Asia mixed

Asian stocks were mixed, after Fitch Ratings said Greece is likely to default on its debt. But Bruce Richards, a hedge-fund manager on the creditors’ committee, said Greece is nearing a deal with private creditors that would reimburse them about 32 cents per euro.

Mets’ break

A federal judge refused to endorse an immediate appeal of a ruling that dismissed much of a $1 billion claim by the liquidator of Bernard Madoff’s business against the owners of the New York Mets.

US pensions

The US suspended investments into a federal employee retirement fund, to avoid breaching the $15.194 trillion debt limit, Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner informed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Hard times

Morgan Stanley is capping immediate cash bonuses at $125,000, Bloomberg reported.

S-E-seeya

David Kotz, the inspector general at the SEC, is leaving the agency at the end of January, the SEC said.