Before the Bell: U.S. housing starts rise less than expected, permits fall

	Click to View in Browser 04/16/2014 U.S. housing starts rise less than expected, permits fall WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. housing starts rose less than expected in March and building permits fell, pointing to underlying weakness in the housing market that could persist despite better weather. Wall St. to rise after Chinese data, Yahoo up on Alibaba NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were set to rise at the open on Wednesday after China's economic growth exceeded expectations and Yahoo shares rallied on the strength of revenue growth in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, in which it has a stake. Litigation expenses push Bank of America into loss (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp posted a first-quarter loss on Wednesday as it set aside an extra $6 billion to cover litigation expenses, a figure that far exceeded the legal settlements the No. 2 U.S. bank has announced recently. GM to seek court protection against ignition suits (Reuters) - General Motors Co said it will ask a U.S. bankruptcy court to bar plaintiffs from proceeding with lawsuits against the automaker for claims related to any actions before it filed for bankruptcy in 2009. China economic growth slows to 18-month low in first-quarter BEIJING (Reuters) - China's economy grew at its slowest pace in 18 months at the start of 2014, but did a touch better than expected and showed some improvement in March, suggesting Beijing will not rush to follow up recent steps to support activity. Fed should try to align projections with policy statement: Lockhart ATLANTA (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve should try to make its communications on the expected path of interest rates and the economy consistent with its policy statements, a top official at the central bank said on Wednesday. CITIC Pacific in $36.5 billion deal to buy parent's main business HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's CITIC Pacific has agreed to buy the main operating unit of its parent, state-backed CITIC Group, for $36.5 billion in a stock and cash deal aimed at diversifying its metals and mining business. Mt Gox set to liquidate as court denies rehabilitation (Reuters) - Mt. Gox, once the world's biggest bitcoin exchange, is likely to be liquidated after a Tokyo court dismissed the company's bid to resuscitate its business, the court-appointed administrator said on Wednesday. Megaupload's Dotcom, facing legal threat, launches political party AUCKLAND (Reuters) - Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom holds court while bathing in the pool of a sprawling New Zealand mansion, fist bumping and chatting with some of the 700 guests gathered to celebrate the political party he launched last month to promote Internet freedom. China gets first bitcoin ATM, skirting bank crackdown SHANGHAI (Reuters) - BTC China, one of the country's leading digital currency exchanges, has installed China's first bitcoin ATM and launched an online app allowing individuals to buy and sell bitcoins using mobile phones, skirting local banking regulations seen as increasingly hostile to so-called crypto-currencies. Related Video Beacons of hope: Spain's lighthouses open for business Identity theft slams U.S. taxpayers Global Investing Watchdog warns about big banks' use of government-affiliated loans Michigan, White House discuss federal money for bankrupt Detroit: report 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