(Reuters) - Financial exchanges group NYSE Euronext is banking on its nascent U.S. futures unit and technology investments to reverse a decline in trading that pushed down profit last quarter. The group aims to tackle futures giant the Chicago Mercantile Exchange head on in a matter of weeks with a new U.S. exchange and hopes to attract more high-frequency trading firms with new data centers near New York and London.

• Read more

(Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp lifted its annual forecasts beyond market expectations as cost cuts and sales exceeded its plans, but a heavy reliance on exports will keep it a laggard as long as the yen stays strong. The world's top automaker posted a smaller-than-expected fall in third-quarter profit and hiked its sales forecast for the year to March 31 by 70,000 vehicles to 7.48 million, thanks to better-than-expected sales in Asia, Japan and Russia.

• Read more

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday, boosted by merger news and rising metals prices as investors bet on a stronger global economy. The S&P 500 moved above a key short-term resistance level at 1,313.15, trading at its highest intraday level since June 2008. Diversified industrial company Danaher Corp (DHR.N) agreed to buy medical diagnostics company Beckman Coulter Inc (BEC.N) for about $6.8 billion and oil drilling company EnsCo Plc (ESV.N) will buy rival Pride International Inc (PDE.N) for about $7.3 billion.

• Read more

(Reuters) - Danaher Corp agreed to buy medical diagnostics company Beckman Coulter Inc for $5.8 billion cash, moving further into its growing medical technology business. The $83.50-per-share deal represents an 11 percent premium to Beckman's closing price on Friday, and a roughly 45 percent premium over its price in December before rumors of a deal entered the marketplace, according to Beckman.

• Read more

(Reuters) - Ensco Plc (ESV.N) will buy its rival Pride International Inc (PDE.N) for about $7.3 billion in a deal that would create the world's second-largest offshore oil and gas driller, according to the companies. The deal announced on Monday sets the purchase price for Pride's shares at $41.60 apiece, a premium of 21 percent to Friday's closing price.

• Read more

(Reuters) - AOL Inc will buy The Huffington Post for $315 million, relying on the high-profile liberal pundit and onetime candidate for governor of California who co-founded the influential website to rescue it from the dustbin of Internet history. The move, which pushed AOL shares up 5 percent in premarket trade before falling 2.5 percent in opening trade on Monday, will create a media group that will have a combined base of 117 million visitors a month in the United States, and reach 270 million people globally, AOL said in a statement.

• Read more

(Reuters) - Hasbro Inc (HAS.O) reported weaker-than-expected revenue in the fourth-quarter on tepid U.S. demand for games and puzzles in the biggest selling season of the year. The results came less than a week after industry leader Mattel In (MAT.O) handily beat Wall Street estimates in its fourth quarter covering the holidays.

• Read more

(Reuters) - The big traditional brokerages are in danger of losing relevance in a world where more investors want independent and unbiased advice, TD Ameritrade Chief Executive Fred Tomczyk said on Thursday. TD Ameritrade operates one of the largest online brokerages in the world, catering to middle-class households and self-directed investors. It also is affiliated with 4,400 registered investment advisers managing nearly $140 billion in client assets, a corner of the market growing rapidly by meeting the demand for independent, fee-based advice.

• Read more

(Reuters) - Health insurer Humana Inc (HUM.N) posted a far lower quarterly net profit on Monday, hurt by a variety of expenses, but raised its 2011 earnings forecast on better-than-expected sales of its Medicare plans for the elderly. Analysts said the fourth-quarter results were messy because of multiple charges that may be one-time in nature. But they were heartened by enrollment trends for Humana's Medicare plans, which account for a large percentage of the company's revenue.

• Read more

(Reuters) - Loews Corp (L.N) reported its best quarter of the year as strong investment income from its biggest holding, CNA Financial (CNA.N), helped the conglomerate post a better-than-expected 16 percent increase in quarterly profit. New York-based Loews, run by the billionaire Tisch family, said net investment income rose 20 percent to $711 million for the fourth quarter. Net income for the fourth quarter was $466 million, or $1.12 per share, compared with net income of $403 million, or $0.94 per share, in the same quarter last year.

• Read more