U.S.

Beijing Auto, Merbanco, Renco Said to Make Approaches About GM's Saab Unit Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., Merbanco Inc. and Renco Group Inc. have made approaches about General Motors Co.’s Saab unit after the collapse of a sale to Koenigsegg Group, said two people familiar with the situation.

Crude Oil Trades Near $76, Poised for Weekly Drop on Dubai Debt, Supplies Crude oil traded below $76 a barrel in New York, poised for a weekly decline, as concern over losses stemming from Dubai World’s attempt to reschedule its debt led to gains in the dollar and declines in equities.

Treasuries Surge, Set for Third Weekly Gain, on Dubai Debt, Stock Slump Treasuries rose the most in almost two weeks after a Dubai proposal to delay debt payments set off a slide in stocks and higher-yielding assets worldwide.

Gold Advances as Dubai Debt Concern Increases Demand for Investment Haven Gold climbed, erasing an earlier decline, as investors sought safer assets after Dubai’s attempt to reschedule debt shook confidence in higher yielding assets.

Siemens Hearing Aids Unit Said to Attract Interest From KKR, BC Partners Siemens AG’s hearing aid business, valued at as much as 3 billion euros ($4.5 billion), is drawing interest from private-equity firms including KKR & Co. L.P. and BC Partners Ltd., two people familiar with the matter said.

Madoff Investor Claims in Luxembourg Case `Simply Wrong,' UBS Lawyers Say UBS AG and Ernst & Young LLP said Luxembourg lawsuits filed by investors who lost millions of dollars in mutual funds linked to Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme are invalid and should be thrown out.

Latin America

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico: Latin American Bond and Currency Preview The following events and economic reports may influence trading in Latin American local bonds and currencies today. Bond yields and exchange rates are from the previous day’s session.

Vale, Itau to Beat Brazilian Small Caps in 2010, Schroders' Oliveira Says Brazil’s largest companies such as Vale SA and Itau Unibanco Holding SA will outpace gains in smaller stocks in 2010 as valuations favor the most traded shares, said Schroders Investment Management Brazil DTVM SA.

Citigroup Denies Brazil Was Offered Stake During Global Financial Crisis Citigroup Inc., the bank owned 34 percent by the U.S. government, said it didn’t offer Brazil a stake in the company amid the credit crisis.

Mexico's Axtel, Maxcom Sink as BBVA Says They're Vulnerable Unless Bought Axtel SAB, Mexico’s second-largest landline phone company, fell the most in five months in Mexico trading after BBVA Bancomer SA said the shares may decline if the company isn’t acquired.

Brazil Economy to Grow 6.1% in 2010, Bradesco Says, Most Bullish Forecast Brazil’s economy will grow 6.1 percent in 2010, bolstered by rising domestic demand, increasing exports and higher investment, according to Banco Bradesco SA, the country’s second-largest bank by market value.

Colombia's Peso Falls as Dubai Debt Concerns Hurt Demand for Higher Yields Colombia’s peso declined as Dubai’s proposal to delay debt payments spurred concern about emerging markets and reduced demand for higher-yielding assets.

Exclusive

Dubai World's Nakheel May Need Further $2 Billion to Finish Developments Nakheel PJSC, the Dubai-owned developer whose parent is seeking to delay debt payments, may need $2 billion to finish residential developments, according to an analyst based in the sheikhdom.

U.K. Retailers Avoid Christmas `Armageddon' Repeat With Fewer Discounts A year after swaths of panic price cuts led to a Christmas “Armageddon” for U.K. retailers, Britons may find it harder to get a bargain before the holiday.

Hitachi Bullet Train to Challenge France's Record-Setting TGV on Home Turf Hitachi Ltd., maker of the 186 mile per hour (300 kph) Bullet Train, will bid against the French- built TGV on its home soil as the Japanese company targets a European rail market that’s the biggest in the world.

Vale, Alcoa Consider Building Colombia Aluminum Smelters on Price Rebound Vale SA and Alcoa Inc. may build aluminum smelters in Colombia, requiring investments of more than $2 billion per plant, once prices for the lightweight metal rebound, Energy and Mining Minister Hernan Martinez said.

Patron's Tequila to Push Autos and Beers Off `Blockbuster' U.S. Billboards Patron Spirits International, which outspent all other U.S. liquor brands on marketing last year, plans to grab more “blockbuster” billboards, ousting auto, phone and beer ads to catch up with tequila rival Jose Cuervo.

Black Market Signals Vietnam's Dong Devaluation Is Just Start of Weakening Vietnam, struggling to control accelerating inflation and a widening trade deficit, will keep weakening the dong after devaluing the currency for the first time since December, black-market rates and forwards show.