Media Digest 8/4/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

Reuters:   A plan for universal healthcare in China could cut the savings rate.

Reuters:   Bank regulators are opposing the Obama shake-up of the system.

Reuters:   Bank of America (BAC) settled SEC charges over Merrill bonuses.

Reuters:   July retail sales lacked a back-to-school jump.

Reuters:   Toyota (TM) revised its forecasts upward.

Reuters:   The FDIC is moving quickly to set rules for private equity to invest in banks.

Reuters:   The FTC is pressing a probe on the relationship between the Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG) boards.

Reuters:   BHP Billiton (BHP) named a former Ford (F) CEO as chairman.

Reuters:   AIG (AIG) picked a former Met Life (MET) chief  as its next CEO.

WSJ:   The loss at UBS (UBS) widened to $1.3 billion.

WSJ:   The Treasury will borrow less in the third quarter than expected.

WSJ:   Eric Schmidt will leave the Apple board.

WSJ:   CIT (CIT) is moving to improve the payout on its bonds.

WSJ:   Starbucks (SBUX) is seeking to act more like streamlined competitors.

WSJ:   Voters in Detroit and Flint will go to the polls in elections that will help determine their futures.

WSJ:   Savings could have a lot to do with future increases in the stock market.

WSJ:   Oil hit s six-week high.

WSJ:   MGM Mirage (MGM) is seeing an improvement in bookings.

WSJ:   Macy’s (M) is using the recession to remake its business.

WSJ:   GM’s job cuts are short of its goals.

NYT:   Income losses continue long after a recession.

NYT:   US regulators are looking that the impact of high-frequency trading on the markets.

FT:   The market for leveraged loans hit a 12-month high.

Douglas A. McIntyre