Apple (AAPL) sees no near-term impact on results from EC opinion - Bloomberg

Irish cabinet delays decision on Apple tax appeal

By Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's cabinet could not agree on Wednesday whether to fight a European Commission ruling against Dublin's tax dealings with Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), raising questions over any appeal and the government's stability.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has insisted Dublin would appeal any adverse ruling ever since the EU investigation began in 2014. But after over five hours of discussion, the cabinet adjourned until Friday when the government said a decision would be made.

Dublin has just over two months at the... More

Energy shares fall on oil decline; U.S. yields post monthly surge

By Sam Forgione

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. and European shares fell on Wednesday as a drop in oil prices weighed on energy stocks, while two-year U.S. Treasury yields ended August with the biggest monthly increase since November on growing expectations the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates.

Oil prices tumbled to more than two-week lows, with U.S. crude falling more than 3.5 percent, after government data showed a large weekly build in U.S. crude and distillate stockpiles and a smaller-than-expected draw in gasoline.

The weakness in oil prices drove declines... More

EU ruling on Apple stirs calls for U.S. tax reform

By David Morgan and Jason Lange

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A European Commission order requiring Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) to pay Ireland $13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in unpaid taxes on Tuesday drew swift rebukes from the Obama administration and lawmakers in Congress, while reigniting calls for U.S. tax reform.

The White House and the Treasury Department, which enforces federal tax policy, warned that U.S.-EU economic relations could be affected by the European Commission's ruling that Apple had received illegal state aid under its agreement with Ireland.

Business groups protested. The... More

Volatility and Volume movement

iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures (VXX) down 20c to 36.18

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) down 11c to 12.83

Actives: MU MSFT AAPL MYL MRVL MDLZ GPRO

U.S. job market optimism lifts consumer confidence to 11-month high

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence rose to an 11-month high in August, with households more upbeat about the labor market, in a further sign that the economy was regaining steam after faltering in the first half of the year.

While other data on Tuesday showed a moderation in house prices in June, the gains probably remain sufficient to boost household wealth and continue to support consumer spending, as well as make home purchasing affordable for first-time buyers.

"This will likely be interpreted as more evidence that the U.S. economic recovery is back on... More