ECM, CETV, KGHM, Lotos, Telekomunikacja: Central European Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in central European markets. Symbols are in parentheses and
prices are from the last close.

The NTX Index of 30 companies in the region lost 0.4 percent
to 1,933.29 as 18 stocks fell, nine rose and three were
unchanged. The measure added 0.1 percent last week.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.K. Growth in House Prices Slows to a Four-Month Low, Hometrack Reports

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. house prices rose at the slowest
pace in four months in May as interest rates at a six-year high
discouraged buyers, Hometrack Ltd. said.

The average cost of a home in England and Wales increased
0.6 percent from April, the least since January, to 175,600
pounds ($348,000), a survey by the London-based research company
showed today. Price growth was ``subdued'' in all regions apart
from the areas around the capital as London prices rose 1.3
percent from the previous month, Hometrack said.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Australian Equities Decline, Led by Macquarie; BHP Billiton, Rio Advance

(Bloomberg) -- Australian stocks dropped, led by
Macquarie Bank Ltd. after hedge fund manager Jim Chanos, who
predicted the collapse of Enron Corp., said the company's shares
are likely to drop.

Mining stocks rose, led by BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto
Group, after prices of metals including copper and zinc gained,
and amid speculation of mergers and acquisitions in the mining
industry.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Monte Paschi, Pop. Dell'Emilia, Edison, Pirelli: Italian Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in Italy. Stock symbols follow company names and prices are from
the last close.

The S&P/MIB increased 79, or 0.2 percent, to 43,019. The
number of declining shares outweighed those advancing. The gauge
dropped 3 percent last week, its worst performance since the five
days ended March 2. Futures expiring in June gained 73, or 0.2
percent, to 43,150.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

New Zealand Dollar May Fall as Consumer Confidence Slips for Third Month

(Bloomberg) -- New Zealand's dollar may fall on
speculation declining consumer and business confidence will
reduce domestic demand, ensuring interest rates will be
unchanged next week.

Consumer confidence fell for a third month in May, showed a
poll conducted for Television New Zealand published today.
Business confidence fell for a second month in April, according
to ANZ National Bank Ltd., which releases this month's survey
May 31. The currency has gained 3.1 percent this year as the
Reserve Bank of New Zealand raised interest rates twice to a
record 7.75 percent to curb consumer spending and housing demand.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Bank of China May Sell $392 Million of Yuan-Denominated Bonds in Hong Kong

(Bloomberg) -- Bank of China Ltd., the nation's
second-biggest lender, plans to sell as much as 3 billion yuan
($392 million) of bonds in Hong Kong in what may be the city's
first sale of Chinese currency bonds.

The debt will have a maturity of up to three years, the
Beijing-based lender said in a statement to the Shanghai Stock
Exchange today. The yuan has risen 5.8 percent in the past year
against the Hong Kong dollar.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Indonesia's Rupiah Advances on Speculation Central Bank to Reduce Rate

(Bloomberg) -- Indonesia's rupiah rose for the first
time in four days on speculation the central bank will cut
interest rates at its June meeting, feeding demand for bonds and
stocks.

The currency gained after Bank Indonesia Governor
Burhanuddin Abdullah at the end of last week said the central
bank forecasts its benchmark policy rate will be 7.5 percent at
the close of 2008, versus 8.75 now. Falling interest rates
helped increase foreign ownership of the 442 trillion rupiah
($50.8 billion) government bond market to a record 16 percent
last month.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Japan's Bonds May Fall for 4th Day on Concerns Stock Gains to Dent Demand

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's government bonds fell, sending
10-year yields to the highest since February, after the Nikkei 225
Stock Average rebounded from the biggest decline in a month.

Ten-year bonds last week completed their steepest slide this
year as signs of faster growth in the U.S. tempered concerns that
demand in Japan's biggest export market will slow. Reports this
week will probably show hiring rose in the U.S. and industrial
production increased in Japan, according to Bloomberg News surveys.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Japanese Shares Rebound on Higher Commodity Prices, Weaker Yen; Sony Gains

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks rebounded from their
biggest loss in a month, led by trading companies, after
commodities prices rose at the end of last week. Exporters
advanced after the yen weakened against the dollar and euro,
boosting the value of their overseas sales.

Mitsui & Co., Japan's second-largest trading company,
jumped 1.7 percent. Sony Corp., the maker of the PlayStation 3
game console, rose for the first time in four days.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Coles bid consortium says CVC exits group

(Reuters) - "I can confirm that CVC is no longer part of the
consortium," a spokesman for the buyout group said, confirming
a report in The Australian newspaper.




"One can presume they have some concerns about the state of
the business."


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

IBM shares could easily climb over $120: Barron's

(Reuters) - The company plans to bolster profits through higher-margin
software sales, Barron's said. It also noted that IBM bought
back $27 billion of stock between 2003 and 2006, and was
authorized to buy another $16.4 billion.




The report also quoted an analyst as saying third world
markets would become a growth engine for IBM in the future.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Israeli Stocks Gain, Led by Israel Corp.; Partner Communications Declines

(Bloomberg) -- Israeli stocks rose after declining
in earlier trading, paced by Israel Corp. The holding company
gained the most in more than a month and a half after it agreed
to buy power stations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The index added 1.75, or 0.2 percent, to 1107.28 at the
close in Tel Aviv as 13 shares advanced and 12 dropped.
Investors bought and sold about 1.05 billion shekels ($260
million) in shares and convertibles.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Global warming-hurricane link spurs controversy

(Reuters) - With the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season about to begin, the controversy over the role of climate change in boosting hurricane intensity is a matter for debate among the researchers who watch the water and the clouds and work to figure out what makes the worst storms so furious.




"As far as I can tell, there is no dispute that higher sea temperatures mean more energy for these storms to feed on," said Kevin Trenberth of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, part of a consortium of U.S. universities.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News