U.S.

U.S. Stocks Gain on Prospects for EU Bailout of Greece; Coca-Cola Advances U.S. stocks rallied, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average back above 10,000, as prospects for a bailout of Greece eased concern that deteriorating government finances will derail the global economic recovery.

Wholesale Inventories in U.S. Unexpectedly Decline 0.8% in Sign of Demand Sales at U.S. wholesalers climbed in December for a ninth consecutive month, leading to an unexpected drop in stockpiles that may keep spurring orders.

Disney Profit Tops Analysts' Estimates on TV Gains, Stabilizing Parks Unit Walt Disney Co., the world’s biggest media company, reported fiscal first-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates as TV revenue rose and theme-park results stabilized.

MetLife Said to Weigh Using $8 Billion of Stock to Fund AIG Alico Buyout MetLife Inc. may use stock to pay for more than half of the planned $15 billion purchase of an American International Group Inc. life insurance unit, said three people with knowledge of the matter.

Toyota Faces U.S. Recall Probe With Lobbying Budget Bigger Than Chrysler's Toyota Motor Corp. is armed with one of the auto industry’s biggest lobbying budgets as it faces U.S. government and congressional inquiries into millions of vehicles recalled for sudden acceleration.

Airgas Rejects $5.1 Billion Air Products Offer for Third Time as Too Low Airgas Inc. rejected a $5.1 billion cash buyout offer from rival Air Products & Chemicals Inc., the third time its directors have spurned attempts to form the largest U.S. industrial-gas company.

Latin America

Brazil May Levy Tax on Ore Exports as Lobao Says He `Wants More' From Vale Brazil, the world’s second-biggest iron-ore exporter, may start taxing shipments of the steelmaking raw material as it seeks to lure investment in domestic steel plants, Energy and Mining Minister Edison Lobao said.

Bovespa Jumps Most Since November as Currency Gains, Bank Earnings Surge Brazil stocks rose the most since November, extending the Bovespa index’s rebound from a three- month low, as a stronger currency boosted the nation’s biggest airlines and Itau Unibanco Holding SA said earnings surged.

Pinera's Choice of Larrain as Finance Minister Would Maintain Policies Chilean President-elect Sebastian Pinera’s choice of Felipe Larrain as Finance Minister will ensure a degree of continuity with the policies of the current administration, according to Morgan Stanley’s Luis Arcentales and Alberto Bernal at Bulltick Capital Markets.

Itau Unibanco Net Rises 72% as Expanding Demand Boosts Loans; Shares Surge Itau Unibanco Holding SA, Brazil’s biggest bank by market value, said fourth-quarter profit advanced 72 percent as the recovery in the local economy boosted demand for loans.

Chavez's Threats to Nationalize Help Contain Venezuelan Consumer Prices Venezuelan consumer prices rose less than analysts forecast in January after President Hugo Chavez threatened to seize businesses that raised prices.

Brazil Soy Forecast Raised to 66.7 Million Tons After Rains, Ministry Says Soybean output in Brazil, the world’s largest grower after the U.S., will rise more than previously forecast this year as above-average rains help the flowering of the beans, the Agriculture Ministry said.

Exclusive

Greece Says Call for Help Would Send `Worst Signal' as Bond Yields Surge Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said he can’t call for outside aid as his government struggles to cut the European Union’s largest budget deficit.

Holders of Billions in Czar Bonds Sue to Recovery Kremlin's Paris Property The Russian government vowed to “defend our rights” after French holders of czarist bonds valued at as much as 100 billion euros ($137 billion) threatened to sue the Kremlin and seize property it owns in Paris.

Sugar Shortage May Turn Acute in Third Quarter on Demand From U.S., Mexico A global sugar shortage, which drove prices to the highest level in three decades, may peak in the third quarter this year on demand from the U.S., Mexico, India and Pakistan, according to U.S.-based Tropix Capital Management.

`Blind Pools' Lose Appeal as Ziman, Callahan Plan Real Estate IPO Comeback Richard Ziman and Timothy Callahan want to raise money in the equity market after selling their real estate companies for a combined $12 billion before the property crash. Investors may balk at bankrolling their return.

`Avatar' Triumphs in China as State-Backed `Confucius' Fails to Break Even A film about the Chinese philosopher Confucius was overwhelmed at the box office by News Corp.’s “Avatar,” grossing 97 million yuan ($14 million) in 2½ weeks on the mainland and failing to break even, its producer said.

Bankers' Stew Disguising CDO Scraps as Tasty Morsels: Book Excerpt Since its inception, the derivatives market has echoed the fairground hawkers’ call to “scream if you want to go faster.” Among the new derivatives, collateralized-debt obligations (CDOs) were particularly hot.