Business Objects, France Telecom, Hermes, Nexans: French Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or
fall on the Paris stock exchange. Symbols are in parentheses
after company names. Prices are from the last close.

August futures on the CAC 40 Index tumbled 33.5 to 5892 at
8:19 a.m. in Paris.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

America Movil, Asur, Gol, Suzano and Tam: Latin American Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may make
significant gains or losses in Brazil and Mexico today. Symbols
are in parentheses after the company name, and stock prices are
from the last session.

In Brazil, preferred shares are the most commonly traded
class of stock.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Roche says Actemra filing on track

(Reuters) - "The study, together with data from the previous three
international studies, will form the basis of the regulatory
filing for marketing approval later this year," Roche said.




Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Gyurcsany's Budget Cuts, Taxes Bring Investors Gain, Hungarian Voters Pain

(Bloomberg) -- If investors in Hungary were the
only people allowed to vote, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany
would be in much better political shape.

The 45-year-old Socialist, who made millions turning around
failing former state-owned companies, has seen his year-old
austerity campaign begin to pay dividends in the form of a
stronger forint and record performance by the main stock index.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Yen May Rebound as Volatility Erodes Carry Trades, Shinko's Suzuki Says

(Bloomberg) -- The yen may gain to more than a two-
month high of 119.50 against the dollar as rising options
volatility prompts traders to exit carry trades, said Kengo
Suzuki, currency strategist at Shinko Securities Co. in Tokyo.

``Investors aren't being compensated enough for the risk of
putting on dollar-yen carry trades,'' said Suzuki. ``It's
possible for the yen to head higher against the dollar and this
could spread to other currencies.''


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Philippine Shares Slide Most in Four Months; Ayala Corp., San Miguel Drop

(Bloomberg) -- Philippine stocks fell the most in
four months on concern a housing slump may be worsening in the
U.S., curbing spending in the nation's biggest export market and
eroding global investors' appetite for riskier assets.

Ayala Corp. and Bank of the Philippines Islands led the
decline on concern rising defaults on U.S. subprime mortgages
will damp demand for Philippine equities and hurt the local
economy. San Miguel Corp. dropped the most in five years on
concern its expansion beyond the food and drink industries may
hurt earnings.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Industrial Bank of China Passes Citigroup as Largest Bank by Market Value

(Bloomberg) -- Industrial & Commercial Bank of China
Ltd. briefly overtook Citigroup Inc. as the world's largest bank
by market value after less than a year as a public company.

ICBC's shares rose as much as 1.9 percent in Shanghai today
to 5.80 yuan (77 cents), taking its market capitalization to
$244.9 billion, more than Citigroup's $243.9 billion. Citigroup
earned more than three times as much as ICBC last year.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

RPT-US STOCKS-Indexes slide as housing, profit concerns rise

(Reuters) - By Caroline Valetkevitch




NEW YORK, July 24 - U.S. stocks tumbled on Tuesday,
with the three major indexes posting their worst one-day
performance since March 13, as disappointing results from DuPont
Co. and Countrywide Financial Corp. heightened
concerns about the housing market.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Utility blasts its Oregon dam to make way for fish

(Reuters) - "Today, this partnership took a great step toward restoring
a breathtaking river for fish, wildlife and people," Portland
General Electric CEO and President Peggy Fowler said in a
statement.




"We celebrate the future of a watershed that will provide
unimpeded salmon and steelhead passage from the slopes of Mt.
Hood to the Pacific Ocean."


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

South Korea's Economy Grows at Fastest Pace in 18 Months as Exports Surge

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's economy grew at the
fastest pace in 1 1/2 years in the second quarter, spurred by
exports of LG Electronics Inc. mobile phones and Samsung Heavy
Industries Co. ships.

Asia's third-largest economy expanded 1.7 percent from the
first quarter, the Bank of Korea said in Seoul today, above the
1.3 percent median estimate of 11 economists in a Bloomberg News
survey. From a year earlier, the economy swelled 4.9 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Spain's Astroc in merger talks with Aisa-sources

(Reuters) - The deal, set to be completed by 2008, is meant to rebuild
investor confidence in Astroc after media reports of financial
problems at the firm sent its shares into free fall in April.




It would create a company with over 5 billion euros in real
estate assets and 8 million square metres in building land,
these people said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-Hoku Scientific posts Q1 loss, cuts FY08 revenue view

(Reuters) - The company, which has bagged three polysilicon supply
contracts this year, said it expects to post a loss for the
second quarter as well on increased costs.




The costs are related to the company's plans to build and
equip a polysilicon production facility at an estimated cost of
more than $260 million.
For the first quarter, Hoku posted a loss of 4 cents a share,
compared with earnings of 2 cents a share a year ago. Revenue
fell marginally to $1.1 million.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Japanese Stocks May Slip as U.S. Shares Fall on Housing Concern, Yen Rises

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks may slip after U.S.
shares fell the most in four months as earnings from the largest
mortgage provider in the U.S., Countrywide Financial Corp.,
prompted concern the subprime loan problem is spreading.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
may lead declines by companies that get a large proportion of
their earnings from the U.S. market, aggravated by a stronger yen.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-Nabors 2nd-quarter profit down, North America weak

(Reuters) - The company said net profit fell to $228.3 million, or 79
cents per diluted share, from $233.4 million, or 77 cents per
diluted share, in the same quarter in 2006.




Analysts had forecasts a profit of 81 cents a share,
according to Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 2-Qimonda shocks with size of Q3 loss; cuts spending

(Reuters) - FRANKFURT, July 24 - Chipmaker Qimonda
posted a quarterly loss before tax twice as deep as
expected by the market and said it would rein in capital
expenditure to counteract the effect of steep price declines.




The world's third-biggest maker of memory chips by sales
swung to a loss before interest and tax of 323
million euros in the quarter to end-June, while
sales fell 25 percent quarter-on-quarter to 740 million euros.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Japanese Corporate Bond Risk Approaching a Peak, JPMorgan Chase Forecasts

(Bloomberg) -- The price to protect Japanese debt
from default is close to a peak because there will be a limited
impact on the economy from U.S. mortgage defaults, according to
JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Investors should sell credit-default swaps tied to 1 billion
yen ($8.3 million) of debt in the iTraxx Japan Series 7 Index
once the price reaches 3 million yen, said Mana Nakazora, chief
credit analyst at JPMorgan in Tokyo. The cost to guard against
defaults among 50 investment-grade companies on the index rose to
2.74 million yen yesterday from 1.6 million yen on May 17,
according to Credit Suisse Group.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

New Zealand Dollar Declines as U.S. Stocks Prompt Trimming of Risky Bets

(Bloomberg) -- The New Zealand dollar dropped from
near a 22-year high as declining U.S. stocks and concern about
losses tied to that nation's housing and mortgage market
prompted some investors to unwind riskier bets.

The currency, known as the kiwi, is a favorite for the
carry trade, where investors borrow cheaply in yen to put their
funds in countries that offer higher yields. New Zealand's
record 8 percent benchmark interest rate is 7.5 percentage
points higher than Japan's, luring traders to the higher returns
offered by the nation's fixed income assets.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Former Amaranth head energy trader sues FERC

(Reuters) - FERC informed Hunter on July 20 that it intended to bring
an enforcement action against him for "alleged manipulation of
settlement prices of natural gas futures," according the suit.




But Hunter said in the suit that FERC has jurisdiction only
in regulating the physical wholesale energy markets, not the
futures markets, which is the jurisdiction of the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Cheesecake Factory 2nd-qtr earnings top estimates

(Reuters) - LOS ANGELES, July 24 - Restaurant operator Cheesecake Factory Inc. reported on Tuesday slightly higher quarterly earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations, helped by a recent price increase.



Shares of the company rose 2.4 percent in extended trading following the announcement.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Linear Tech quarterly profit, revenue lower

(Reuters) - Revenue fell to $268 million from $293 million.




Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Nabors 2nd-qtr profit off, N. America weak

(Reuters) - Total revenues rose to $1.16 billion from $1.14 billion.




Read more at Reuters.com Market News

DuPont profit slips

(Reuters) - Profit declined marginally to $972 million, or $1.04 a share, from $975 million, or $1.04 a share, a year earlier, the Wilmington, Delaware-based company said.




Excluding items, earnings rose to $1.04 a share from $1.01 a share. Analysts on average had forecast $1.06, according to Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Ensco sees Q3 revenue up about 3 pct sequentially

(Reuters) - Earlier on Tuesday, the company reported second-quarter
revenue of $548.6 million. Analysts on average expect
third-quarter revenue of $578.3 million, according to Reuters
Estimates.





Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

EU approves ENI's buy of some Exxon Mobil assets

(Reuters) - "Although ENI is active at the upstream wholesale level in
the Czech Republic, it appears highly unlikely that the merged
entity would engage in closing off supply from its competitors
at the downstream retail level," the Commission said.




Esso Hungaria, Esso Ceska and Esso Slovensko sell motor fuel
in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the Commission
said. Esso Ceska and Esso Slovensko sell jet fuel at the Prague
and Bratislava airports, it said.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

Avery Dennison posts lower quarterly profit

(Reuters) - Net income in the second quarter fell to $85.8 million, or 87 cents a share, compared with $112 million, or $1.12 a share, in the year-earlier quarter.



Excluding one-time items, Avery earned $1.02 a share.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-Stanley Works Q2 earnings rise, narrows 2007 EPS range

(Reuters) - The supplier of tools, hardware and security systems
lowered the upper end of its 2007 earnings forecast range and
stood by its sales growth projection based on anticipation of
continued weak conditions in housing-related markets.




The New Britain, Connecticut-based company posted
second-quarter earnings of $85 million, or $1.01 a share,
compared with $75 million, or 90 cents a share, in the
year-earlier quarter. Net sales rose 10 percent to $1.1
billion.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-FirstCity Financial posts Q1 loss, lower Q4 profit

(Reuters) - Shares of the financial services company were down almost
13 percent at $8.85 in morning trade on the Nasdaq Tuesday,
after falling to a year-low of $8.51 earlier in the day.




The company posted a loss of $914,699, or 8 cents a share,
for the first quarter ended March 31, compared with a profit of
$2.0 million, or 17 cents a share, in the year-ago period.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 2-Bowater second-quarter loss grows as costs rise

(Reuters) - The company, which plans to merge with Canadian peer
Abitibi-Consolidated Inc , said its net loss was $62.6
million, $1.09 a share, compared with a net loss $10.6 million,
or 18 cents, in the year-ago period.




Excluding one-time items, loss for the quarter was $41.5
million, or 72 cents per share, compared with analysts'
consensus forecasts for a loss of 80 cents, according to data
compiled by Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-Supervalu profit rises, but sales weakening

(Reuters) - But the company also saw sales weaken at the end of the
quarter, and the weakness continued in the first few weeks of
the current quarter as consumers face higher prices for
gasoline and other items, Jeff Noddle, chairman and chief
executive officer, said during a conference call with
analysts.




Shares of Supervalu tumbled almost 9 percent to $43.17 on
the New York Stock Exchange.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Exxaro sees H1 headline EPS 232-258 cents

(Reuters) - South African black-owned miner Exxaro Rersources expects to report first-half attributable and headline earnings per share of between 232 and 258 cents, the company said on Tuesday.

The company could not provide comparable figures because Exxaro was created through a black empowerment deal at the end of 2006.


Read more at Reuters Africa

UPDATE 1- GM's CDS spreads widen after debt postponement news

(Reuters) - The cost of protecting GM's debt for five years with credit
default swaps widened by 61 basis points to about 568 basis
points a year, or $568,000 for every $10 million of principal
protected, according to data from various brokers and dealers.




GMAC'S 8 percent bonds due in 2031 fell to 91.688 cents on
the dollar, down from 92 cents on Monday, according to
MarketAxess. GMAC is GM's former finance unit that is now
majority-owned by Cerberus Capital Management.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Neurochem's tramiprosate gets FDA fast-track

(Reuters) - TORONTO, July 24 - Neurochem Inc. said on Tuesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has designated its tramiprosate treatment as a fast-track product for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.



The biotechnology company said it planned to meet with the FDA in August to discuss its Phase 3 program and provide an update on North American Phase 3 clinical trials.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

Spain's Tubos Reunidos to merge with Grupo Condesa

(Reuters) - Shares in Tubos, which were suspended on Monday afternoon,
are to resume trading at 1215 GMT, the stock exchange said.




Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Apple slips, AT&T iPhone activations disappoint

(Reuters) - $143.70.




"There is no upside surprise on the number," Shannon Cross, an analyst Cross Research, said of AT&T's initial iPhone activatations.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

Watsco second-quarter profit falls

(Reuters) - For the latest quarter, income from continuing operations
was 88 cents a share, it added.




Analysts expected the company to report profit of 87 cents
a share, before items, on revenue of $482.9 million, according
to Reuters Estimates.



Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Energizer quarterly profit unexpectedly rises

(Reuters) - The company, known for its namesake batteries and Schick razors, is working on broadening its consumer products lineup with the planned $1.16 billion purchase of Playtex Products Inc. announced earlier this month.



Earnings rose to $62.5 million, or $1.06 per share, in the third quarter ended June 30 from $51.3 million, or 83 cents per share, a year earlier.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

U.S. Treasuries Are Little Changed as Traders Weigh Credit Market Risks

(Bloomberg) -- Treasuries were little changed, with
10-year note yields holding near the lowest in more than six
weeks, as concerns about riskier credit markets lend support to
U.S. debt.

Yields on benchmark 10-year securities were below 5 percent
for a third day. The difference between yields on 10-year
Treasuries and swaps widened to 69 basis points, the most in more
than five years. Wider swap spreads are associated with concern
over higher borrowing costs for companies.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Ryerson to go private for $34.50 per share

(Reuters) - But the company said it is a 15 percent premium to the $30.01 at which shares traded on February 13, the day before the company said it as considering strategic options.







Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

S.Africa maize rallies on crop output jitters

(Reuters) - South Africa's most-active maize contract jumped by over two percent on Tuesday as worries about a smaller-than-anticipated harvest mounted ahead of the latest crop forecast.

December white maize firmed by 44.8 rand to 1,775.8 rand a tonne, close to the daily trading limit of 45 rand.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Stanley Works Q2 earnings rise

(Reuters) - Net sales rose 10 percent to $1.1 billion.




The company said its quarterly earnings included 6 cents of
restructuring related charges, compared with 5 cents of
restructuring and acquisition inventory accounting charges in
2006.



Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Lexmark quarterly profit falls

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 24 - Computer printer maker Lexmark International Inc. said on Tuesday second-quarter net income fell on weak sales of ink cartridges and higher sales of unprofitable inkjet printers. Lexington, Kentucky-based Lexmark, which competes with Hewlett-Packard Co. , posted net income of $64.2 million, or 67 cents a share, down from $76.7 million, or 74 cents a share, a year earlier.



Excluding a one-time benefit from restructuring-related activities, the company earned 65 cents a share. On that basis, analysts were expecting 63 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-Rothmans profit rises in first quarter

(Reuters) - Rothmans will pay a dividend of 30 Canadian cents per share
Sept. 17.




Sales at Rothmans Benson & Hedges Inc., which is a 60
percent owned unit, net of excise duty and taxes, rose to
C$177.4 million from C$162.9 million a year earlier.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Businessman Jove buying 5 pct of BBVA: source

(Reuters) - BBVA shares were up 2.3 percent to 18.50 euros at 1024 GMT, off an earlier high of 18.66 euros.




Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

European Gasoil Falls for Third Day as Refineries Boost Fuel Production

(Bloomberg) -- European gasoil for immediate
delivery fell for a third day on expectations that refineries in
the U.S. will boost production.

Refineries in the U.S. operated at 91.6 percent of capacity
last week, up 0.6 percentage point from the week before,
according to a survey of 13 analysts by Bloomberg. The increase
follows higher fuel production in Europe, where plants in the
U.K., Spain, Belgium and Italy returned to full service after
maintenance.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Businessman Jove buying 5 pct of BBVA-source

(Reuters) - BBVA declined to comment.



BBVA shares were up 2.3 percent to 18.50 euros at 1024 GMT, off an earlier high of 18.66 euros.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

CME profit rises on record futures trading

(Reuters) - Excluding expenses from this month's merger between Chicago
Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade, second-quarter
earnings would have been $3.69 per share.




Revenue increased 17 percent to $329 million from $282
million.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Norilsk extends LionOre offer to Aug 13

(Reuters) - Norilsk has acquired about 90 percent of Canada's LionOre,
securing its C$6.8 billion takeover of the
company last month. It then extended the offer to buy more
shares to July 23 from July 10.




Norilsk's offer for LionOre, the world's 10th-largest nickel
producer, was 10 percent higher than a rival bid by Xstrata Plc
.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

BP sees near-term pressure on earnings

(Reuters) - BP also said it expected its Atlantis oil platform in the
Gulf of Mexico and its Greater Plutonio project off Angola to
start up by the end of this year and forecast its Texas City
operation would be processing 400,000 barrels per day by the end
of the year.




Read more at Reuters.com Market News

U.S. Stock-Index Are Little Changed; AT&T Falls, Oracle Rises in Europe

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stock-index futures were little
changed before more than 10 percent of Standard & Poor's 500
Index members, including AT&T Inc. and McDonald's Corp., report
earnings.

Shares of AT&T, the largest U.S. phone service provider, and
McDonald's, the world's largest restaurant company, fell in
Europe. Texas Instruments Inc., biggest maker of mobile-phone
chips, declined after reporting profit that missed analysts'
estimates. Cisco Systems Inc. and Oracle Corp. gained.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Check Point Software quarterly profit rises

(Reuters) - Excluding items, the company earned 38 cents per share.
Analysts on average were expecting the company to earn 36 cents
a share in the quarter, according to Reuters Estimates.




Revenue rose 27 percent to $176.2 million from $138.9
million.



Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Pound Rises to 26-Year High on Speculation Bank of England to Raise Rates

(Bloomberg) -- The pound rose to the highest in 26
years against the dollar on speculation the Bank of England will
raise interest rates at least once more this year.

The U.K. currency gained to the highest since May 1981 as
the highest benchmark yields of any Group of Seven nation lure
investors. Interest-rate futures trading shows investors are
betting on a quarter-point rate increase by the BOE to 6 percent
and have partly priced in a second shift this year. U.K. policy
makers meet on Aug. 2 to decide on benchmark borrowing costs.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Toyota Anxiety With Defects, Recalls Accompanies Toyoda Drive to President

(Bloomberg) -- Akio Toyoda sat on stage as Toyota Motor
Corp. President Katsuaki Watanabe introduced nine other executives.
When Toyoda's turn came, he made a five-second bow to shareholders
gathered in Toyota City, Japan, for the June 22 annual meeting. Two
hours later, at a private board meeting, he was named head of
Japanese sales.

The second event signaled that Akio, 51, had stepped closer
to his destiny as patriarch of a carmaking dynasty that his great-
grandfather Sakichi funded and his grandfather Kiichiro started in
1937 by copying General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolets.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News

China Mobile Users Rise Above 500 Million on Price Cuts, Set to Beat Goal

(Bloomberg) -- China's number of mobile-phone users
rose to more than 500 million in June as the nation's biggest
carrier cut some charges to attract record customers, driving
growth at a faster pace than the country's government forecast.

Chinese mobile-phone operators added 40.6 million users in
the first six months for a total of 501.7 million, Wang Lijian a
spokesman at the Beijing-based regulator said today. At the
current pace, China will reach the government's target of 520
million users ahead of its end-of-year goal.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News