Morning News

• Futures are pointing to a slightly higher open this morning.

• Energy Dept. will release oil inventories at 10:30 this morning.

• Weekly Jobless Claims to be released at 8:30 this morning.

• Trade deficit numbers for August will also be released at 8:30 this morning.

• Fed Beige Book this afternoon at 2:00

• European markets are trading up just a bit today. In Tokyo the Nikkei 225 lost ground.

• FDA has approved Genentech's Avastin in the fight against lung cancer.

• Visa is setting itself up for an initial public offering.

• Healthways inc. to pay $450 million for Axia health Management.

• CKE Restaurants Inc. boosting share buyback program by $50 million.

• Transmeta Corp. files lawsuit against Intel Corp.

• Crude oil has pulled back to $57.38 per barrel.

• Natural gas is just above $6.00 per unit.

• Wholsale gasoline down to $1.44 per gallon.

• Gold remains just below $580.00 per ounce.

Budd Foxx