Before the Bell: Stock futures flat with claims data on tap; Priceline gains

	Click to View in Browser 05/8/2014 Stock futures flat with claims data on tap; Priceline gains NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Thursday, ahead of data on the labor market and as earnings season began to wind down. Jobless claims fall, snap three-week rising streak WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, indicating the labor market was strengthening despite a run-up in applications in prior weeks. At China's Alibaba, chairman Ma's dealings raise red flags SAN FRANCISCO/BEIJING (Reuters) - Part-way through Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's long-awaited IPO prospectus was a subtle, but striking, warning: investors should know that lead founder and executive chairman Jack Ma might work against the company's best interests. Exclusive: Barnes & Noble seeks big expansion of its college stores NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey (Reuters) - Barnes & Noble Inc is turning to its college roots to boost its top line. Barclays axes 19,000 jobs, reins in Wall Street ambitions LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Barclays reined in its ambitions to be a Wall Street powerhouse on Thursday and signaled a return to its retail roots with a plan to hive off much of its investment bank and axe one in four jobs at the division. ECB holds rates, markets watch Draghi for any hints of June action BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged on Thursday, waiting for updated forecasts from its staff in June before deciding whether to take fresh action to counter low inflation that ticked up last month. AstraZeneca shares gain on talk of sweetened Pfizer bid LONDON (Reuters) - AstraZeneca shares gained 2 percent on Thursday on speculation that U.S. drugmaker Pfizer was about to return with a higher bid worth more than 53 pounds ($89.9) a share, traders said. McDonald's April global comparable sales rise 1.2 percent; U.S. flat (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp on Thursday reported an increase in global sales at established restaurants for April, with disappointing sales in Europe and flat business in the United States. Fannie Mae to pay Treasury $5.7 billion on quarterly profit WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Government-controlled mortgage finance firm Fannie Mae said on Thursday it would send the U.S. Treasury a dividend of $5.7 billion after posting a ninth straight quarterly profit. Billionaire brothers plead not guilty as mammoth Hong Kong graft case begins HONG KONG (Reuters) - Billionaire brothers Thomas and Raymond Kwok, co-chairmen of Asia's largest developer, Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd, pleaded not guilty on Thursday in Hong Kong's biggest corruption case since the anti-graft agency was formed 40 years ago. Related Video Sports Spread: Man City have a point to prove Breakingviews: Barclays CEO finds his backbone Global Investing Family unity doesn't extend to Apple IDs U.S.-based stock funds post biggest outflows in a year: ICI 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