Cemex, Elektra, Homex, Perdigao, Sadia: 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

Banks lead Asian shares higher

(Reuters) - The dollar held around a six-week peak against the euro, lifted by dwindling expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates later this year after surprisingly strong recent data on housing and manufacturing.




Brent crude hovered below $70 after estimates that inventories of the motor fuel have risen last week soothed concerns about U.S. gasoline shortages ahead of the summer driving season.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

Parkson Retail May Pay 7.25 Percent Yield on Its Five-Year Bond Sale

(Bloomberg) -- Parkson Retail Group Ltd., China's
second-largest department-store operator by market value, may pay
yield of as much as 7.25 percent for its second dollar-
denominated bond sale in less than seven months, according to an
e-mail sent to investors.

The company, owned by Malaysia's Lion Group, plans to price
the five-year $125 million of securities to yield from 7.125
percent to 7.25 percent, the e-mail shows. That's at least 62.5
basis points, or 0.625 percentage point, lower than its $200
million debut bond sale in November.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Shanda's Shares Climb as Profit Surges 38-Fold, Beating Analyst Estimates

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Shanda Interactive
Entertainment Ltd., China's second-biggest operator of online
games, rose after the company reported first-quarter profit
increased more than some analysts estimated.

The company's American depositary receipts rose 3.4 percent
in U.S. after-hours trading to $29.60 after Shanda said its
first-quarter profit increased 38-fold to 448.8 million yuan ($59
million). Shanghai-based Shanda was expected to post profit of
330 million yuan, according to the average of six analyst
estimates compiled by Bloomberg.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Australia's Stock Index Rises to Record, Led by Rio Tinto; Banks Advance

(Bloomberg) -- Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index rose to
a record. Rio Tinto Group led gains after BHP Billiton Ltd.'s
chief executive officer said he's always for acquisitions,
reviving speculation BHP may bid for its smaller mining rival.

``Speculation that BHP may bid for Rio has been affecting
the shares for about a month now,'' said Michael Birch, who helps
manage $133 million at Wallace Funds Management in Sydney.
``Takeovers remain a big theme driving stocks, even if a Rio
takeover is unlikely to actually eventuate in the short term.''


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Babcock Infrastructure May Appeal Rejection of $2 Billion Northwestern Bid

(Bloomberg) -- Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Group,
an Australian owner of ports, power cables and gas networks, said
it may appeal the rejection by a U.S. regulator of its $2.2
billion bid to acquire NorthWestern Corp.

The Sydney-based company is taking legal advice and is
considering all options in relation to the rejection of proposed
acquisition of the South Dakota-based utility by the Montana
Public Service Commission, Chief Executive Officer Steven Boulton
said today. Babcock Infrastructure shares had their biggest fall
for more than two months.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Malaysian Ringgit Is Little Changed; Government Says It Accepts Strength

(Bloomberg) -- Malaysia's ringgit was little changed,
holding at the strongest since February 1998, after the government
said its strength remains in line with economic fundamentals.

The local currency added to a nine-week rally as buying by
global investors helped lift the nation's benchmark stock index to
a record close yesterday. An 8 billion ringgit ($2.36 billion) pay
package for civil servants will help spur economic growth this
year, Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop said yesterday.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News