Morning News

• Futures are pointing to a higher open this morning.

• Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to speak today after the market close.
  

• Copper is up due to concerns in Indonesia. Newmont Mining has suspended exploration and protest are taking place at the Freeport Memoran facility.

• Reports are out that Reckitt Benckiser Plc. could make a bid for Pfizer Inc. consumer products business for as much as $10.5 billion.

• Wal Mart saying the company could hire up to 150,00 people, and open 20 stores in China this year.

• Michaels Stores Inc. exploring the sale of itself. The company has 1,100 stores and could bring in nearly $5.5 billion.

• Dell Inc. plans to expand in India. The company plans to double it's work force over the next three years in the country.

• Crude Oil is $62.39 per barrel.

• Wholesale Gasoline remains high at $1.83 per gallon.

• Natural Gas slips to just below $7.00 per unit.

• Gold currently $554.50 per ounce.

Budd Foxx