Media Digest (12/19/2011) Reuters, WSJ, FT, Bloomberg

Fitch is skeptical that European Union officials can solve the sovereign debt crisis. (Reuters)

The rising U.S. deficit could undermine health care reforms. (Reuters)

The S&P 500 may not close in the black for the year. (Reuters)

The patent battle between Samsung and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) in Germany escalates. (Reuters)

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal buys a $300 million stake in Twitter. (Reuters)

Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) may try to take over Gulf Keystone Petroleum for $10.9 billion. (Reuters)

The Federal Reserve likely will accept Basel reforms requiring U.S. banks to hold more capital. (WSJ)

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) to increase its commitment to enter the TV business. (WSJ)

An attempt by AT&T (NYSE: T) to sell assets to get approval of T-Mobile has faltered. (WSJ)

Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK) has little success selling patents that it needs to stay out of bankruptcy. (WSJ)

Manpower Group expects hiring to increase next quarter. (WSJ)

The House will not support a key payroll tax bill. (WSJ)

Fitch says it will try to signal the threat of downgrades before they happen. (WSJ)

Apple to stop accepting apps until after Christmas. (NYT)

The head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, says the break up of the eurozone is still possible. (FT)

China to allow more investors to invest in companies that trade on its stock markets. (FT)

The watch dog that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will join the New York Attorney General in a probe of bank mortgages paper sales. (FT)

EU leaders will seek IMF capital to quell concerns over the region’s financial crisis. (Bloomberg)

Douglas A. McIntyre