Today's Headlines

Bloomberg:
- Syria will resume diplomatic relations with Iraq after more than 20 years, raising the possibility of collaboration to stem insurgency in Iraq.
- Deere & Co.(DE), the world’s largest maker of farm equipment, said fourth-quarter earnings rose more than analysts estimated as sales unexpectedly increased. The shares surged 6.3%.
- Toyota Motor(TM), whose vehicles earn top marks for buyer satisfaction, has more models than any other automaker ranked at the bottom of a crash-protection study.
- Fed Governor Warsh said inflation is too high and the US economy will remain “remarkably resilient.”
- Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, a well-know Christian and outspoken critic of Syria, was shot dead in an ambush on his car.
- Shares of Google(GOOG) passed $500 for the first time as investors bet the company will extend its dominance in Internet search and advertising.

Wall Street Journal:
- The worst of the US housing slowdown is over, citing a WSJ.com economic forecasting survey.
- Walt Disney(DIS) branded children’s footwear will be made and sold by Payless ShoeSource(PSS).
- Honeywell Intl.(HON) won approval from US regulators for a radar system to help planes beat turbulence.
- US and European Union officials are negotiating ways to preserve a US anti-terrorism program that monitors bank-transfer data while still meeting concerns about privacy.
- Comcast Corp.(CMCSA) will sign a deal with Walt Disney(DIS) to provide content for its video-on-demand service.

NY Times:
- NY Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton spent almost $29.5 million on her re-election campaign, leaving a smaller cash balance for a potential presidential campaign than some of her advisers previously forecast.

AP:
- Former Clinton administration Attorney General Janet Reno filed court papers challenging the Bush administration’s decision to try a suspected terrorist outside the court system.

Financial Times:
- Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold’s(FCX) offer to buy Phelps Dodge(PD) for $25.5 billion may mark a peak in mining-company values.

Handelsblatt:
- Intel Corp.(INTC) is gaining market share in Germany from competitor AMD(AMD), citing Intel’s German head Schwaderer.

Vedomosti:
- Evraz Group SA, Russia’s biggest steelmaker, is paying too much for Oregon Steel(OS), citing market analysts.

Vatan:
- An exploration company part-owned by Cukurova Group, the main owner of Turkey’s biggest mobile phone company, found oil in northern Iraq.

Globes:
- IBM(IBM) is in talks to buy Verint Systems(VRNT) for $1 billion to bolster its entrance into the security camera software market.