Lynn Carpenter says pension fund deficits could be a major threat to dividend payments. Legislation forces companies to keep private pension plans well funded, meaning some will have to raise large sums of cash at short notice. Lynn picks 9 firms that could soon be forced into making big dividend cuts.

With all the negative news that’s right now permeating the global financial markets - hammering stock prices - we wouldn’t blame you one bit if you wanted to stick your head in the sand.

Bristol Myers Moves for ImClone; Kodak Earnings Fade; Diana Shipping Doubles Earnings; Crude Stumbles Again; Google to Start VC Fund; Primetime Ad Drama; MasterCard Slumps on Less Spending; S&P Says U.S. Car Companies are “Junk”

• Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) yesterday (Thursday) offered $4.5 billion in cash for biotechnology company ImClone Systems Inc. (IMCL), the Associated Press reported. ImClone’s board has yet to comment on the proposal, which offers its stockholders $60 per share, a 30% premium to its Wednesday closing price of $46.44. Bristol-Myers already owns about 17% of ImClone.

• Eastman Kodak Co. (EK) said yesterday (Thursday) that second-quarter profit fell, as traditional film-based revenue slumped 14% to $847 million. Sales climbed 1% from $2.47 billion to $2.49 billion, and revenue from digital businesses rose 10%…

It might seem a bit late to jump on the digital photography bandwagon. But Penny Sleuth’s Greg Guenthner says he has found the last hidden opportunity in the industry.

Kodak Announces $1 Billion Buyback; Kroger Lowers Prices, Posts Profit; BP Breaks Ground on Wind Farm; Reliance and Dreamworks in Talks; Lukoil Joins Up With Italy’s ERG; Wachovia Brings in Goldman Sachs; Dow Hikes Prices; Yahoo and Microsoft Back in Talks