JPMorgan, Google: Monday's Headlines

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Here are the top stock market headlines for the morning of Monday, Nov. 23, 2009.

Monday's Early Headlines

• Job Losses to Bottom Out in Q1 2010: NABE -- The National Association for Business Economics' November outlook shows that economists expect net employment losses to bottom out in the first quarter of 2010. Employers are seen starting to add to their payrolls after that, the report said. However, the NABE predicts that consumers spending will remain subdued, and that restaffing will not ramp up quickly.
• Microsoft, News Corp. Take Aim at Google -- The Financial Times reports that Microsoft (MSFT Quote) has held talks with News Corp. (NWS Quote) in which News Corp. would be paid to "de-index " its Web sites fromGoogle (GOOG Quote), citing a person familiar with the situation. Microsoft also has approached other big online publishers to persuade them to remove their sites from Google's search engine, the report said.
• JPMorgan's Dimon to Succeed Treasury Secretary Geithner: Report -- JPMorgan Chase (JPM Quote) CEO Jamie Dimon may be at the frontline of possible successors for Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, according to The New York Post. Geithner has come under criticism for the Obama administration's regulatory overhaul, which he had a key role in developing, as well as the bailout of American International Group (AIG Quote) and its trading partners, like Goldman Sachs (GS Quote), during his position as New York Federal Reserve chief in the previous administration.
• Kraft Weighs Higher Cadbury Bid -- The Wall Street Journal reports that Hershey (HSY Quote) is being pressed by its controlling charitable trust to launch a $17 billion bid for Cadbury (CBY Quote) rivaling the $16.5 billion bid made by Kraft Foods (KFT Quote), citing people familiar with the matter. Hershey's bid would include at least $10 billion in cash, $2 billion in new Hershey shares and about $3 billion to $5 billion in cash from rich investors in exchange for equity in Hershey, the Journal report Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that Nestle is reviewing its options with bankers and may decide against a bid, citing two people with knowledge of the matter.
• Ciena Wins Bidding for Nortel Assets -- Ciena (CIEN Quote) confirmed Monday it has won the bidding for the optical networking and carrier ethernet assets of Nortel. Ciena said Monday it has agreed to pay $530 million in cash and issue $239 million in senior convertible notes. Ciena said the transaction is expected to close in the first calendar quarter of 2010.