Barea, Wolves snap Thunder's 12-game streak

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — J.J. Barea ended Oklahoma City's 12-game winning streak almost all by himself.Playing with the tenacity that made him so important to the Mavericks' run to the title two years ago, Barea scored 14 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 99-93 victory over the Thunder on Thursday night.Kevin Love had 28 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists...

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Laclede to double customers in $1 billion deal with Energy Transfer

(Reuters) - Natural gas distributor Laclede Group Inc  is buying two utilities from Energy Transfer Equity LP  for $1 billion, doubling its customer numbers and boosting its exposure to more stable state-regulated income.More than 91 percent of Laclede's earnings will come from rate-regulated business after the acquisition of Missouri Gas Energy and New England Gas Co, owned by Energy Transfer's...

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Zurich puts Sandy storm damage claims at $700 million

ZURICH (Reuters) - Zurich estimates that damage claims relating to tropical storm Sandy, which hit the United States in October, will amount to $700 million in its fourth-quarter earnings.The Swiss insurer's announcement on Monday also said that it expects $58 million of "reinstatement premiums due on reinsurance covers". The company gave no further explanation. It is due to report quarterly earnings...

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Burundi coffee earnings rise 46 pct in November

BUJUMBURA (Reuters) - Burundi's coffee revenues rose 46 percent in November from the previous month on higher prices and export volumes, the country's industry regulator said on Friday.The country earned $5.7 million from the sale of 1,671,638 kg versus $3.9 million it earned in October from the export of 1,205,919 kg."Coffee farmers were asked to produce Arabica beans of highest quality following...

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Empire Co profit rises on higher sales at Sobeys

(Reuters) - Empire Co Ltd  reported a higher second-quarter profit as sales at its Sobeys supermarket chain rose due to acquisitions.Net earnings increased to C$93.3 million ($95 million), or C$1.37 per share, from C$78.1 million, or C$1.15 per share, a year earlier.Total sales rose 9 percent to C$4.40 billion in the quarter ended November 3.Sales at established stores, a key measure for retailers,...

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MetLife warns on 2013 profit, expects no stock buybacks

(Reuters) - MetLife Inc  warned that 2013 earnings might be well below Wall Street expectations  and said it did not expect to buy back any shares next year, a blow to investors who have been waiting more than a year for a capital return.The largest life insurer in the United States also said it needed to move faster on strategic changes amid a persistently low-interest-rate environment.While...

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Foreign hackers targeted former military chief Mullen: report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Foreign hackers targeted the computers of Mike Mullen, ex-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, calling it the latest in a pattern of attacks on computers of former high-ranking U.S. officials. The FBI is pursuing the hackers, the Journal reported. The agency was not immediately available for comment. Mullen's office confirmed...

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