Before the Bell: Futures point to dip at the open despite deals

	Click to View in Browser 06/9/2014 Futures point to dip at the open despite deals NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures pointed to modest losses at the open on Monday, as a rash of corporate deals weren't enough reason for investors to keep buying following a rally that has taken major indexes to repeated record highs. Tyson Foods says wins bidding war for Hillshire Brands (Reuters) - Tyson Foods Inc said it reached a "unilaterally binding offer" to buy Hillshire Brands Co for $8.55 billion, including debt, beating out Pilgrim's Pride Corp PPC.O for the maker of Jimmy Dean sausages. Iraq to stay ahead of Iran for now in rivalry for OPEC No.2 spot VIENNA (Reuters) - A full lifting of sanctions on Iran could spark new rivalries within OPEC as Tehran seeks to reclaim its rank as No. 2 producer from former foe Iraq. Japan's economy picks up speed on unexpected surge in capex TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's first quarter growth handily beat initial estimates on an unexpected surge in capital spending, fresh signs the world's third-biggest economy is in better shape to weather a hit to consumption from a sales tax hike. Ackman says Allergan holders back takeover at $180/shr: CNBC (Reuters) - Activist investor William Ackman on Monday defended Valeant Pharmaceuticals during an interview on CNBC television and said that Allergan Inc shareholders told him they would support a deal at $180 per share. McClendon's firm to buy $4.25 billion of U.S. shale assets (Reuters) - American Energy Partners LLP, the company started by Aubrey McClendon after he was pushed out as CEO of Chesapeake Energy Corp, said it would acquire shale oil and gas assets in Texas, Ohio and West Virginia for $4.25 billion. Amazon expands middleman role in latest online payments push SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc will start managing subscription payments for start-ups and other companies - the latest in a series of quiet moves the e-commerce giant has made into PayPal's turf over the past year. Alitalia needs a few weeks to close Etihad deal: CEO ROME (Reuters) - Alitalia needs a few weeks to seal a deal with Etihad which could see the Abu Dhabi airline invest 560 million euros ($762 million) in its struggling Italian peer in return for hefty job cuts, Alitalia chief executive Gabriele del Torchio said. Morgan Stanley to sell stake in TransMontaigne (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley is selling its stake in oil pipeline company TransMontaigne Inc to NGL Energy Partners LP for $200 million, as the bank slims down its commodities business. VW's Skoda posts record May unit sales, up 15 percent PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech carmaker Skoda Auto, a unit of Volkswagen, posted a 15.2 percent rise in global sales in May, selling 91,200 units, a record for that month, it said on Monday. Related Video China's ZTE out to narrow the Apple gap Breakingviews: Britain is Europe's IPO weak link Global Investing For these commencement speakers, first jobs taught people skills Blackstone seeded hedge fund Sureview Capital shuts down: sources 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