UK drugs body backs Tysabri for severe form of MS

(Reuters) - LONDON, July 3 - Irish drugmaker Elan Corp and U.S. partner Biogen Idec said on Tuesday that Britain's cost-effectiveness drugs panel had recommended their Tysabri drug to treat a severe form of multiple sclerosis.



The decision reverses a provisional ruling by Britain's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and, assuming no successful appeal, will be ratified as guidance to the state-run National Health Service in August.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

ABN Turns to Credit Suisse Emerging-Market Fund Managers to Replace Kassin

(Bloomberg) -- ABN Amro Holdings NV hired Tomasz
Stadnik and Chris Kelly from Credit Suisse Group to run emerging-
markets fixed income at its asset management unit.

The two replace Raphael Kassin, who left ABN Amro in April
after building up the firm's emerging-market debt funds to join
Credit Suisse. Stadnik and Kelly had co-managed $1.5 billion of
emerging-market debt at Credit Suisse.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Fidelity Nat'l says employee stole customer data

(Reuters) - The theft resulted in customers receiving unwanted
solicitations from marketers, but Fidelity National Information
Services said it had no reason to believe that consumers
suffered financial damage or fraudulent activity.




Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Wall St set to open higher on M&A; data eyed

(Reuters) - Kraft Foods Inc. is in exclusive talks to buy Danone's biscuit and cereal unit for 5.3 billion euros in cash, the companies said. Kraft's shares rose 1.8 percent in Europe.




The market will close early at 1 p.m. ahead of Wednesday's U.S. Independence Day holiday when financial markets will be closed all day.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Aluminum Producer Vimetco Says It Plans Share Sale in London This Month

(Bloomberg) -- Vimetco BV, an aluminum producer
controlled by Russian businessman Vitaliy Machitski, plans to
sell shares this month and list on the London Stock Exchange.

Vimetco's sale of global depositary receipts will be
managed by Morgan Stanley and UniCredit Markets & Investment
Banking, the Amsterdam-based company said today in a statement.
It didn't say how much it plans to raise from the sale.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

SAfrica maize steady, follows Chicago

(Reuters) - South Africa's benchmark maize contracts ended little changed on Tuesday after similar moves in overnight trade in the United States.

July white maize closed 0.56 percent up at 1,606 rand a tonne after reversing losses earlier in the session when it failed to break through the key 1,572 level, a trader said. It touched a low of 1,574 rand.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Lead Rises to Record in London for 2nd Day on Chinese Demand; Copper Gains

(Bloomberg) -- Lead rose to a record for a second
consecutive day in London, spurred by increased demand in China,
the metal's largest user. Nickel snapped three days of losses.

Domestic lead prices in China have climbed almost 15
percent since the beginning of June because of ``strong demand
and tight supply,'' Barclays Capital said today in a report.
Prices on the London Metal Exchange will rise to $2,900 a metric
ton in the next three months, said the bank, one of 11 companies
trading on the floor of the LME.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News