Media Digest (3/17/2011) Reuters, WSJ, NYT, FT, Bloomberg

FedEx (NYSE: FDX) profits will probably be higher but hurt by gas prices. (Reuters)

Lehman Bros has set November 17 as the date to get approval of its bankruptcy plan. (Reuters)

Problems in the Middle East pushed Brent crude to $111. (Reuters)

The yen hit an all-time high and Japan may step in to lower it. (Reuters)

The S&P and NASDAQ are now down for the year. (Reuters)

Modern technology may cause a gulf between those who can read and those who cannot. (Reuters)

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) was hurt by a downgrade and concerns about Japan suppliers. (Reuters)

Telecom product companies are worried about parts supplies from Japan. (Reuters)

The Glancore IPO could be hurt by trouble in Japan. (Reuters)

FDIC records show the loss from shutters banks is near $9 billion. (WSJ)

Target (NYSE: TGT) and Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) have pressed public officials to get Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) to collect sales tax. (WSJ)

Spain it making new attempts to bring down its extremely high unemployment. (WSJ)

Uranium prices moved higher on the Japan disaster. (WSJ)

Diet Coke (NYSE: KO) passed Pepsi (NYSE: PEP) as the No.2 soft drink in the world behind regular Coke. (WSJ)

The former CEO of Freddie Mac may face action from the SEC. (WSJ)

Japan car companies have extended shut downs of their plants. (WSJ)

China Mobile (NYSE: CHL) posted a modest profit. (WSJ)

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) supports the Administration’s plans for online privacy. (WSJ)

PG&E said it did not have pressure tests for its California pipeline. (WSJ)

The EPA has started a push to lower mercury pollution. (WSJ)

Producer prices jumped last month. (WSJ)

The euro zone faces challenges its did not in its first decade. (WSJ)

Irish leaders say they will not raise corporate taxes. (WSJ)

China has stopped approving new nuclear power plants. (WSJ)

Despite pressure to keep drug prices down, they are still rising. (WSJ)

A Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) app that allows users to watch live TV has been winner, but not with programmers. (WSJ)

The demand for Facebook shares is rising. (WSJ)

ARM Holdings chips for portable devices has hurt Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) efforts in the market. (WSJ)

ECB officials say the Japan situation cause change plans on interest rates. (WSJ)

Insurers may have to make payments for lost profits at companies with supply chain problems in Japan. (WSJ)

CEOs at banks will get large sums when new dividends are approved .(NYT)

US banks want swaps rules to be minimal. (FT)

Social networks which operate in the US may be hit by new privacy rules. (FT)

G7 officials will hold a meeting on the Japan crisis. (Bloomberg)

Ireland officials say that taxpayers should not carry the whole load of bailout costs. (Bloomberg)

Douglas A. McIntyre