The Traderszone Network

Global oil prices have tumbled almost 60 percent since June, hitting five-year lows as growing production and tepid global demand has caused a supply glut and prompted oil producers to scale back spending. “We expect our headcount adjustments to be in line with our primary competitors,” Halliburton’s Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Miller said on a post-earnings call on Tuesday, without giving a specific number. Baker Hughes, which is being acquired by Halliburton in a near-$35 billion deal, said earlier in the day it would lay off 7,000 employees.

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Netflix said on Tuesday it added 4.3 million subscribers in the quarter that ended in December, beating its own guidance thanks to higher-than-expected interest overseas. In the United States, Netflix pulled in 1.9 million streaming customers, down from 2.3 million additions a year earlier, and forecast signing up 1.8 million more in the current quarter. Netflix believes the slowdown is “a natural progression in our large U.S. market as we grow,” Netflix said in a quarterly letter to shareholders.

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We “have the ability to negotiate the substitution of certain aircraft types for other aircraft types as part of our flexible fleet plan, and we are considering the Boeing 777-300ER in this context,” United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said in an emailed statement. McCarthy did not say which aircraft United was considering switching from, though The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that it is nearing a deal to swap at least 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners for the 777-300ERs. McCarthy said that United currently is not considering placing new orders for wide-body aircraft.

The Pentagon on Tuesday said classified data about the $399 billion F-35 fighter jet program remains secure, despite fresh documents released by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden last week which said China stole “many terabytes” of data about the jet. The U.S. Defense Department’s F-35 program office said the latest documents released by the German magazine Der Spiegel “rehashed” a previously disclosed and reported 2010 incident, which it said compromised only non-classified data about the new warplane being built by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N).

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The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a challenge to controversial debit card “swipe fee” rules, dealing a blow to retailers, grocers and restaurant owners who argued the charges were unfairly high. Businesses pay the fees to banks when customers use debit cards to purchase goods or services. The fees reimburse banks for costs involved in offering debit cards. The high court’s refusal to hear the case keeps intact a March 2014 ruling by the U.S.

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Gold prices rise above $1,300 for the first time since August as investors rush back into the precious metal for a variety of reasons.
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The world’s elite got down to business on the first day of the Davos, with all eyes on the hotly-anticipated address from China’s Premier.