Reuters Before the Bell: August 21, 2015

Click to View in Browser Friday, August 21, 2015 Deere profit tumbles 40 percent, cuts fourth-quarter sales outlook (Reuters) - Deere & Co on Friday reported that third-quarter profit tumbled 40 percent on weak demand for agricultural equipment, overall lower shipment volumes and a stronger dollar, and gave a bleaker forecast for fourth-quarter sales. U.S. oil fall longest in 29 years after China data LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices headed for their eighth consecutive week of falls on Friday, the longest losing streak since 1986, after a sharp drop in Chinese manufacturing increased worries over the health of the world's biggest energy consumer. OPEC concern widens about oil drop, but cuts still ruled out DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - Some of OPEC's Gulf members are concerned about the latest drop in oil prices which had not been expected, OPEC delegates said, but they see little chance of the exporting group diverting from its policy of defending market share. Daimler CEO mulls JVs with Apple, Google: magazine BERLIN (Reuters) - Daimler's chief executive said "different types" of cooperation with Apple and Google are possible as carmakers realize next-generation autos cannot be built without greater input from telecoms and software experts. Private equity firms team up to bid for Tesco's $6 billion South Korea unit: sources SEOUL/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Private equity firms have formed three separate teams to bid for Tesco's South Korean business valued at about $6 billion, four people with knowledge of the matter said on Friday, in what is tipped as Asia's biggest ever private equity deal. Stock futures slump as weak Chinese data adds to growth fears (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures fell sharply on Friday, with the S&P 500 mini futures falling to their weakest level since early February, as more alarming data from China spooked investors already fraught with concerns over global growth. Big Food's natural brand acquisitions prosper best when left alone NEW YORK (Reuters) - When Hormel Foods Corp , maker of Spam canned meat, said it was buying Applegate Farms in May, fans of the organic and natural meat company lamented its takeover by Big Food on social media and questioned whether product quality would go down. Disappointing business surveys intensify growth fears LONDON/BEIJING (Reuters) - Signs China's slowdown is getting worse and weak growth in Europe have further damaged the outlook for the global economy, sending stocks and commodity prices reeling on Friday. Equity outflows at 15-week high as investors seek bond safety: BAML LONDON (Reuters) - Equity outflows hit a 15-week high of $8.3 billion in the past week, with fears of a China-driven global economic crisis pushing investors towards safe-haven money-market funds and Treasuries, Bank of America Merrill Lynch said on Friday. McDonald's signs second franchising deal in Russia MOSCOW (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp. said on Friday it had signed its second deal with a Russian franchisee which will help it to expand in remote Siberian regions. Related Video China PMI shows factory activity at 6.5 year low Dow drops 358 points Make sense of the market with highlights of valuable financial information and reports along with compelling investment insights. Register Today The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today » » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2015 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add newsletters@email.reuters.com to your address book. Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook