UNITED STATES

The California lawmaker who spearheaded a high-profile anti-obesity effort across the country's most populous state is now training his sights on sugar-sweetened drinks.

U.S. hog and pork producer Smithfield Foods Inc on Thursday priced a $250 million stock offering below the closing price of the previous day, sending shares lower.

Gardasil will continue to dominate the U.S. cervical cancer vaccine market despite the expected launch of a competitor from GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co's chief executive said on Thursday.

Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) is preparing a $1 billion marketing campaign to boost U.S. sales in the fourth quarter, while also planning to expand its line of hybrid models under the Prius name, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

Goldman Sachs downgraded Medco Health Solutions to neutral from buy on valuation and said anticipation over a potential captive pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) acquisition has been adding support to the company's shares.

Geely Automotive (0175.HK), the Chinese carmaker whose parent is eyeing Ford's (F.N) Volvo unit, has approached Canadian auto parts maker Magna International about possibly taking a stake in Opel, a source said.

In the game of climate poker, developing nations might feel they have the right cards on the table in U.N. talks after ramping up efforts to curb greenhouse gas output.

The global auto supply sector needs further consolidation, U.S. billionaire investor Wilbur Ross said, adding he was looking at potential acquisition targets, including at least one in Europe.

Major developing nations have announced steps over the past year to curb their growing greenhouse emissions as the world tries to negotiate a broader, and tougher, U.N. pact to slow the pace of climate change.

British gas prices firmed early on Thursday following a strong rally in the U.S. natural gas market overnight and firm oil prices, while prompt power prices eased on solid supply margins.

Australia's competition regulator plans to allow U.S. major Chevron Corp and partners to jointly market gas from the Gorgon project in Australia to domestic consumers, it said on Thursday.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat to lower open on Thursday as FedEx Corp reported in-line quarterly profits and even as the latest labor and housing data indicated an economic recovery was gaining steam.

Japan's new energy minister said he aims to expand the nation's electricity feed-in tariff scheme to other energy sources beyond solar power within two years, to help meet the new government's goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

Oil prices fell to around $72 a barrel on Thursday after rising more than 5 percent this week as swollen U.S. distillate stocks such as diesel offset positive sentiment in other markets.

New U.S. housing starts and permits rose in August to their highest level in nine months and the number of people filing of unemployment benefits fell last week, evidence a solid economic recovery was underway.

The Federal Reserve is conducting a review of commercial real estate exposures at U.S. banks, a Fed source said on Wednesday.

Construction and engineering group Balfour Beatty is in advanced talks regarding a significant acquisition and is mulling a rights issue to fund a deal analysts expect will involve a U.S. or British firm.

Pier 1 Imports Inc reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss as the home furnishings retailer benefited from cost cuts, fewer markdowns and improved inventory management.

Rift opens at Fed; Carmakers lose upperhand to suppliers; Missile Shield Plan Scrapped

New U.S. housing starts and permits rose in August to their highest level since November, lifted by a rebound in multifamily homes, a government report showed on Thursday.

The California lawmaker who spearheaded a high-profile anti-obesity effort across the country's most populous state is now training his sights on sugar-sweetened drinks.