Japanese Stocks Advance, Paced by Trading Companies; Sony, Takeda Slide

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks gained, paced by
trading companies and oil explorers, after Nikko Citigroup Ltd.
raised its recommendation on Sumitomo Corp. and Marubeni Corp.
and the price of crude oil advanced.

Limiting gains, technology-related companies that rely on
U.S. sales such as Sony Corp. declined after a higher-than-
forecast rise in U.S. labor costs fueled concern accelerating
inflation will prompt the Federal Reserve to increase interest
rates.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

World Bank nominee Zoellick woos Africa on tour

(Reuters) - Robert Zoellick, U.S. President George W. Bush's nominee to run the World Bank, promised on Wednesday to partner the world's poorest continent as he began a two-week tour to rally support for his nomination.

Starting his tour in Ghana, Zoellick stressed his long association with Africa and his willingness to listen to and learn from a continent that has previously had to accept prescriptions for growth and development from multilateral institutions such as the World Bank.


Read more at Reuters Africa

South Korea's May Household Lending Growth Slows as Mortgage Loans Decline

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's household debt growth
slowed in May as mortgage lending declined by the most since
records began almost seven years ago.

Bank lending to households advanced 184 billion won ($198
million) from April, when it gained 1.4 trillion won, the Bank
of Korea said in Seoul today. Mortgage lending fell 1.2 trillion
won in May, the biggest monthly drop since the central bank
began compiling the figures in December 2000.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Cemex, Tejicondor, Tejidos and TV Azteca: Latin American Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may make
significant gains or losses in Chile, Colombia and Mexico
today. Symbols are in parentheses after the company name, and
stock prices are from the last session. Brazilian markets are
closed today for a holiday.

Chile


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Kelda, easyJet, Halfords, Johnson Matthey, Vp: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses
and prices are from yesterday's market close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index fell 110.1, or 1.7 percent, to
close at 6522.7 in London as 2 stocks rose, 100 fell and none
were unchanged. The FTSE All-Share Index lost 60.39, or 1.8
percent, to 3382.03.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Oil above $71, nears 9-mth high on Turkey Iraq raid

(Reuters) - London Brent crude was up 8 cents at $71.10 a barrel at 0213 GMT after rising 57 cents on Wednesday, a fifth day of gains. U.S. crude nudged up 6 cents to $66.02.




Turkey denied a report on Wednesday it had launched a major incursion into northern Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels, but a military source said troops had conducted a limited raid across the mountainous border, rattling markets.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

South Korea May Leave Key Rate Unchanged at 4.5 Percent as Inflation Slow

(Bloomberg) -- Bank of Korea policy makers will
probably leave the benchmark interest rate unchanged tomorrow
for a 10th month as inflation slows and the housing market cools.

Central bank Governor Lee Seong Tae and his six colleagues
will keep the overnight call rate target at 4.5 percent after
three increases in 2006, according to all 14 economists surveyed
by Bloomberg News. The board meets tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Seoul
and announces a decision before 11 a.m.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News