U.S. Stock-Index Futures Are Little Changed; Merck Advances in Europe

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stock-index futures were little
changed before companies including Merck & Co., the third-largest
U.S. drugmaker, and American Express Co. report earnings.

Shares of Merck rose in Germany, while American Express
didn't trade in Europe. Tellabs Inc. surged after Thestreet.com
said Nokia Siemens Networks may bid for the maker of equipment
for phone and Internet systems. Pharmaceuticals company Schering-
Plough Corp. declined.


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U.S. Stocks Advance, Dow Average Tops 14,000 for First Time; Merrill Gains

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks rose, sending the Dow
Jones Industrial Average past 14,000 for the first time, after
wholesale inflation unexpectedly declined and Goldman, Sachs &
Co. advised buying shares of American Express Co.

American Express, the fourth-biggest U.S. credit-card
issuer, led the Dow average to a fourth-straight record. Rohm &
Haas Co., the largest maker of acrylics for paints and plastics,
pushed a gauge of raw-materials producers to the biggest gain in
the S&P 500 on its plans for a $2 billion share buyback.


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