*Revenue up 6 percent to $35.2 billion. CHICAGO, Jan 9- U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill Inc reported a four-fold increase in quarterly earnings on Wednesday, tapping its global command of cash markets and food processing and posting strong profits from trading operations after a poor performance a year ago.
CHICAGO, Jan 9- U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill Inc said on Wednesday quarterly earnings quadrupled, led by profits from trading operations amid the effects of last summer's U.S. drought, the worst in more than 50 years.
*GrainCorp to hold further talks with ADM- CEO. SYDNEY, Dec 20- Australia's GrainCorp defended on Thursday its rejection of a sweetened $2.9 billion takeover offer by Archer Daniels Midland, but said it remained open to higher offers and would hold further talks with its U.S. suitor.
SYDNEY, Dec 20- Australia's GrainCorp forecast on Thursday a drop of as much as fifth in the grain it receives from farmers next year as it defended its rejection of a sweetened $2.9 billion takeover offer from U.S. suitor Archer Daniels Midland.
BUENOS AIRES, Dec 14- Soybean output in No. 4 global exporter Paraguay could hit a record 8.6 million tonnes this season, beating private and official forecasts, if good weather holds over the weeks ahead, seed behemoth Monsanto said on Friday.
*Best Buy surges on report its founder to make buy offer. Shares of Best Buy Co surged more than 11 percent after a report that the company's founder is expected to make a fully financed offer to buy the consumer electronics retailer by the end of the week. Best Buy was up 11.3 percent at $13.56 in premarket trade.
NEW YORK, Dec 13- U.S. stock index futures were mixed on Thursday as a new round of stimulus for the economy was not enough to offset worries over the impact of the impending "fiscal cliff". *In the European Union, finance ministers reached a deal to make the European Central Bank the bloc's top banking supervisor.
Asian shares retreated from session gains on Thursday afternoon to trade mixed, but Korea hit a fresh 3-month high after its central bank held interest rates steady while a weaker yen drove Japan to an 8-month high.
*Graincorp rejects revised $2.9 bln offer from ADM. SYDNEY, Dec 13- GrainCorp Ltd on Thursday rejected a sweetened $2.9 billion bid from Archer Daniels Midland Co, putting pressure on the U.S. agribusiness giant to boost its offer for Australia's last major independent grains handler.
SYDNEY, Dec 13- GrainCorp Ltd rejected on Thursday a sweetened $2.9 billion bid from U.S. agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland Co, saying the offer materially undervalues Australia's last major independent grains handler.
Dec 7- Glencore International Plc won approval from China's Ministry of Commerce for its C $6 billion purchase of Canadian grain handler Viterra Inc, clearing the last regulatory hurdle for the long-delayed deal. Shareholders of Viterra, which also has operations in South Australia, overwhelmingly accepted Glencore's offer of C $16.25 per share in May.
Futures were off their best levels Wednesday, but optimistic comments from China's new leader helped limit losses.
*GrainCorp shares up 3 pct; says to respond in due course. SYDNEY/ NEW YORK, Dec 4- U.S. agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland Co tightened its grip on GrainCorp Ltd, hiking its bid to $2.9 billion and buying more shares, but may need to offer more to win over Australia's last major independent grains handler.
SYDNEY/ NEW YORK, Dec 4- U.S. agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland Co moved closer to securing GrainCorp Ltd after raising its takeover bid to $2.9 billion and hiking its stake in Australia's last major independent grains handler.
Dec 3- Archer Daniels Midland Co on Monday raised its bid for Australia's GrainCorp Ltd to $2.9 billion in cash from $2.8 billion, as the U.S. agribusiness group seeks to expand its geographic reach. Including a recently announced dividend of 35 cents per share, which GrainCorp shareholders would be able to keep, ADM said its new offer is for A $12.55 per share.
Dec 3- Archer Daniels Midland Co raised its takeover offer for Australia's GrainCorp Ltd to A $12.20 per share in cash, up from an earlier bid of A $11.75. ADM said on Monday that it acquired an additional 5 percent of GrainCorp for the new offer price, raising its stake in the Australian grains handler to 19.9 percent.
Dec 3- Archer Daniels Midland Co raised its takeover offer for Australia's GrainCorp Ltd to A $12.20 per share in cash, up from an earlier bid of A $11.75.