STOCKS NEWS US-Swedish Match to sell unit to Philip Morris

Stocks on the move [HOT-RTRS]

Real-time Equity news [U][E][RESF/US]

For U.S. stock market report double-click [.N]
0742 ET 02July2009-Swedish Match to sell unit to Philip Morris
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Swedish Match (SWMA.ST) on Thursday agreed to sell its South African
operations to Philip Morris International (PM.N) for $224.7 million.

The deal is expected to be completed in the second half of 2009 and is
subject to approval by South Africa's competition authority.

For details, see [ID:nL2546432]

Shares of Philip Morris closed Wednesday at $44.09.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
0737 ET 02July2009-KBW sees strong Q2 for Wells Fargo
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KBW on Thursday wrote that Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N) could post strong
results in its second quarter, lifted by high mortgage revenue.

The firm raised its second-quarter and full-year earnings outlook on the
bank.

For details, see [ID:nBNG475608]

Shares of Wells Fargo closed Wednesday at $24.14.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
0718 ET 02July2009-Futures down ahead of June jobs data
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. index futures fell on Thursday, ahead of the release of important jobs
data for the month of June.

For June, the unemployment rate is expected to rise to 9.6 percent from 9.4
percent in May, according to a Reuters poll of estimates.

For details, see [ID:nN02542422]

Dow Jones industrial average futures DJc1 fell 56 points while S&P 500
futures SPc1 slid 5.9 points and Nasdaq 100 futures NDc1 were down 8.75
points.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
0715 ET 02July2009-UnitedHealth given OK to settle shareholder suit
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A U.S. federal judge has granted UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH.N) final
approval for the settlement of a 2007 shareholder lawsuit related to past stock
options practices, court documents show.

According to court papers filed in the U.S. district court in Minnesota,
Judge James Rosenbaum also granted the plaintiffs in the lawsuit attorneys'
fees of $29.3 million and litigation expenses of $514,592.

The shareholders who brought the lawsuit against the company had sought $47
million in attorneys' fees and $803,592 in litigation-related expenses, court
documents showed.

For details, see [ID:nBNG484252]

Shares closed Wednesday at $25.16.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
0709 ET 02July2009-Exelon raises hostile bid for NRG
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exelon Corp (EXC.N) on Thursday raised its hostile takeover bid for
independent power producer NRG Energy Inc (NRG.N) to $7.45 billion, citing
newly identified cost savings and NRG's recent acquisition of Reliant Energy's
retail business.

Under the increased offer, NRG common stock holders will receive 0.545
share of Exelon for each NRG share held.

In October, Exelon, the largest nuclear power company in the United States,
offered 0.485 share for each NRG share in a bid valued at $6.2 billion.

For details, see [ID:nBNG512453]

Shares of Exelon closed Wednesday at $51.56 while NRG rose 3.6 percent to
$27 in premarket trading.

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
0705 ET 02July2009-Economic indicators for July 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Economic indicators on tap for Thursday include weekly jobless claims and
ECRI data, May durable goods and factory orders data, manufacturing and
non-farm payroll data for June, the June unemployment rate, average earnings
and workweek hours for June and ECRI inflation data for June.

For details, see [ECI/US]

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net
0659 ET 02July2009-Earnings diary for July 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Companies scheduled to report quarterly results on Thursday include: MSCI
Inc (MXB.N), Acuity Brands (AYI.N) and MSC Industrial Direct (MSM.N). Earlier
Methode Electronics (MEI.N) reported its fourth-quarter results.
[ID:nWNAB3963]

For details, see [RESF/US]

Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net