Stock index future dip; Intel earns eyed (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index future pointed out an open slightly lower on Wall Street Thursday, with futures for the S & P 500 down 0.15%, Dow Jones future fell by 0.02% and Nasdaq 100 future down 0.03% at 1: 46 pm EST.

* Intel Corp (INTC.)(O) is to report quarterly results Thursday then that economic data include weekly claims without a job, the number of international trade in November and December producer prices.

* Global shipments of personal computers slipped only slightly in the fourth quarter, a pair of trackers in the industry, said Wednesday, injured by demand for holidays low consumption and competition from Apple (AAPL).(O) Tablet iPad.

* U.S. focus on Interior funds found share repurchases of 4.229 billion the week that ended January 5, net flow liked money in three months, the investment company Institute data showed on Wednesday.

* Extended oil gains Thursday to hold less $92 a barrel, application supported by signs more after U.S. crude oil inventories fell more than expected and a cold wave swept across northeast of the United States, the largest in the area of heating oil market.

* Soft products were also in the spotlight, bought Chicago corn up to 1% while soy gains extended, with both markets climbing at their most high in almost 2-1/2 years, propelled by a reduction in the global supply of grains and oilseeds forecasts by the surprisingly steep Bush.

* European stocks decreased by 0.4% in trade from morning following a two-day gathering brisk, as investors await auction of the Spain key binding and Italy, as well as the decisions of interest rates and of feedback from the Bank of England and European Central Bank.

* U.S. stocks ended solidly more Wednesday after that European debt concerns eased and has attracted a large advance, led by banks and commodity-related actions.

* The Dow Jones industrial average (.)(DJI) has been 83.48 points, or 0.72 percent, to 11,755.36. The Standard & Poor 500 Index (.)(SPX) was 11.47 points or 0.90% to 1,285.95. Nasdaq Composite Index (.)(IXIC) was SF points, or 0.75%, to 2,737.33.

(Reporting by Blaise Robinson.) (Editing by Mike Nesbit)

Intel offers concessions in the European Union on McAfee

By Jim Finkle and Bate Felix

BOSTON/BRUSSELS | Thursday 6 January 2011 4 pm EST.

BOSTON/Brussels (Reuters) - Intel has offered concessions to win antitrust clearance from European Union for the purchase of McAfee Inc. Security software maker $ 7.7 billion.

Shares of McAfee, the manufacturer of security software after Symantec Corp., no. 2 increased 1.8% on the news Thursday, while Intel shares dropped by 0.8%.

The Commission, the 27-nation EU regulatory oversight body said on its website that it has extended the date limit for January 26, 12 January after commitments to address competition problems have been submitted.

"We continue to work with the Commission," Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy said to Reuters. "Our expectation continues to be that we get this case ended sometime in the first half of 2011."

He did not comment on concessions, Intel has made in its efforts to win approval of what would be the largest ever acquisition.

The commission is concerned that Intel may incorporate elements of fight against the virus McAfee technology into its widely used microprocessor for personal computers, chips giving him an unfair advantage over rivals, according to two people familiar with the case.

John Briggs, an antitrust expert based out of Washington with Axinn Veltrop Harkrider LLP, said that he suspected that Intel has agreed to take steps to ensure competing McAfee could still on computers until they were sold to consumers and businesses.

Antivirus software, makers of frequently forge trafficking of PC manufacturers to regain their software on desktop PCs. Analysts say it is one of the roads more efficient by which they sell their software.

"I am reasonably confident that Intel has agreed to do so is to give competitors access to McAfee for desktop computers that has already built in microprocessor of McAfee."

December 21, Intel already won clearance for the agreement of the Federal Trade Commission in the United States.

Plan to buy Intel McAfee highlights how security has become a concern in a world of devices enabled on the Web. McAfee swallowing give Intel to sell high-profit security software alongside its customers of traditional PC microprocessors.

Analysts say that intel could differentiate its processors per chip design speed up scans of security typically conducted by McAfee software or technology which makes it less vulnerable gadgets to hacker attacks.

Are concerned European regulators that could create an unfair advantage for Intel over rivals such as Symantec, according to sources familiar case.

(Additional by Noel Randewich in San Francisco.) (Editing by Gary Hill)