NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stock futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Monday on optimism over holiday retail sales and as concerns eased that a possible debt default by two of Dubai’s flagship firms could damage a global economic recovery.

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Stocks set for higher open on sales optimism

My friend Keith works for a big mutual fund company and assumes I hate mutual funds because, he says, I “always write about the things we do wrong.” He insists that fund companies don’t actually do much wrong, because they…

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A how-to guide for funds is always handy

Motorola Inc.’s shipments of smartphones seem to be running slightly behind its target for the quarter, but not enough to hurt earnings, an analyst said Monday. Oppenheimer analyst Ittai Kidron said shipments of the Droid phone is meeting expectations, but…

Motorola – Smartphone – Business – Android – Telecommunications

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Ahead of the Bell: Motorola’s ‘Cliq’ not clicking

DUBAI/ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Glitzy Dubai may face a debt crisis that has sent a shudder through global markets, but you wouldn’t know it from officials or local media.

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Crisis, what crisis? Debt-laden Dubai just shrugs

Oil prices dipped below $76 a barrel Monday as lingering doubts over the global economic recovery and its effects on demand trumped bullish factors like the weaker U.S. dollar and the hijacking of an oil tanker off the coast of Somalia. By mid-afternoon in…

Dubai – Asia – Singapore – United Arab Emirates – Middle East

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Oil near $76 as demand fears trump weaker dollar

Ford is cranking up the horsepower on the 2011 Mustang as it tries to win back muscle car sales from its archrival, the Chevrolet Camaro. Ford Motor Co. will introduce a 305-horsepower V-6 engine for the Mustang this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. For…

Chevrolet Camaro – Muscle car – Ford Mustang – Ford Motor Company – Chevrolet

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Mustang, Camaro flex in horsepower showdown

Apple Inc. appears to have done well over the Thanksgiving weekend even without steep discounting and despite the release of Windows 7 _ a testament to the resilience of its products, an analyst said Monday. Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu said in-the-field…

Apple – Microsoft Windows – Thanksgiving – Windows 7 – Macintosh

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Ahead of the bell: Apple had strong weekend

BEIJING (Reuters) – Dubai’s debt crisis could be China’s opportunity to snap up gold and oil assets, a senior Chinese official said in remarks published on Monday.

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Dubai crisis gives China chance to buy oil, gold: report

Stock futures were modestly higher Monday as investors try to balance concern about fallout from Dubai’s debt crisis against encouraging signs from U.S. consumers. After initial sharp declines late last week, global markets are stabilizing following an…

Dubai – United Arab Emirates – United States – Middle East – Stock

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Stock futures modestly higher ahead of opening

(Reuters) – Global semiconductor sales rose 5.1 percent in October sequentially, spurred by strength across all regions as electronic equipment manufacturers boost production for the holiday season, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said.

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Global chip sales rise

A top Dubai finance official says heavily indebted Dubai World is not guaranteed by the emirate’s government. Abdulrahman al-Saleh, director general of Dubai’s Finance Department, says lenders to the conglomerate bear some responsibility for the current…

Dubai – List of tallest buildings and structures in the world – United Arab Emirates – Middle East – Business and Economy

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Dubai official: Dubai World’s debt its own

With the holiday shopping season just under way, analysts are mixed as to whether retailers will fare better this season than last year. While shopping held steady over the Thanksgiving weekend compared with last year, economic pressures remain as shoppers…

Thanksgiving – Christmas and holiday season – retail – Business – BlackFriday

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Ahead of the Bell: Holiday retail sales

Worldwide semiconductor sales fell 3.5 percent in October from a year ago, but rose from September as manufacturers ramped up production for the holiday season. Sales totaled $21.7 billion in October, with all regions showing declines except for the Americas,…

Semiconductor – Christmas and holiday season – Manufacturing – Business – Components

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Global semiconductor sales fall 3.5 pct in October

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. fund managers decreased their heavy exposure to stocks in November while increasing their cash allocations ahead of 2009′s close and on signs that economic recovery may be slow, a Reuters poll showed on Monday.

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U.S. investors curb risk trades as 2009 nears end

Q. My wife and I will be of retirement age in a few years. We both have paid into Social Security, and we know if we take benefits before our designated retirement age of 66, the benefit is reduced. Is…

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Online tools help, but advisers will address individual retirement needs