Reuters Business Today: August 21, 2015

Click to View in Browser Friday, August 21, 2015 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. 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. 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. 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. Uber seen reaching $10.8 billion in bookings in 2015: fundraising presentation BEIJING (Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc's [UBER.UL] global bookings are projected to rise nearly threefold to $10.84 billion this year and reach $26.12 billion the next, according to a recent presentation for potential investors seen by Reuters. Microsoft confirms Finnish phone site closure and job cuts HELSINKI (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp on Friday confirmed it will close Nokia Oyj's former handset product development unit in Salo, Finland, and will cut a total of up to 2,300 jobs in the Nordic country. Sharp China factory slowdown in August raises global growth fears BEIJING (Reuters) - Worries of a deepening China economic slowdown intensified on Friday after a private survey showed the factory sector shrank at its fastest rate in almost 6-1/2-years in August, hammering global stocks and commodity prices. 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. Fed's tightening cycle scenario involves risky bet on inflation WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve officials planning to lift interest rates as soon as September have been encouraged by solid U.S. jobs growth, but inflation holds the key to how far the Fed can go in moving rates away from zero. 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. Related Video China PMI shows factory activity at 6.5 year low Dow drops 358 points Counterparties is a curated snapshot of the best finance news and commentary around the web. Register Today News you can use with actionable, timely advice for managing your financial life, including retirement, taxes, real estate, education and more. 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