Business Today: Wall Street ends slightly lower on day before Fed statement

	Click to View in Browser 12/17/2013 Wall Street ends slightly lower on day before Fed statement NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed slightly lower on Tuesday, with investors reluctant to make big bets before the results of a Federal Reserve meeting that could give some clarity as to when the central bank will begin trimming its stimulus. Inflation tame, but Fed may still trim bond buying WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumer prices were flat in November, but the lack of inflation pressures in the economy will probably not stop the Federal Reserve from scaling back its bond-buying program soon. S&P says U.S. credit ratings unaffected by bipartisan budget act (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said on Tuesday that the credit ratings on the United States are unaffected by the bipartisan budget deal that passed the House last week and is now awaiting a final vote in the Senate. AT&T to sell Connecticut wireline assets to Frontier for $2 billion (Reuters) - AT&T Inc, the biggest U.S. phone company, said on Tuesday that it would sell its wireline operations in Connecticut to regional telephone operator Frontier Communications for $2 billion in cash, to help fund network upgrades. 3M sets year's biggest U.S. buyback plan, raises dividend (Reuters) - 3M Co, whose products range from Post-It notes to films used in flat-panel TVs, said it could buy back up to $22 billion of shares in the five years through 2017, joining a list of companies announcing big capital returns to shareholders. Microsoft expects CEO appointment early 2014 SEATTLE (Reuters) - The board member leading Microsoft Corp's search for a new chief executive said on Tuesday he expects an appointment to be made early next year, the first time the board has been so specific on timing. American Air, Cantor Fitzgerald settle 9/11 suit for $135 million NEW YORK (Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc and its insurers have agreed to pay $135 million to Cantor Fitzgerald to settle the financial services company's lawsuit over business and property losses suffered in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, in which 658 of its employees were killed. Analysis: Aerospace M&A likely to get boost from U.S. budget deal WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) - A U.S. budget agreement making its way through Congress could set off the most robust series of mergers and acquisitions in the aerospace and defense sectors in years, industry leaders and experts say. Ex-SAC manager Martoma fails to end part of insider case NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge on Tuesday rejected former SAC Capital Advisors LP portfolio manager Mathew Martoma's request to dismiss some insider trading charges because they were based on transactions not covered under U.S. securities laws. BP files fraud suit to cut oil spill seafood fund payout HOUSTON (Reuters) - BP Plc filed a fraud lawsuit in U.S. court on Tuesday to halt some of the $2.3 billion it set aside to compensate commercial fishermen for losses claimed after the British oil company's 2010 offshore oil spill, the biggest in U.S. history. Related Video Russia reaches $15bln deal with Ukraine Gas deal offers Europe relief from Russia Economic News Inflation tame, but Fed may still trim bond buying U.S. budget deal clears crucial vote in Senate 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