Rubber Futures Gain in Tokyo After JSR Announces Rise in Synthetic Prices

(Bloomberg) -- Natural rubber futures in Tokyo rose
to the highest in five weeks amid speculation demand for the
commodity may grow after JSR Corp., Japan's largest maker of
synthetic rubber, announced a rise in its product prices.

JSR will raise prices of synthetic rubber products, the raw
material for vehicle tires, by between 5 percent and 10 percent
from Aug. 21, to cope with rising petroleum costs, according to
a company news release yesterday. It will be the company's
second increase this year.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Hitachi post smaller Q1 loss, keeps profit f'cast

(Reuters) - The company kept its outlook for an annual net profit of 40
billion yen, which compares with a 42.2 billion yen consensus
estimate by 14 analysts polled by Reuters.




Hitachi has drawn strength from its non-core units, including
Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. , Hitachi Metals
Ltd. , Hitachi Transport System Ltd. and Hitachi
Cable , which have benefited on public works projects
overseas.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Advance in Euro, Pound Will Be `Next Big Move,' Says Morgan Stanley's Jen

(Bloomberg) -- The ``next big move'' in currency
markets is an advance in the euro, British pound and Australian
dollar as investors regain risk appetite and central banks raise
interest rates, says Morgan Stanley's Stephen Jen.

The three currencies have all slipped the past week as
investors cut risk and bought the relative safety of dollar-
denominated government bonds on concern a U.S. housing slump
will slow world growth. Recent turbulence in financial markets
will be contained amid a strong global economy, the
International Monetary Fund said today.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

CORRECTED: Dollar steadies on rise in U.S. stocks

(Reuters) - TOKYO - The dollar steadied on Tuesday as a rise in U.S. stocks overnight eased fears about deteriorating credit markets, and traders awaited U.S. data due later in the session for clues on the market's direction.




Concerns that problems in the U.S. subprime mortgage sector could spread to wider credit markets have prompted investors to cut risk exposure and unwind carry trades, in which they had borrowed low-yielding currencies such as the yen to buy higher-yielding assets.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

Agfa, Alcatel-Lucent, Bulgari, Danone, Iliad, MAN: European Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in European markets. Prices are from the last close.

The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 fell 0.2 percent to 372.03. The Dow
Jones Stoxx 50 Index declined 0.3 percent to 3710.74. The Euro
Stoxx 50 Index, a benchmark for the 13 nations using the euro,
dropped 0.1 percent to 4239.18.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Bear, Lehman, Merrill, Goldman Traded as Junk, Credit-Default Swaps Show

(Bloomberg) -- On Wall Street, Bear Stearns Cos.,
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co. and Goldman
Sachs Group Inc., are as good as junk.

Bonds of U.S. investment banks lost about $1.5 billion of
their face value this month as the risk of owning the securities
increased the most since at least October 2004, according to
Merrill indexes. Prices of credit-default swaps based on the
debt imply that their credit ratings are below investment grade,
data compiled by Moody's Investors Service show.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Yuan Set for Monthly Gain as Paulson Says Exchange-Rate is Issue for China

(Bloomberg) -- The yuan was poised for a winning
month as Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told state-owned
Xinhua News Agency that the exchange-rate issue is China's
decision.

Easing pressure on China to accelerate the yuan's
appreciation may give the Asian nation room to allow it to
strengthen without appearing to bow to global demands. The U.S.
Senate Finance Committee on July 26 approved legislation that
would slap higher duties on Chinese imports to compensate for
what lawmakers say is an undervalued currency.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Australian Government Bonds Fall as Building Approvals, Lending Increase

(Bloomberg) -- Australian government bonds fell for
a second day as reports showed home-building approvals and
lending to consumers and businesses increased more than
economists expected last month.

Two-year notes extended declines as traders raised bets the
Reserve Bank of Australia will increase its key interest rate
from 6.25 percent when policy makers meet next week. Bonds also
fell as investor appetite for risk rose after U.S. stocks
rebounded yesterday from the worst two-day slide since 2003.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Mitsui Runs Osaka Ethylene Plant at Almost Maximum Rate After Maintenance

(Bloomberg) -- Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Japan's
third-largest ethylene producer, is running its ethylene plant
in Osaka at almost maximum capacity after completing maintenance,
an official said.

The plant, capable of making 455,000 metric tons of
ethylene a year, resumed operations on July 26 as scheduled
after 33 days of maintenance, said the official, who declined to
be identified because of company policy.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Dollar Heads for Monthly Drop Against Euro Before Consumer Spending Report

(Bloomberg) -- The dollar headed for a second
monthly decline against the euro before a U.S. government report
today that economists predict will show slowing consumer
spending growth.

The U.S. currency was weaker against 15 of the 16 most-
actively traded currencies on prospects that a U.S. economic
slowdown and a slump in corporate debt may prompt the Federal
Reserve to lower interest rates. The yield spread between
benchmark two-year U.S. and German bonds narrowed last week to
the least since November 2004.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Japan's Nikkei Drops, Paced by Nomura on Subprime Concern; Olympus Gains

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average
slipped after Germany's IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG said losses
on subprime loan investments will ``significantly'' lower profits.

Brokerages such as Nomura Holdings Inc., with similar
investments, led declines on concern they will also be affected.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 2-MGIC says investment in subprime venture at risk

(Reuters) - "Beginning in February, the market for subprime mortgages has experienced significant turmoil, with market dislocations accelerating to unprecedented levels ... in ... mid-July," MGIC said in its statement. Credit agencies have downgraded hundreds of bonds backing subprime loans to junk.




MGIC said it had invested $466 million of equity in C-BASS as of June 30, with an additional $50 million drawn in July under a $50 million unsecured credit facility that the company had provided C-BASS.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Australian, New Zealand Dollars Rebound as Stock Rally Spurs Carry Trades

(Bloomberg) -- The Australian and New Zealand
dollars rebounded from an eight-week low versus the yen as a
recovery in U.S. stocks gave investors confidence to increase
holdings of higher-yielding assets bought with loans from Japan.

The currencies are favorites of the so-called carry trade
as New Zealand and Australian interest rates are among the
highest of major economies. The New Zealand and Australian
dollars are respectively the biggest gainers today against the
yen among the 16 most-traded currencies as U.S. stocks recovered
from the worst two-day loss since 2003.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Australia's June Trade Deficit Probably Widened on Rising Imports, Storm

(Bloomberg) -- Australia's trade deficit probably
widened in June as a storm disrupted coal exports and imports
increased to a record.

The trade gap widened to A$1.2 billion ($1 billion) from
A$807 million in May, according to the median estimate of 24
economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The Bureau of Statistics
will release the report tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. in Sydney.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Constellation Is First to File Partial Application for New U.S. Reactor

(Bloomberg) -- Constellation Energy Group Inc. has
filed the first partial application to build a new nuclear
reactor in the U.S. in almost 30 years.

Baltimore-based Constellation filed an environmental report
with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission that seeks permission
to build a third reactor at its Calvert Cliffs site in Lusby,
Maryland, according to documents on the commission's Web site.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

UPDATE 3-Principal Financial posts higher net, exceeds view

(Reuters) - Net earnings for the provider of life and health insurance
and retirement investments increased to $303.8 million, or
$1.12 a share, from $210.5 million, or 76 cents a share, in the
year-earlier quarter.




Operating profit, which analysts use to measure performance
because it excludes investments, was $282.9 million, or $1.05 a
share, compared to $225.2 million, or 82 cents a share, a year
ago.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Peltz says could offer $37 to $41/shr for Wendy's

(Reuters) - Wendy's has said it is evaluating strategic alternatives,
including a potential sale of the company.




Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

RPT-CB Richard Ellis second-quarter earnings soar

(Reuters) - Excluding items, the company posted a profit of $157.3
million, or 66 cents per share, ahead of the average of
analysts forecast of 41 cents per share, according to Reuters
Estimates.




Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-CommScope 2nd-qtr profit up, Andrew Corp profit lower

(Reuters) - The company said second-quarter net profit was $61.1
million, or 83 per share, compared to $46.7 million, or 65
cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 26 percent to
$519.1.




Analysts, on average, were expecting earnings per share of
76 cents on revenue of $505.8 million, according to Reuters
Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Dollar Drops Versus Euro as Stock Rally Eases Concern Over Credit Risks

(Bloomberg) -- The dollar fell the most in almost
three weeks against the euro as a rebound in U.S. stocks eased
concern over credit risks.

The U.S. currency gained the most last week since January as
subprime losses encouraged investors to avoid riskier assets. The
Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose from its steepest weekly decline
since September 2002. Treasuries fell amid reduced need for the
safety of government debt.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

CommScope quarterly profit up on bandwidth demand

(Reuters) - Analysts, on average, were looking for earnings per share
of 76 cents on revenue of $505.8 million, according to Reuters
Estimates. In late June, CommScope raised its second-quarter
revenue forecast to $500 million to $510 million, from $490
million to $510 million.




CommScope said last month it plans to buy rival
communications equipment maker Andrew Corp. for about
$2.6 billion in a bid to cut manufacturing costs and strengthen
its position with service provider clients.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Jarden profit rises, but shares fall on view

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 30 - Jarden Corp. said on Monday its second-quarter profit rose on higher sales, but gave a cautious outlook for the rest of the year citing weaker consumer spending, sending shares down nearly 7 percent.



While Jarden did not lower any of its specific outlook numbers, it was going to be "somewhat cautious" for the rest of the year and not"... overly aggressive on inventory positions and things like that," Chief Executive Martin Franklin said in a conference call.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Oil Slips From Near One-Year High on Speculation U.S. Fuel Stockpiles Rose

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil fell from the highest in
almost a year, pulled lower by gasoline, on speculation U.S. fuel
stockpiles increased last week.

A government report on Aug. 1 will probably show that U.S.
inventories of gasoline and distillate fuel, a category that
includes diesel and heating oil, rose for a second week,
according to a Bloomberg News survey. The crude-oil market often
follows gasoline during the summer driving season, when motor-
fuel demand peaks.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

CNA, Dow Jones, Ingersoll, RadioShack, Rural Cellular: U.S. Equity Movers

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies
whose shares are having unusual price changes in U.S. exchanges.
Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names. Share
prices are as of 2:40 p.m. in New York.

Some mortgage lenders fell after American Home Mortgage
Investment Corp. (AHM US) delayed its quarterly dividend and
raised doubts about whether it has enough cash to stay in
business. Shares of American Home were halted.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

GM, Ford, Toyota Back New U.S. Mileage Goals to Stave Off Stricter Rules

(Bloomberg) -- Automakers are embracing legislation
in the U.S. House that would raise fuel-economy standards,
abandoning years of resistance because of concerns they might
otherwise be forced to accept even tougher measures.

An industry group representing General Motors Corp., Ford
Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and six other auto companies is
backing a bill that would require a more than one-quarter
increase in average vehicle mileage by 2022. Competing measures
in the House and Senate mandate stricter requirements that would
compel earlier compliance and probably cost the industry more.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Chile stocks rebound ahead of earnings, peso firms

(Reuters) - "It's mainly a light recovery from last week's slump when
U.S. bourses dropped sharply on mortgage credit worries and
dragged world markets along with them," said Rodrigo Sarria,
deputy manager with the Intervalores brokerage.




Local investors this week will continue to monitor
quarterly earnings reports.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Currency Option Volatility Edges Higher as Credit Risk Measures Increase

(Bloomberg) -- Option volatility on most major
exchange rates edged higher as investors demand safer assets and
indicators of corporate bond risk surged.

The perceived risk of owning European corporate bonds
soared to the highest in at least three years after Germany's
IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG reported losses on U.S. subprime
mortgages, credit-default swap prices show.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Mexico Bolsa Rises Most in Month on Analyst Upgrades: Latin America Stocks

(Bloomberg) -- Mexico's Bolsa index rose the most in
four weeks after analysts advised investors to buy companies with
better-than-expected profit growth.

Mexico's Bolsa index rallied 556.58, or 1.8 percent, to
30,791.75 as of 12:50 p.m. New York time, led by mobile phone
company America Movil SAB. It gained the most since July 3.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Hedge fund Citadel takes over Sowood's credit fund

(Reuters) - Sowood, which managed roughly $3 billion for prominent
clients such as Harvard University, lost 8 percent in July and
5 percent in June, leaving the Boston-based hedge fund with
losses of 10 percent, a person familiar with the fund's
operations told Reuters on Friday.




Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-Luby's shareholder urges company to hire adviser

(Reuters) - In a letter to the company, investment adviser Ramius
Capital Group LLC said its RCG Starboard Advisors LLC unit owns
about 6.5 percent of Luby's shares making it the largest
shareholder.




Luby's, which has seen three straight quarters of falling
earnings, was not immediately available for comment.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

CNA earnings hit by subprime, shares fall

(Reuters) - Net realized investment losses increased to $91 million from $64 million.




The losses included $20 million attributable to securities "with exposure to subprime mortgage collateral," CNA officials said in a conference call with analysts.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Oliver Press picks up 12 pct in Emageon, seeks strategic options

(Reuters) - Emageon could not be immediately reached for comment.




Shares of Birmingham, Alabama-based Emageon were trading up
2.5 percent at $9.05 in late morning trade on the Nasdaq.



Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Crude Oil Slips on Speculation U.S. Fuel Inventories Climbed Last Week

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil fell from the highest in
almost a year, pulled lower by gasoline, on speculation U.S. fuel
stockpiles increased last week.

A government report on Aug. 1 will probably show that U.S.
inventories of gasoline and distillate fuel, a category that
includes diesel and heating oil, rose for a second week,
according to a Bloomberg News survey. The crude-oil market often
follows gasoline during the summer driving season, when motor-
fuel demand peaks.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

CORRECTED-(OFFICIAL)-Fitch release on Doral Financial

(Reuters) - July 20 - Fitch Ratings has affirmed and removed all of
Doral Financial Corporation's ratings from Rating
Watch Negative and DRL's Rating Outlook is Positive. Fitch
currently rates DRL's long-term Issuer Default Rating
'CCC'. The Support Rating Floor for DRL and its principal
subsidiary remains unchanged at No Floor . Please see a
complete list of affected ratings at the end of this release.




DRL's Positive Rating Outlook is driven by the closing of
the equity sale and the payment of a significant impending debt
maturity. On July 19, DRL announced that it had received all
regulatory approvals and closed the equity sale of a 90% stake
to Bear Stearns Merchant Banking for $610 million. In addition,
DRL announced today that they have paid the impending $625
million debt maturity.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Chile's Peso Strengthens as Codelco Prepares to Reopen Second-Largest Mine

(Bloomberg) -- Chile's peso rose after state-owned
Codelco, the world's biggest producer of copper, said it will
resume production at its second-largest mine.

Unions at El Teniente in central Chile will resume work,
Codelco said yesterday. Mining had been halted since July 26
because of protests by striking contract workers. Copper has
gained 22.6 percent this year. Copper is Chile's biggest export.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

US STOCKS-Indexes flat, but volatility running high

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 30 - U.S. stocks were little
changed on Monday after gyrating between negative and positive
territory in the first half hour as worsening sentiment about
the global credit environment countered optimism about economic
growth.




Tightening lending standards threaten to slow or halt the
heavy pace of corporate buy-outs that have fueled a rally in
equities.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

U.S. Stocks Rise on Earnings; Archer Daniels, Humana Shares Advance

(Bloomberg) -- Stocks worldwide rebounded from a
$2.1 trillion sell-off after better-than-forecast earnings
eased concern that the U.S. housing slump will curb economic
growth.

Archer Daniels Midland Co., the world's largest grain
processor, and Humana Inc., the second-biggest provider of
U.S.-funded Medicare plans, climbed on profits that topped
analysts' estimates.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

CORRECTED - CORRECTED-(OFFICIAL) PRESS DIGEST - Wall Street Journal - July 3

(Reuters) - * Adobe Systems Inc. faces a wave of criticism
from printing companies for a deal that gives FedEx Corp.'s
Kinko's copy stores a link on some Adobe software. The
flap could hurt Adobe's standing with smaller print-shop
customers.




* Dow Jones & Co. Inc.'s controlling shareholders,
the Bancroft family, were still deliberating late Sunday
whether to sell to News Corp. , which has offered $5
billion for the publisher.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

K2 says settles in principle merger-related litigation

(Reuters) - K2 and Jarden would amend the merger agreement to reduce the termination fee payable by K2 to $24 million from $27.5 million, the sports equipment maker said in a statement.






Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Carolina Group 2nd-quarter profit rises

(Reuters) - After deducting profit attributable to parent Loews,
earnings were $1.30 per share, up from $1.09 cents per share.





Read more at Reuters.com Market News

US STOCKS-Futures point to flat open, jumpy trading

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 30 - Wall Street was set to open
flat on Monday but trading was expected to be very volatile as
worsening sentiment about the global credit environment made
investors wary about the outlook for stocks.




Tightening lending standards threaten to slow or halt the
heavy pace of corporate buy-outs that have fueled a rally in
equities.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

European Stocks Rebound; Imperial Chemicals, Linde Shares Advance

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks rebounded. Imperial
Chemical Industries Plc and Linde AG, the world's largest maker
of industrial gases, paced the advance.

The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 was little changed at 372.59 at 2:49
p.m. in London after falling as much as 0.6 percent earlier. The
Stoxx 50 decreased 0.1 percent, while the Euro Stoxx 50, a
measure for the 13 nations sharing the euro, was little changed.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 2-U.S. H1 foreclosures jump, trending higher-RealtyTrac

(Reuters) - The spike in foreclosures reported by RealtyTrac
underscored another problem plaguing the U.S. housing market,
which has also been struggling with falling demand and hefty
inventory.




Analysts and the Federal Reserve have cited the housing
problem, exacerbated by the subprime blowup, as the biggest
risk to economic growth. Bond traders are betting that the Fed
would begin cutting interest rates later this year to cushion
the economy from a housing-led slowdown.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

European Bonds Advance as Subprime Woes Send Corporate Debt Risk Soaring

(Bloomberg) -- European government bonds gained for
a fifth day as the risk of owning corporate debt soared to the
highest in at least three years.

Bunds rose, pushing 10-year yields to the lowest in 2 1/2
months, after Germany's IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG reported
losses linked to loans made to U.S. homeowners with poor credit
histories. Government debt dropped earlier on speculation the
European Central Bank will this week reiterate its preference for
higher rates.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

UPDATE 1-ADM quarterly profit rises, ethanol volume down

(Reuters) - ADM has been boosted in the past year by demand for
alternative foods made from crops. But higher corn costs and
lower ethanol volume cut profit in its corn processing business
during the quarter, while oilseed processing profit was hurt by
lower European rapeseed and biodiesel margins, the company
said.




The largest U.S. food processor and ethanol producer, ADM
said earnings rose to $954.8 million, or $1.47 per share, in
the fiscal fourth quarter ended June 30, from $410.3 million,
or 62 cents per share, a year earlier.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

RadioShack posts quarterly profit

(Reuters) - Analysts expected profit of 25 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates. It was not immediately clear whether the estimates were comparable.




Sales fell 15 percent to $934.8 million, short of analysts' estimates of $983.6 million. Same-store sales fell 8.9 percent. In its statement, the company said the post-paid wireless business and the closure of 481 stores in 2006 hurt sales.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

U.S. Two-Year Bonds Advance After Risk of Holding Corporate Debt Surges

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. two-year Treasuries rose after
a gauge of owning corporate debt surged to the highest in at
least three years.

Benchmark 10-year bonds also strengthened, pushing yields
to near the lowest in more than two months, after Germany's IKB
Deutsche Industriebank AG reported losses on U.S. subprime
mortgages. Treasuries extended gains into a fourth week on
concern rising defaults on home loans to people with poor credit
histories will worsen a housing slowdown and hurt economic
growth.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

French Stocks Drop; Societe Generale and Dexia Decline as Michelin Gains

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks fell, paced by lenders
such as Societe Generale SA and Dexia SA.

Michelin & Cie. rose.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Orthovita announces share offering, debt facility

(Reuters) - In a separate transaction with a securitization vehicle,
Orthovita agreed to repurchase a revenue interest on future
sales of certain Orthovita products.





Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Oil holds above $76, supply worries support

(Reuters) - London Brent slipped 36 cents to $75.90. The North Sea benchmark reverted to a discount to U.S. crude last week on signs of lower crude stocks in Oklahoma.




Oil has rallied to within sight of last year's record high of $78.40, although the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has rebuffed calls from consumers for more crude.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

HSBC says profits up 13 pct, but bad debts jump

(Reuters) - LONDON, July 30 - HSBC Holdings , Europe's biggest bank, reported a 13 percent rise in first-half pretax profits as a $1 billion one-off gain helped offset a jump in bad debts linked to its problems in the U.S. housing market.



HSBC said on Monday its charge for bad debts was $6.35 billion in the six months to the end of June, up 63 percent from $3.89 billion a year earlier.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

U.K. Stocks Rise for First Time in Five Days; HSBC, ICI, BHP Pace Gains

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks advanced for the first
time in five days, led by HSBC Holdings Plc after Europe's
largest bank reported profit that topped analysts' estimates.

Imperial Chemical Industries Plc and BHP Billiton Ltd. also
paced the gains.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

GLOBAL MARKETS-Investors take break from credit worries

(Reuters) - Signs of the recent bout of risk aversion, however, were not
far away. MSCI's main world stock index was 6
percent off its all-time high just 10 days ago and Wall Street
volatility was at highs not seen since April 2003.




"Clearly credit worries are still very much at the fore of
investors' minds," said Nick Stamenkovic, bond strategist at RIA
Capital Markets.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

ICI rejects improved $16 bln Akzo bid, talks continue

(Reuters) - ICI, the maker of Dulux paints, said on Monday that the two sides were still in talks after it rejected a 650 pence a share cash proposal from Akzo but it had not opened its books to the world's largest maker of industrial coatings.




Akzo, the maker of Crown paints, said it had teamed up with German consumer products group Henkel over its proposed bid, but there was no certainty it would make a better offer. Henkel would take on ICI's adhesives and electronics materials business if a deal went through, Akzo said.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Angloplat H1 headline EPS up 47 pct, cuts FY output

(Reuters) - South Africa's Anglo Platinum posted a 47 percent jump in interim headline earnings per share on Monday, at the top end of its own forecast, and cut its output estimate for the year.

Angloplat, the world's biggest platinum producer, said headline EPS for the six months to end June increased to 29.43 rand from 22.02 rand in the same period last year, mainly due to strong metals prices.


Read more at Reuters Africa

French Utility Stocks Drop, Led by Suez; Michelin and France Telecom Gain

(Bloomberg) -- French utility stocks dropped, paced
by Suez SA and Veolia Environnement SA. Michelin & Cie. and
France Telecom SA gained.

The CAC 40 Index slid 9.20, or 0.2 percent, to 5634.76 at
9:11 a.m. in Paris. The SBF 120 Index fell 0.1 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-KPN to bid for Getronics, reports Q2 results

(Reuters) - KPN will spend an additional 415 million euros on buying
back Getronics' outstanding convertible bonds maturing in 2008,
2010 and 2014 as well as preference shares, Chief Financial
Officer Marcel Smits said.




KPN, which also announced second quarter results early, said
the takeover, unanimously supported by Getronics' management and
supervisory boards, was part of its strategy to move from
providing communications links to more value-added services.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News