Media Digest (4/20/2012) Reuters, WSJ, NYT, FT, Bloomberg

BRICs want more of a say in the International Monetary Fund before they make their next contributions. (Reuters)

French president Nicolas Sarkozy almost certainly will be voted out of office, raising questions about the nation’s role in the European Union. (Reuters)

A Boston Consulting Group survey shows large American companies are more likely to locate workers in the United States than smaller companies are. (Reuters)

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) beats estimates for its quarterly earnings. (Reuters)

Verizon (NYSE: VZ) will sell Microsoft-powered phones to offset leverage from Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) in the smartphone market. (Reuters)

Ireland is losing more of its workers as it slips back into recession. (Reuters)

Layoffs and home sales raise concerns about the pace of the recovery. (WSJ)

Splunk (NASDAQ: SPLK), which organizes data for companies, sees its IPO price double on its first day of trading. (WSJ)

Hedge fund assets hit a new record, according to Hedge Fund Research. (WSJ)

New York sues Sprint-Nextel (NYSE: S) over what it claims are back taxes due to wireless sales. (WSJ)

Several AMR unions support a merger with US Airways (NYSE: LCC). (WSJ)

The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government reports that tax revenue for states rose. (WSJ)

Young women are more career driven than men, according to a Pew Research Center study. (WSJ)

Ford (NYSE: F) will build a fifth car plant in China as it hopes to double production capacity and sales outlets by 2015. (WSJ)

Nokia (NYSE: NOK) plans less expensive versions of its new Lumia to stimulate sales. (WSJ)

A weak Europe will be at the heart of IMF and World Bank meetings next week. (NYT)

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) remains concerned about a rating agency downgrade. (NYT)

Microsoft says earnings were aided by strong PC sales, but revenue from its entertainment division dropped. (FT)

A rise in bond trading helps push Wall St. earnings. (FT)

The IMF expects to raise $400 billion after having brought in $320 billion. (FT)

More rumors arise that Apple will debut the iPhone 5 in October. (Bloomberg)

Douglas A. McIntyre