Reuters Before the Bell: March 3, 2017

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Caterpillar shares flat day after U.S. authorities raid offices (Reuters) - Caterpillar Inc's shares were flat in premarket trading on Friday, suggesting investors had put aside the company's tax risk as old news, a day after federal law enforcement officials searched three of its facilities.

Fed and ECB go their separate ways FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Two of the world's biggest central banks are likely to find themselves with a bigger policy gap by the end of the coming fortnight

Murdoch's Fox seeks EU okay for $14.4 billion Sky takeover bid BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's Twenty-First Century Fox has asked EU antitrust regulators to approve its $14.4 billion takeover bid for European pay-TV company Sky, a filing on the European Commission showed on Friday.

UK government 'minded' to refer Fox's Sky deal to regulator LONDON (Reuters) - The British government said on Friday it was inclined to investigate Rupert Murdoch's planned takeover of Sky to see whether it was in the public interest, the first step of what is likely to be a politically charged process.

Global stocks off highs, dollar edges lower as Fed rate rise looms LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar retreated on Friday after two days of gains while world stocks pulled further back from all-time highs as investors unwound positions on growing expectations that U.S. interest rates will be hiked later this month.

Futures dip ahead of Yellen's speech (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were down for the second straight day since January on Friday, ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's speech, which is expected to give further clarity on the possibility of an interest rate hike later this month.

Investors still chasing inflation trade with $9.8 billion equity inflows: BAML LONDON (Reuters) - Investors continued to chase the inflation trade in the week that U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his pledges on tax cuts and spending, and Fed officials hinted at a March rate hike, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) said on Friday.

Nestle, Coca-Cola to end tea joint venture: Nestle ZURICH (Reuters) - Nestle and The Coca-Cola Company have agreed to dissolve their tea joint venture Beverage Partners Worldwide (BPW) as of the start of 2018, Nestle announced on Friday.

Samsung chief's 'trial of the century' to start next week SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee will go on trial for bribery and embezzlement on Thursday, a court said, amid a corruption scandal that has rocked South Korea and led to the impeachment of the president.

Star-studded legal team will seek to save Samsung chief SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung chief Jay Y. Lee has handpicked 13 top lawyers to defend him against charges of bribing the South Korean president, nearly all of them former judges or prosecutors, according to the court where one of the richest men in the country will be tried.