Media Digest 12/8/2010 Reuters, WSJ, FT, NYT, Bloomberg

The US government has broadened it probe of insider trading. (Reuters)

The euro will not last more than a few years, according to Jim Rogers. (Reuters)

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are in discussions with Administration officials about setting up programs to lessen the balances on underwater mortgages. (WSJ)

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) released its new Chrome-based PC too late for holiday sales. (Reuters)

Nintendo’s Wii has lost a great deal of ground to game consoles from Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Sony (NYSE: SNE).  (Reuters)

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) plans to add privacy protection elements to its new browser. (Reuters)

Toronto-Dominion Bank may be a buyer of Chrysler Financial. (Reuters)

Sanofi-Aventis may extend its bid for Genzyme (NASDAQ: :GNZM)

The head of a panel which investigated the BP plc (NYSE: BP) spill will suggest a large shift in the oil industry to increase safety. (WSJ)

Investors have sharply increased their investments in commodities. (WSJ)

Fortune Brands will split itself into pieces. (WSJ)

The National Conference of State Legislatures says states face mid-year budget shortfalls of nearly $27 billion. (WSJ)

Yum Brands (NYSE: YUM) said it will increase the number of KFC outlets in Africa. (WSJ)

Prima Cinema would charge customers $20,000 for home viewers to get movies the same day they come out in theaters. (WSJ)

Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) have relationships with expert networks which the government has begun to investigate. (WSJ)

Tax cuts could create the equivalent of a new stimulus package. (WSJ)

Ireland approved tax cuts which will affect virtually every income and business industry in the nation. (WSJ)

The IMF criticized the EU for not taking a more comprehensive stand against the growing credit crisis in Europe. (WSJ)

Oil rigs in the Gulf are prepared to begin new drilling by permits are slow to come. (NYT)

The ECB and nations involves in the rescue of nations in the EU are at odds over the future of bailout plans. (NYT)

The FDA has approved a new diet drug call Contrave. (NYT)

The IMF asked for a “comprehensive” approach to Europe’s debt problems. (FT)

Google’s new laptop is a challenge to Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows (FT)

US bond yields have moved up sharply (FT)

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Xbox sales have passed those of the Nintendo Wii (FT)

German exports fell in October (Bloomberg)

EU bank stress tests have done little to give the market any confidence in their stability (Bloomberg)

Yahoo!’s (NASDAQ: YHOO) Bartz says Facebook is a larger competitor than Google (NASDAQ: GOOG)

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development’s 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment shows the US behind many students in Asia. (Bloomberg)

China is a large purchaser of Japanese debt. (Bloomberg)

Douglas A. McIntyre