Today's Headlines

Bloomberg:
- SunTrust Banks(STI) bought a minority interest in Alpha Equity Management LLC to expand its hedge fund offerings.
- For the first time since the August freeze in the credit markets, companies issued more IOUs backed by collateral as the cost to borrow in the short-term debt fell to the lowest in 22 months.
- The cost of borrowing in euros, dollars and pounds fell for a fourth day, suggesting central bank efforts at reviving interbank lending are working.
- Crude oil fell after an Energy Dept. report showed that US gasoline and diesel inventories rose as refineries increased operating rates.
- US airline delays in November fell for the third consecutive month.
- Monsanto Co.(MON) more than doubled first-quarter profit and raised this year’s earnings forecast after demand for food and biofuels boosted corn plantings in South America.
- Average global temperatures will be lower in 2008 than in any year since 2000 because of cooling waters in the Pacific Ocean, according to an estimate from the Met office, the UK weather forecaster.

Wall Street Journal:
- New Office for Macs Speeds Up Programs, Integrates Formats.
- Wireless HDTVs to Be on View at Tech Show.
- China Stocks Could Be Hindered In 2008 by Slower Profit Growth.

ABC News:
- Housing Slump?” Not in Manhattan.

IBD:
- The Big 10: Top Hedge Fund Trades of 2007.

AFP:
- Iran would receive “no benefit” by opening diplomatic or trade relations with the US administration, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.