Kraft watch

Kraft Foods must raise its hostile $17.9 billion bid for Cadbury by at least 10 percent to stand a chance of capturing the UK chocolate maker, accord ing to an investor survey. The deadline to increase the bid is tomorrow.

Better times

Economists are predict ing government reports this week will show im proved economic indica tors, such as increased housing starts, fewer fir ings and continued cheap money supplies.

Star-bucks

Starbucks is expected to report this week its highest quarterly earn ings in two years due to its introduction of an in stant coffee product in international markets. Analysts predicted a first- quarter profit of $217 mil lion vs. $64.3 million a year earlier.

Chavez move

Dictator Hugo Chavez ordered the seizure of a Colombia-based retail chain in Venezuela for al legedly raising prices and hoarding goods in viola tion of currency rules.

Dubai drops

Dubai’s stock market fell for the sixth straight day after creditors hold ing Dubai World debt began efforts to unload about $100 million of it at a 30-percent discount.