP has agreed to pay $18.7 billion over 18 years to settle all
federal and state claims arising from the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill in what the U.S. government called its largest legal
settlement with a corporation.
ANTHEM, CIGNA REKINDLE MERGER TALKS
Push for consolidation among health insurers continues. Anthem
and Cigna renew their talks, even as Cigna continues to look at
Humana; meanwhile, Centene agrees to buy Health Net.
JOBS MARKET CONTINUES ITS FITFUL RECOVERY
After six years of fitful growth, a mixed jobs report for June
illustrated how underlying softness continues to beset the U.S.
economy. Employers added 223,000 jobs and unemployment fell to
5.3%, but wage growth remains slow and labor-force participation
shrank.
U.S. STOCKS END SLIGHTLY LOWER
Stocks ended slightly lower Thursday, even after the U.S. jobs
report reaffirmed investors' belief that the Fed would be patient
on rates.
DOLLAR TREE-FAMILY DOLLAR DEAL GETS FTC APPROVAL
Dollar Tree and Family Dollar received FTC clearance for their
merger and expect the deal to be completed July 6.
OFFICIALS BATTLE TO SWAY GREEK VOTERS
Officials were battling it out for the minds of Greek voters
ahead of a crucial vote on its creditors' demands that could decide
whether the country leaves the euro or buckles down for further
difficult negotiations.
U.S. REGULATOR TAKES AIM AT CHRYSLER
Regulators are likely to take action before summer's end against
Fiat Chrysler over recall lapses involving older Jeeps tied to
rear-end crashes and millions of other vehicles, the U.S.
auto-safety chief said.
GERMANY'S K+S REBUFFS POTASH TAKEOVER
German salt and fertilizer company K+S AG rejected a takeover
approach worth $8.75 billion by rival Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan,
saying the proposal undervalued the company.
SANTANDER CONSUMER USA CEO THOMAS DUNDON TO STEP DOWN
Santander Consumer USA Holdings said that its chief executive
and chairman, Thomas Dundon, was departing and would be succeeded
by President and Chief Financial Officer Jason Kulas.
MEDICAID INSURERS TO MERGE IN $6.3 BILLION DEAL
Centene agreed to buy Health Net for about $6.3 billion in a
move that will boost the Medicaid-focused health insurer's presence
in the western U.S.
U.S. JOBLESS CLAIMS RISE TO 281,000
The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits
rose last week, but the level remains historically low.
IRAN'S SUPER TANKERS EYE WESTERN WATERS
Iran's biggest oil shipping company has amassed the world's
largest fleet of super tankers and is in talks to sail back into
Western waters should a nuclear deal be struck.
ACTIVISM-DEFENSE SPECIALIST LEAVING GOLDMAN SACHS
Activism-defense specialist William Anderson is leaving Goldman
Sachs for Evercore Partners, according to people familiar with the
matter.
VERTEX'S $259,000 CYSTIC FIBROSIS DRUG APPROVED
Vertex's cystic-fibrosis drug Orkambi, which treats the most
common mutation of the disease, received U.S. regulatory approval
on Thursday.
INTEL PRESIDENT JAMES TO LEAVE
Intel Corp. said President René e James is stepping down, one of
several management changes as CEO Brian Krzanich shakes up the chip
maker.
FORD RECALLS 432,000 CARS OVER SOFTWARE PROBLEM
Ford is recalling 432,000 Focus, C-Max and Escape vehicles
because of a software problem that could keep the cars from
shutting off.
TESLA'S SECOND QUARTER DELIVERIES SURGE 52%
Tesla Motors delivered 11,507 Model S electric sedans in the
second quarter of the year, a 52% increase over the prior-year
period and a pace that far exceeds electric-car sales by
rivals.
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE FUNDS FLOWED TO MALAYSIAN LEADER'S ACCOUNTS
Malaysian investigators scrutinizing a government investment
fund have traced nearly $700 million of deposits into what
investigators believe are the personal bank accounts of Prime
Minister Najib Razak, according to documents from a government
probe.
BARNES & NOBLE NAMES BOIRE AS CEO OF RETAIL BUSINESS
Barnes & Noble Inc. named Sears Canada Chief Executive
Ronald Boire to lead its retail business as the company readies for
a spinoff of its college stores.
UNIVISION FILES FOR IPO
Univision Holdings Inc., owner of the dominant Spanish-language
broadcaster in the U.S., kicked off the process to go public.
======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES =======
Briefly Blog
5 THINGS TO WATCH ON THE ECONOMIC CALENDAR
If the past week brought a flood of data-including a mixed
report on June labor markets-this one's as dry as a California
reservoir. As Greece remains the focus for investors, here's what
to look for on the U.S. economy.
Heard on the Street
AIG A WALLFLOWER AT INSURER-MERGER DANCE
The acquisition of Chubb by ACE likely signals the start of a
merger rush for U.S. insurers. AIG isn't likely to join in.