BNP Paribas, U.S. may be near a deal; Oracle to buy Micros; SCOTUS to rule on Aereo

BNP Paribas is reportedly close to a settlement with U.S. authorities over violating sanctions. The Wall Street Journal reported that the French bank could pay up to $9 billion to settle charges that it evaded American sanctions by engaging in billions of dollars in transactions with Sudan, Iran and other countries. The potential settlement could also include BNP Paribas pleading guilty to a criminal charge of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Oracle (ORCL) announced this morning it will buy Micros Systems (MCRS) in a $5.3 billion deal, or $68 a share. Micros makes cash register software for retailers, restaurants and hotels. Oracle has been growing through acquisitions, but has been struggling to compete with smaller players like Workday (WDAY) and Salesforce.com (CRM).

The Supreme Court could rule today on whether it's legal for Aereo to allow users to watch broadcast television over the Internet. Aereo records local television broadcasts and lets users stream live and recorded programs on their computers or mobile devices. Broadcasters say what Aereo is doing is illegal because they don't pay retransmission fees like cable companies. Aereo says they just rent users an antenna - just like an antenna on a traditional television - to watch the broadcasts.