Cadbury

Corporate bond sales worldwide totaled $3.19 trillion this year, as companies took advantage of the lowest yields on record.

Kraft Foods reported a 13% jump in second-quarter profit on improved sales in Europe and emerging markets. Kraft gained greater exposure to these markets following its $19 billion Cadbury deal.

The largest packaged-food company in the U.S. came under attack from a committee of U.K. lawmakers in a report critical of moves the American company made after its hostile $17.5 billion takeover of beloved British candymaker Cadbury. The issue: A broken promise to not close a plant.

On Monday, Cadbury accepted a $19.4 billion buyout offer from Kraft Foods. As the smoke clears from that momentous decision, commentators and chocolate lovers from around the world are arguing over the sale, Kraft's practices, and what Cadbury means to Great Britain.

After weeks of sitting on the sidelines while Cadbury played cat-and-mouse with Kraft Foods, Hershey is finally ready to make a bid for the U.K.-based chocolate maker. Sources close to the Hershey board say that the company will bid $17.9 billion for Cadbury.

Food giant Kraft, which is currently engaged in a hostile takeover bid for Cadbury, boosts its full-year profit outlook after logging strong operating gains.

News that could affect stock prices today: Pfizer and India's Strides Arcolab reached an agreement that will expand the off-patent generic drugs in the U.S. drug maker's portfolio; Kraft's hostile takeover bid for Cadbury received conditional antitrust approval by the European Union.

News that could affect stock prices today: Kraft's Cadbury bid gets slim support from shareholders; Google releases its Nexus One smart phone; Ford, Toyota, Honda reported improved December sales; retailers saw strong finish to the year.

Kraft has offered more cash in its proposal to buy Cadbury, but neither Cadbury nor Warren Buffett, Kraft's major shareholder, likes the plan.

Kraft Foods boosted its offer for British candy maker Cadbury following Monday's announced $3.7 billion sale of Kraft's pizza business to Nestle. But it remains to be seen whether Cadbury will bite on the sweetened offer. Read more to see how this and other news could affect stocks today.