IN BRIEF
HARTFORD, Conn.
Diebold may face pressure to take offer
Diebold may find it impossible to resist a $2.63 billion buyout offer by United Technologies Corp., which is aggressively seeking to expand its security business in Asia, observers said Monday.
United Technologies on Sunday offered $40 a share, a 67 percent premium over Diebold's closing price Friday. Diebold shares climbed $14.72, or 61 percent Monday to $38.84. United Technologies shares fell $1.11 to $69.40.
Diebold turned down the bid Monday, calling it opportunistic, and urged its shareholders to take no action.
Nicholas Heymann, an analyst at Sterne Agee, said Diebold's board of directors will be under pressure to sell.
WASHINGTON
Interest rates decline in Treasury auction
Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills fell in Monday's auction to their lowest levels since 2004.
The Treasury Department auctioned $24 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 1.79 percent, down from 2.160 percent last week; and $23 billion in six-month bills at a discount rate of 1.81 percent, down from 2.07 percent last week.
The three-month rate was the lowest since three-month bills averaged 1.770 percent on Oct. 18, 2004. The six-month rate was the lowest since these bills averaged 1.775 percent on Aug. 30, 2004.
NEW YORK
Treasurys close lower amid profit-taking
Long-term Treasurys fell Monday as investors pulled back from a recent robust rally to take profits and plot their next moves.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 0.06 points to 99.72 with a yield of 3.54 percent, up from 3.52 percent late Friday, according to BGCantor Market Data. Prices and yields move in opposite directions.
The 30-year long bond fell 0.47 points to 99.16 with a 4.43 percent yield, up from 4.42 percent late Friday.
