European Stocks Advance, Led By ABN Amro, Banks; Saipem, Technip Decline

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose, led by ABN Amro
Holding NV after Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc sweetened its
71.1 billion-euro ($98.1 billion) offer for the Dutch lender.

ABN Amro jumped the most in three months. BT Group Plc, the
U.K.'s largest phone company, and drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline Plc
climbed after brokerages lifted their recommendations on the
shares.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Alcan, Alcoa, Bon-Ton, Century Aluminum, Motorola: U.S. Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies
whose shares may have unusual price changes in U.S. exchanges
today. This preview includes news that broke after exchanges
closed yesterday. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company
names. Share prices are as of 7:30 a.m. New York time.

Abbott Laboratories (ABT US): The drugmaker and General
Electric Co. have broken off an agreement to sell Abbott's core
laboratory and point-of-care diagnostics businesses to GE. The
decision has no impact on Abbott's forecast earnings, excluding
items, for 2007 and 2008, the company said in a statement. Shares
rose 62 cents to $53.21 yesterday.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.K. FTSE 100 Index Gains, Led by BT Group, William Morrison, Antofagasta

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks advanced for a second
day, paced by BT Group Plc, William Morrison Supermarkets Plc
and Antofagasta Plc

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index rose 15, or 0.2 percent, to
6586.3 in London at 8:03 a.m. The FTSE All-Share Index added
9.37, or 0.2 percent, to 3397.53. Ireland's ISEQ Index gained
26.05 to 9330.80.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News