Today's Headlines

Bloomberg:
- Corn and soybeans may fall in Chicago as rains and cool weather aid reproduction of the two biggest US crops. Wheat may fall as drier weather firms muddy fields and allows increased harvesting in the Great Plains.
- US Treasuries are falling the most in a week today as a drop in a measure of the perceived risk of owning US corporate bonds reduced demand for the safety of government debt.
- Apple Inc. ran out of iPhones at more than half its stores less than a week after introducing the combination iPod music player and handset in the US. Buyers emptied outlets in 10 states, with 95 of 164 stores reporting sellouts last night, according to Apple’s web site.
- Billionaire Nelson Peltz said his Triarc Cos. investment company is considering a bid for Wendy’s Intl., the third-largest US hamburger chain.
- SAP AG(SAP) said it made “inappropriate” downloads of Oracle Corp.(ORCL) code, responding to a lawsuit that claims the German company stole programs from its competitor.

Wall Street Journal:
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Eli Lilly and Britain’s Royal Mail Group Plc are among companies that are experimenting with letting employees pick their own computers or electronic equipment.
- Bear Stearns(BSC) intends to strengthen risk controls in its money-management business.
- More companies are using electronic signatures, or “e-signatures,” as a way of cutting costs and reducing fraud.
- Kana Software, Teneros Inc. and some other US technology companies are scaling back software development in India because salaries there have risen to as much as 75% of those in California’s Silicon Valley.

NY Times:
- Companies are adding “chief sustainability officers” and similar positions to their executive rosters. As well as ensuring environmentally sound practices, these executives work to discourage regulation and try to identify ways companies can make more money or improve their brands through “green” initiatives.

Washington Post:
- US officials say the next terrorist attack in the country will probably be similar to the failed attempts in Britain last weekend. Unsophisticated, simultaneous stacks by groups indirectly linked to al-Qaeda are difficult to prevent and are aimed at causing widespread panic rather than mass casualties, citing US intelligence and counter-terrorism officials.

Handelsblatt:
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the German armed forces should be given more scope to help police defend the country against terrorist attacks.
- The German government wants to boost subsidies for planemaker Airbus SAS, citing a draft of the 2008 budget law.

Ham Mihan:
- A black market in gasoline is emerging in Iran after the government imposed rationing, with fuel being sold for about six times the official price.