Business Today: Wall Street rebounds as energy stocks rise over Syria

	Click to View in Browser 08/28/2013 Wall Street rebounds as energy stocks rise over Syria NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street rose on Wednesday as energy shares rallied on higher oil prices as the United States and its allies edged closer to military action against Syria. BofA's Merrill to settle racial bias suit for $160 million WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Brokerage firm Merrill Lynch has agreed to pay $160 million to settle a class-action race discrimination lawsuit brought by a longtime U.S. employee, an attorney for the plaintiffs confirmed on Wednesday. Analysis: Syria, debt ceiling worry has markets questioning Fed taper NEW YORK (Reuters) - Until a few days ago, it looked like a sure bet that the U.S. Federal Reserve would announce the beginning of the end of its massive bond buying program in September. Now, investors are less certain. Housing recovery loses a step as pending home sales fall WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Contracts to purchase previously owned U.S. homes fell for the second straight month in July, a sign that rising mortgage rates are taking the steam out of America's housing market recovery. JPMorgan may settle U.S., UK 'Whale' probes for $600 million: source NEW YORK (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co is in talks with a group of regulators, including U.S. prosecutors, to settle probes of the bank's "London Whale" trading losses last year for about $600 million, according to a person familiar with the talks. Pentagon official sees defense M&A slowed by budget impasse WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon's top manufacturing official expects a spate of merger and acquisition activity - and a doubling of efforts by foreign companies to take over U.S. arms makers - once the uncertain U.S. budget outlook becomes clearer. Activision sets launch date for $2.5 billion credit NEW YORK (Reuters) - Video game publisher Activision Blizzard is expected to launch September 4 its new $2.5 billion credit backing the company's plan to spin itself off from Vivendi and buy back shares, loan investors told Thomson Reuters LPC. Guess Inc's quarterly results beat Wall Street, shares rise (Reuters) - Guess Inc reported second-quarter results above expectations due to an improvement in North American retail sales, sending shares of the company up 15 percent in after market trading. Chase site in Dallas 'Uptown' section up for sale: sources (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co is selling a drive-through bank branch in a toney Dallas neighborhood in a deal that could fetch $15 million to $20 million, according to sources familiar with the sale. Swiss government ready to sign tax deal with United States ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland said it is ready to end a long-running dispute with U.S. prosecutors over Swiss banks that have sheltered tax evaders, without disclosing any terms of the deal. Related Video Legal claims to JPMorgan cash pile up Breakingviews: Fracking foreign policy Economic News Analysis: Syria, debt ceiling worry has markets questioning Fed taper Housing recovery loses a step as pending home sales fall A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. 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 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend