Morning Briefing: 10 Things You Should Know

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- U.S. stock futures were suggesting a mixed open on Wall Street Monday amid worries over the fiscal cliff in the world's largest economy and data that revealed Japan's economy shrunk in the third quarter.

European stocks were trading lower while Asian shares ended Monday's trading session mostly lower. Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 0.9% to close at 8,676.44. Growth figures showed Japan's economy contracted an annualized 3.5% rate for the quarter..

The economic calendar in the U.S. Monday is empty because of the observance of Veteran's Day. Stock markets are open while bond markets and banks are closed.

U.S. stocks on Friday posted slight gains as a strong read on American consumer confidence provided a slight respite from worries about the fiscal cliff and the eurozone.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added a little more than 4 points, or 0.03%, to close at 12,815. The blue-chip index lost 2.12% for the week, its worst performance in more than five months. The Dow has gained 4.89% year to date.

Apple (AAPL) and Taiwanese gadget manufacturer HTC have settled their patent dispute.

The global settlement, terms of which are confidential, dismisses all existing lawsuits and includes a 10-year license agreement.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) said Monday that the cost to build a liquefied-natural-gas project in Papua New Guinea has jumped more than 20% to $19 billion because of unfavorable foreign exchange rates and disputes with landowners.

Best Buy (BBY) will hire Sharon McCollam, the former Williams-Sonoma (WSM) chief financial officer, as its next finance chief.

McCollam plans to join Best Buy, the electronics retailer that is undergoing a broad restructuring, at the end of the year, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited an anonymous source close to the company.

Last month, Best Buy said CFO Jim Muehlbauer would leave at the end of the fiscal year.