UPDATE 3-US approves new drug for severe lung disease

(Reuters) - WASHINGTON, June 15 - A new pill for a
debilitating and often life-threatening lung disease won
approval from U.S. health officials on Friday.




Letairis from Gilead Sciences Inc. received Food
and Drug Administration clearance for treating pulmonary
arterial hypertension, or PAH.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

RPT-UPDATE 2-Colombia cenbank says raises key rate to 9 pct

(Reuters) - The raise was the seventh consecutive month that the bank
increased rates to curb inflation to within its targeted 2007
range of between 3.5 and 4.5 percent for this year. Colombian
inflation was 4.48 percent in 2006.




The bank also unified its marginal reserve requirements on
banks at 27 percent and its ordinary reserves at 8.3 percent on
checking and saving accounts in what analysts said was another
policy aimed at restricting liquidity, slowing the economy and
curbing inflation.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

Stronger earnings outlook may lift stocks

(Reuters) - If corporations signal that business conditions are looking better for the rest of the year, analysts probably will ratchet up earnings forecasts for the second half.




"Those earnings are going to come in better than we thought, we just don't know by how much," said Carol R. Miller, senior vice president and senior portfolio manager at Federated Investors in Pittsburgh.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Chile stocks again close at record; peso gains

(Reuters) - The all-market IGPA index rose 0.16 percent to
14,651.47 points, while the trade-weighted blue-chip IPSA index
advanced 0.25 percent to 3,380.13 points.




Chilean stocks were bolstered along with global markets by
tame U.S. inflation data on Friday and by the Chilean central
bank's decision on Thursday to hold the benchmark interest rate
at 5 percent.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Disney, Fortress, Nvidia, Sherwin-Williams: U.S. Equity Movers Final

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies
whose shares had unusual price changes in U.S. exchanges today.
Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names. Share
prices are as of 4 p.m. New York time.

Shares of some manufacturers of lead paint advanced after
Sherwin-Williams Co. (SHW US) and other companies won dismissal
of a lawsuit by cities and counties in New Jersey that claimed
the companies' products endangered public health.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

GLOBAL MARKETS-US bonds, stocks rally on inflation data

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, June 15 - U.S. Treasury prices rose on
Friday, erasing some of the week's losses, and stocks gained
as tame inflation data eased jitters over potential interest-
rate increases from the Federal Reserve.




The dollar fell against the euro on Friday on tame
inflation data, but reached a 4-1/2-year high against the yen
after the Bank of Japan indicated it was in no hurry to raise
interest rates.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

US STOCKS-Wall St. set to end week on high note after CPI

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, June 15 - U.S. stocks gained for a
third straight day on Friday after tame consumer price data put
inflation fears on the shelf, while an upgrade of bellwether
Intel breathed life into the tech sector.




The Nasdaq climbed to its highest in more than six years.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Sepp's awaits valuation in revived go-private plan

(Reuters) - The maker of savory foods such as sausage rolls and quiches
expects the valuation by June 22. It hopes to delist its stock
on Aug. 31, a day after holding a special meeting.




An independent committee will review and make
recommendations on proposed transactions. Senior management was
not immediately available for comment.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Merck rotavirus vaccine label to cite disease data

(Reuters) - Kawasaki disease is a serious but uncommon illness in children that causes high fever and blood-vessel inflammation. The FDA said about 4,000 U.S. children, about 80 percent under age five, develop it each year. The cause is unknown.




Rotavirus infection can cause severe infant diarrhea that requires hospitalization. The virus is a major killer of children in developing countries, but deaths in the United States are rare.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

Lennar's outlook now negative, was stable - Moody's

(Reuters) - Lennar, the No. 3 U.S. home builder, has been hurt by a
steep downturn in the housing market as climbing interest rates
and a crisis in the subprime mortgage area curb demand.




Moody's now rates Lennar's senior unsecured debt "Baa2,"
the second-lowest investment-grade rating.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Emerging Market Stocks Post Weekly Gain, Advance to Record on Rate Outlook

(Bloomberg) -- Emerging market stocks rose, heading
for their biggest weekly gain since March, as a U.S. inflation
report eased concern that higher U.S. interest rates would decrease
the allure of the riskier equities.

OAO Gazprom, the world's largest natural gas producer, paced
the gains after oil prices hit a nine month high yesterday.
Petroleo Brasileiro SA, Brazil's state-controlled oil company,
surged to a new high. The Morgan Stanley International Index of
emerging market shares rose to a record for a second day.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Mexico's Peso, Local Bonds Rise After Report Shows U.S. Inflation Slowed

(Bloomberg) -- Mexico's peso rose for a third day
after a U.S. government report showed consumer inflation slowed
last month.

Mexico's local-currency bonds also advanced as the report
damped speculation the Federal Reserve will boost borrowing
costs this year, increasing the allure of riskier, higher-
yielding assets.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

America Movil, Cemex, Grupo Mexico, Grupo Televisa: Mexican Equity Movers

(Bloomberg) -- Mexico's main stock index rose to a
record, led by shares of America Movil SAB, Latin America's largest
mobile-phone company.

The Bolsa index gained 395.64, or 1.2 percent, to 32,509.73 at
10:13 a.m. New York time, surpassing a June 5 record and heading
for a weekly gain of 3.3 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Nymex Gas Rises on Forecasts for Warmer Weather, Concern Over Storm Season

(Bloomberg) -- Natural gas rose in New York on
expectations that hot weather in the large consuming areas of the
Eastern Seaboard would spark higher electricity demand from gas-
fired generators and concern over possible storms in the Atlantic
Ocean.

The National Hurricane Center may send a Hurricane Hunter
aircraft today to investigate an area of low pressure in the
northwestern Caribbean Sea, said Michael Rose, trading director
at Angus Jackson Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

TREASURIES-Bonds rise as underlying inflation eases

(Reuters) - Softer-than-expected figures on U.S. industrial output,
capacity utilization and consumer sentiment also contributed to
the firmer tone in bond prices, which pulled benchmark yields
further back from five-year peaks hit on Wednesday.




After a topsy-turvy ride in recent days, 10-year yields
were still on track to end the week higher, though bond
sentiment was bolstered by the data showing annual underlying,
or core, inflation fell to its lowest in more than a year.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

U.S. Stocks Rally After Measure of Consumer Prices Slows; Intel Advances

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks rallied for a third day
after a measure of consumer prices increased less than forecast
in May, easing concern inflation will spur higher interest
rates.

Intel Corp., the world's biggest maker of computer chips,
gained after Goldman Sachs encouraged investors to buy the
shares. Home Depot Inc., the largest home-improvement retailer,
advanced on prospects of a $10 billion offer for its contractor-
supplies business.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Yuan Posts Biggest Weekly Advance Since End of Link to Dollar in July 2005

(Bloomberg) -- The yuan had its biggest weekly gain
since the end of a fixed exchange rate in July 2005, after U.S.
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said dialogue is the best way
to urge China to allow gains.

China may be more willing to let its currency rise faster
through negotiations, rather than threats, said Shen Minggao, an
economist at Citigroup Inc. in Beijing. Premier Wen Jiabao this
week signaled more interest-rate increases are needed to cool
the economy after reports showed exports, investment, factory
production and inflation all accelerated last month.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

US STOCKS-Futures rise on muted core CPI, Intel upgrade

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, June 15 - U.S. stock futures pointed to
a higher Wall Street open on Friday as government data showed
consumer prices, excluding food and energy, grew less than
expected in May, underscoring optimism about continued economic
growth while inflation moderates.




The data would help the stock market extend its recovery
after a skittish bond market drove yields to five-year highs
this week as worries about higher interest rates took center
stage. Investors had worried that a rise in bond yields would
hurt takeovers and share buybacks as borrowing costs rise.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

US sees April net capital inflow of $111.8 bln

(Reuters) - The United States needs to attract nearly $2 billion a day
to help cover its trade deficit, which was $58.5 billion in
April, and maintain the value of the dollar.




Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

S.Africa maize flat, seen range-bound as eyes Chicago

(Reuters) - South Africa's most-active maize futures closed steady on Friday after being on the back foot for most of the session, and the market was likely to be range-bound next week, traders said.

July white maize was at 1,831 rand a tonne by the market close at 1000 GMT. Prices dipped to 1,816 rand earlier due to a stronger rand, traders said.


Read more at Reuters Africa

TREASURIES-Bonds gain after tame inflation

(Reuters) - Coming at the end of a topsy-turvy week, the report on May
U.S. consumer prices pulled benchmark yields further back from
five-year highs hit on Wednesday.




The report showed annual underlying, or core, inflation at
2.2 percent, retreating toward the the Fed's comfort zone of 1
to 2 percent, which boosted bond market sentiment.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Bombardier, First Quantum and Western Oil Sands: Canadian Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies
whose shares may have unusual price changes in Canadian markets
today. This preview includes news that broke after markets closed
yesterday. Symbols are in parentheses after company names and
prices are from the last close.

The Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index added 142.47, or 1
percent, to 14,001.99, yesterday in Toronto. The Canadian benchmark
is headed for a 1.5 percent weekly gain, rebounding from a 2.3
percent drop in the previous week.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 2-Longreach to invest $568 mln in Taiwan lender

(Reuters) - TAIPEI/TOKYO June 15 - Private equity house
Longreach Group said it will invest US$568 million to take a
controlling stake in EnTie Bank , its first move into
Taiwan's consolidating banking sector as it seeks to expand in
Asia.




The T$18.8 billion stake purchase in the loss-making lender
highlighted Longreach's ambition to explore the region's retail
banking business.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

NYMEX explores sale of company: report

(Reuters) - Banks have not yet been hired to advise the company on the sale, the report said. A NYMEX response is not mentioned in the report, which cited two people involved in the discussions.




Buying NYMEX would allow a traditional cash equities exchange to add products such as energy derivatives to the trading mix it can offer its clients. It trades contracts including crude oil, heating oil and gasoline futures.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

German 2008 Power Retreats From 12-Month High as Emissions Costs Decline

(Bloomberg) -- German electricity prices for
delivery in 2008 slipped from their highest in more than a year
as carbon dioxide emission permits declined.

Next-year power prices in Germany, Europe's biggest
electricity market, dropped after two days of gains. The contract
fell 25 cents, or 0.4 percent, to 57.25 euros ($76.20) a
megawatt-hour at 12:02 p.m. in Berlin, data from broker GFI Group
Inc. showed.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Pros Holdings sees IPO of about 6.83 mln shares at $10-$12 each

(Reuters) - The Houston, Texas-based company said it applied for a New
York Stock Exchange listing under the symbol "PRO."







Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

Gold Falls in London as Demand May Slow on Stronger Dollar; Silver Drops

(Bloomberg) -- Gold fell in London on speculation
demand for the precious metal will slow after the dollar gained
against the euro. Silver also declined.

Bullion dropped and the dollar rebounded yesterday before
the U.S. Labor Department reported a 0.9 percent rise in
producer prices in May, higher than the 0.6 percent increase
forecast by analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News. Traders and
analysts are awaiting the U.S. report on the consumer price
index for May that's due later today.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Nordic Stocks Increase, Led by Ericsson, Nokia; Shares of M-real Rally

(Bloomberg) -- Nordic stocks rose for a third day.
Nokia Oyj, the world's largest mobile-phone maker, paced gains.
Ericsson AB, the world's biggest maker of wireless phone
networks, also climbed.

M-real Oyj rallied after Morgan Stanley said Finland's
third-largest papermaker was its ``top pick'' in the industry.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks, bond yields rise; yen weak after BOJ

(Reuters) - LONDON, June 15 - Global stocks rose on Friday,
absorbing further gains in U.S. and euro zone government bond
yields ahead of U.S. inflation data, while the yen sank after
the Bank of Japan left interest rates on hold.




Energy stocks outperformed after oil spiked above $71 a
barrel overnight and merger and acquisition speculation buoyed
British retailers after a Qatari investment fund increased its
stake in J. Sainsbury , sending its shares up 5 percent.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-NYMEX explores sale of company -report

(Reuters) - Top NYMEX executives have met with their counterparts at
three suitors, NYSE Euronext , Deutsche Boerse
AG and Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc.
, according to the report. Banks have not yet been
hired to advise the company on the sale, Bloomberg said.




A NYMEX response is not mentioned in the report, which cited
two people involved in the discussions.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Shanghai copper pares gains on stock rise worry

(Reuters) - Shanghai copper edged higher by midday on Friday, paring earlier gains on speculation that Shanghai copper stocks may rise by as much as 10 percent this week.

The most-active August copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose 0.3 percent to 63,600 yuan a tonne at midday, from 63,420 yuan on Thursday.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Oil Trades Near Nine-Month High on U.S. Refinery Slowdowns, Iran Concern

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil traded near a nine-month
high in New York after a drop in U.S. refining raised concern
that fuel supplies may remain below average.

Maintenance at refineries last week cut processing rates to
a six-week low, prompting oil companies to produce less diesel
and heating oil in an effort to boost gasoline stockpiles. Oil
also rose after Iran, the second-largest producer in the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, rejected United
Nations demands to suspend its uranium enrichment.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

UPDATE 2-S.Korea panel approves markets law, broker shares jump

(Reuters) - SEOUL, June 15 - Shares of South Korean
brokerages surged on Friday as a key committee backed a new law
the government hopes will trigger a "big bang" for its lagging
financial sector, spurring consolidation and luring in foreign
players.




The approval from the parliamentary finance committee
almost guarantees passage by parliament later this month of the
Capital Markets Integration Act, which is designed to give
brokerages a greater role in shaping the financial sector.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News