PRESS DIGEST - Wall Street Journal - Dec 23

Dec 23 (Reuters) - The following were the top stories in The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

* Investigators are looking at a lieutenant at Madoff's firm and issued a subpoena to the accountant who audited the firm's statements, seeking documents going back to 2000.

* A senior bank regulator was removed from his job after being accused of helping IndyMac alter its records so it appeared to be in better shape -- weeks before it was seized by the U.S.

* Toyota (7203.T) forecast its first annual operating loss since 1938, a dramatic indicator that the troubles roiling the auto industry extend beyond the U.S. and are taking a toll on even the strongest car makers.

* Temporary-staffing giant Manpower Inc (MAN.N) lowered its financial forecast for the fourth quarter, in the latest sign that the job market is weakening rapidly, and that the troubles are spreading to Europe.

* GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) said it will no longer use corporate funds for political contributions as part of an effort to improve openness in its business.

* UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH.N) settled a Securities and Exchange Commission civil lawsuit over alleged stock-options backdating. The company's former General Counsel, David Lubben, agreed to a $575,000 penalty in the case.

* St. Jude Medical Inc (STJ.N) is closing out the year with acquisitions of two international medical-technology companies for a total of $533 million.

* Textron Inc (TXT.N) said it will cut 2,200 jobs, or 5.5 percent of its world-wide work force, and will shut most of its commercial finance business to enhance its long-term liquidity position amid unstable credit markets.