European Stocks May Advance; Aviva, UBS, Glaxo, BHP Billiton May Gain

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks may advance for the
first time in six days on speculation shares have become cheap
relative to prospects for earnings growth.

Aviva Plc, HSBC Holdings Plc and UBS AG might lead financial
stocks higher after their U.S.-traded securities gained.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc, the region's second-largest drugmaker, may
rise after a panel of medical specialists said its Avandia drug
should remain on the U.S. market. BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto
Group gained in Australia on higher copper prices.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-Ryanair Q1 profit jumps stronger than expected 20%

(Reuters) - Europe's biggest low-cost carrier said profit after tax in
the three months to the end of June rose to 138.9 million euros
from 115.7 million in the same period of 2006
after passenger volumes on its growing network rose 18 percent.




That was broadly in line with the most optimistic forecast
in a Reuters poll of eight analysts, and well above the average
prediction of 123.9 million euros.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Japan's Stocks Slide; Kyocera Drops on Earnings, Steelmakers Fall on Probe

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks fell after earnings
at companies including Kyocera Corp. lagged behind investor
expectations.

Stock losses spread in the afternoon after Japan's Fair
Trade Commission said it is investigating Nippon Steel Corp., JFE
Holdings Inc. and Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. on suspicion of
price fixing, sending their shares tumbling.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-Melexis cuts 2007 revenue target after tight Q2

(Reuters) - Revenue rose just one percent year-on-year to 50.7 million
euros , against the average forecast from a
Reuters poll of six analysts of 53.2 million euros.




Melexis said it now aimed for revenue growth of between 3
and 4 percent this year, while keeping its net profit margin
target of 16-18 percent.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Antofagasta, SABMiller, Ryanair, Taylor Wimpey: U.K., Irish Stock 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 the last market close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index dropped 9.10, or 0.15 percent,
to 6206.10. The FTSE All-Share Index declined 0.46, or 0.01
percent, to 3211.15.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Consumers in U.S. Probably Slowed Spending in June, Ceding Mainstay Role

(Bloomberg) -- Consumer spending in the U.S. rose
in June at the slowest pace in nine months as near-record
gasoline
prices and falling home values forced Americans to cut back,
economists said ahead of a government report today.

Spending increased 0.1 percent after rising 0.5 percent in
May, according to the median of 77 estimates in a Bloomberg News
survey before the Commerce Department release. The report's
inflation measures may show little change.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Japan's Bonds Are Little Changed on Speculation Rates to Rise Next Month

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese bonds were little changed
on speculation the ruling coalition's election defeat will give
the central bank more room to raise interest rates.

The Liberal Democratic Party won fewer seats on July 29
than needed to retain control of parliament's upper house, which
has the power to block legislation. Secretary general Hidenao
Nakagawa, who has said the central bank bears the burden for the
impact of higher borrowing costs, said yesterday he will resign
to accept responsibility for the election loss.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Malaysian Ringgit Gains as Stocks Rise; Government Bonds Little Changed

(Bloomberg) -- Malaysia's ringgit rose, ending a
four-day slump, as stocks rebounded and concern about risk
reduction eased. Government bonds were little changed.

The currency climbed after touching the lowest in almost a
month yesterday as U.S. stocks recovered from the worst two-day
slide since 2003, helping local stocks advance. A government
report this week may show export growth accelerated last month,
underpinning economic expansion in the second half of the year.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Japan's Topix Index Advances, Led by Olympus on Earnings; Kyocera Drops

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Topix index advanced after
profit growth at companies including Olympus Corp. and Shinsei
Bank Ltd. attracted buyers.

Gains were limited after earnings at companies including
Kyocera Corp. lagged behind investor expectations.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

China Needs More Flexible Foreign Exchange Policy, IMF Chief De Rato Says

(Bloomberg) -- China needs to have ``more
flexibility'' in its exchange rate policy, International
Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato said in Manila.

Separately, De Rato said ``substantial flows'' of funds
worldwide raise the ``danger of abrupt reversal'' and may
produce ``sudden shocks.'' De Rato was speaking to businessmen
in Manila.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Australian Stocks Gain, Led by BHP, Newcrest, Qantas; Flight Centre Falls

(Bloomberg) -- Australian stocks rose, led by BHP
Billiton Ltd. and Newcrest Mining Ltd. after copper and gold
prices advanced.

Qantas Airways Ltd. gained after a newspaper report it will
be split into four separate businesses. Flight Centre Ltd. plunged
after it scrapped plans for a joint venture with a buyout firm.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Cowlitz Bancorp gets $15/share buyout offer

(Reuters) - Fitzpatrick said the company's board had not been
considering a sale, but that it would give careful
consideration to the proposal, as well as the company's
strategic plans and future prospects.




Cowlitz Bancorp shares closed up $1.06, up 8.56 percent, at
$13.44 on the Nasdaq.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Japan's Government Bonds May Fall as Riskier Assets Such as Stocks Recover

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese bonds may fall for a second
day as a recovery in global stock prices signaled investors are
shifting to riskier assets after last week's global rout in
corporate and emerging-market debt.

Ten-year yields may continue to climb from the lowest in
eight weeks after reports showed households increased spending
for a sixth month in June and the jobless rate fell, suggesting
Japan will extend its longest postwar expansion. The perceived
risk of owning corporate bonds in the U.S. fell yesterday from
the highest in at least three years.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Global Railway Industries, Pet Valu Canada: Canadian Equity Market Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies
whose shares may have unusual price changes in Canadian markets.
This preview includes news that broke after markets closed.
Symbols are in parentheses after company names and prices are
from the last close.

The Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index rose 116.19, or
0.9 percent, to 13,864.72.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Vulcan Materials posts lower quarterly profit

(Reuters) - Analysts were expecting $1.46 a share, according to Reuters
Estimates.




On July 18, Vulcan Materials, based in Birmingham, Alabama,
cut its second-quarter outlook to about $1.46 a share, from its
prior forecast of $1.55 to $1.70 a share, citing the slowdown
in residential construction.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

WRAPUP 1-LatAm markets breathe easier, helped by Wall St

(Reuters) - Equity markets posted the largest gains, with Brazilian
stocks rallying more than 3 percent after losses of almost 8
percent last week. Mexican and Argentine stocks followed suit,
with gains of more than 1.5 percent each.




"For me, this is only an adjustment. It is not a sign that
the upward trend is back, we can't affirm that yet," said Nami
Neneas, head of equities at Banif brokerage in Sao Paulo.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-DXP Enterprises Q2 earns below Street view, shares fall

(Reuters) - "DXP's second quarter results did not meet our expectations
and we were surprised by the softness we experienced in June,"
Chief Executive David Little said.




The Houston-based company reported earnings of $3.4
million, or 56 cents a share, compared with $3 million, or 51
cents a share, in the year-ago period.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-Oxford Industries quarterly net profit falls

(Reuters) - The company said first quarter sales and earnings per share
would be at or slightly below expectations due to deferral of
shipments to the second quarter.




However, the company said it was still comfortable with its
full year sales and earnings forecast.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-Sun Micro posts 4th-qtr profit vs loss

(Reuters) - The stock rose 12 percent to $5.47 in extended trading
following the earnings report after closing down 0.6 percent at
$4.89 on Nasdaq.




Earnings of 9 cents per share beat the analysts' average
estimate of 5 cents per share. Net income was $329 million in
the fourth quarter ended June 30, compared with a year-earlier
net loss of $301 million, or 9 cents per share.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-Andrew Corp posts quarterly loss

(Reuters) - Andrew said its second-quarter net loss was $96 million, or
61 cents per share, compared to a net profit of $7 million, or
4 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue fell 1 percent to $546
million.




The company recorded 72 cents of unusual items, including
69 cents per share of goodwill impairment for its unprofitable
Base Station Subsystems unit, which makes stations for
directing cell phone traffic.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Texas Roadhouse quarterly net income rises

(Reuters) - Analysts on average expected the company to earn 13 cents a
share, before items, on revenue of $182.9 million, according to
Reuters Estimates.





Read more at Reuters.com Market News

U.S. Treasury raises quarterly borrowing estimate

(Reuters) - "The increase in borrowing is primarily the result of higher outlays, lower net issuance of state and local government series securities and adjustments in quarterly cash balances," Treasury said in an announcement of its anticipated borrowing needs.




During the April-June second quarter, Treasury said it paid down $139 billion, finishing on June 30 with a cash balance of $25 billion. That was $6 billion less than Treasury estimated in April that it would pay down -- a difference it said was "primarily the result of slightly lower receipts."


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Coffee Rises in New York on Forecasts for Cold in Brazil's Growing Areas

(Bloomberg) -- Coffee rose in New York on
speculation that colder-than-normal weather in Brazil, the
world's largest producer, may develop into a crop-damaging
frost.

Temperatures may fall to 42 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees
Celsius) through Aug. 1 in Brazil's major coffee-growing
regions, according to Meteorlogix LLC in Woburn, Massachusetts.
Cold air moved into the coffee belt today, and a separate high-
pressure ridge may bring lower-than-normal temperatures into
southern Brazil on Aug. 5, the private forecaster said.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Latin American Stocks Rally; Mexico, Brazil Shares Have Best Gain in Month

(Bloomberg) -- Stocks in Latin America rallied as
analysts advised investors to buy companies with better-than-
expected profit growth after last week's global sell-off.

Brazil's Bovespa Index jumped 1,455.21, or 2.8 percent, to
54,377.44 as of 3 p.m. in New York. Mexico's Bolsa index rallied
747.88, or 2.5 percent, to 30,983.05. It was the biggest gain in
both markets since March 21.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Oil Is Steady, Close to One-Year High, on Expectations of Supply Shortfall

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil fell from the highest in
almost a year, pulled lower by gasoline, on speculation U.S. fuel
stockpiles increased last week.

A government report on Aug. 1 will probably show that U.S.
inventories of gasoline and distillate fuel, a category that
includes diesel and heating oil, rose for a second week,
according to a Bloomberg News survey. The crude-oil market often
follows gasoline during the summer driving season, when motor-
fuel demand peaks.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

UPDATE 4-Simon Property FFO up on higher rents, occupancy

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 30 - Simon Property Group Inc
, the largest U.S. owner of shopping malls and outlet
centers, said on Monday quarterly funds from operations rose
4.1 percent helped by higher rents and occupancy, and the
company raised its forecast for the year.




Simon reported second-quarter FFO of $373 million, or $1.31
per share, compared with $358 million, or $1.26, a year
earlier. FFO is a measure of real estate investment trust
performance that factors out depreciation.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Venezuela Bolivar Declines to One-Month Low on Speculation Over Bond Sales

(Bloomberg) -- Venezuela's currency fell to a one-
month low in unregulated trading on speculation a government
dollar-denominated bond sale to local banks won't be large
enough to meet demand for foreign currency.

Venezuela and Argentina plan to sell a dollar bond together
by the end of August, said Ricardo Sanguino, president of the
Venezuelan congressional finance commission, after markets
closed July 27, without revealing how much they would sell.
Venezuela's Finance Minister Rodrigo Cabezas said in May the
countries planned to sell up to $1 billion of dollar and bolivar
bonds to Venezuelan investors by the end of the year.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Treasuries Drop as Yields Near Lowest in Two Months Fail to Attract Buyers

(Bloomberg) -- Treasuries declined as 10-year note
yields near the lowest level in more than two months failed to
attract buyers.

A gauge of momentum shows the yields are poised to rise
after dropping more than half a percentage point since peaking
at 5.327 percent on June 13. U.S. government debt rose last week
for a third straight week on bets rising defaults on home loans
to people with poor credit histories will slow the economy.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

U.S., Britain optimistic for WTO trade deal

(Reuters) - "We agreed that contact between leaders will be stepped up so that we are ready to quickly finalize an agreement in the near future," Brown said.




Negotiators have been seeking to overcome a long-standing impasse over farm and manufacturing trade to reach a new world trade deal, which aims to lower trade barriers and bring developing countries into the world economy.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

U.S., Britain optimistic of Doha deal, Bush says

(Reuters) - "Gordon Brown brought some interesting suggestions on the way forward. He's optimistic that we can conclude the Doha round, as am I," Bush said.




Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 4-RadioShack posts profit but sales weaken

(Reuters) - "The sales performance continues to be weak," said Tiffany
Co, a director in the retail group with Fitch Ratings. She said
declining sales would eventually cut into earnings.




Sales fell 15 percent to $934.8 million, short of analysts'
estimates of $983.6 million. Sales at stores open at least a
year, a key measure of retail performance, dropped 8.9 percent.
RadioShack cited weaker wireless sales and the closure of 481
stores in 2006.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Liberty considers Virgin Media bid - source

(Reuters) - By Kenneth Li and Gavin Haycock



NEW YORK/LONDON, July 30 - U.S. media mogul John Malone is considering entering a $23 billion auction for Virgin Media , joining several potential suitors for the British cable operator, sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

U.S. Stocks Drop on Lending Concern; Energy Shares, Exxon Mobil Retreat

(Bloomberg) -- Most U.S. stocks declined, dragging
European shares lower, after a German bank's losses from
subprime mortgages spurred concern rising defaults will reduce
lending and end the boom in leveraged buyouts.

Financial shares fell to a 10-month low after Germany's
IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG said it scrapped an earnings
forecast because of ``massive uncertainty'' in the markets.
Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest energy producer,
retreated on a drop in oil prices.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Fannie Mae to sell $5.0 billion bills on Wednesday

(Reuters) - Bids will be accepted from authorized dealers from 9:00
a.m. EDT , until 9:45 a.m. EDT .




Settlement is Aug. 1-2.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Mexico's Peso, Bonds Rise as Demand for Emerging Market Assets Rebounds

(Bloomberg) -- Mexico's peso and local-currency
bonds rose as higher prices for global stocks fueled investor
demand for riskier emerging-market securities.

The peso rose 0.4 percent to 10.9699 per dollar at 10:15
a.m. New York time. The peso's gain was the sixth-best
performance against the dollar among the 26 most-traded
emerging-market currencies.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Delta Air issues shares for disputed claims

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 30 - Delta Air Lines Inc. , which exited bankruptcy on April 30, on Monday said it began distributing about 21 million shares to previous debt holders, as it works through a pile of disputed claims.



The shares, which compensate creditors, were withheld from an initial distribution of about 247 million shares because the claims were disputed.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

CNA, Nordstrom, RadioShack, Rural Cellular, ValueClick: U.S. Equity Movers

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies
whose shares are having unusual price changes in U.S. exchanges.
Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names. Share
prices are as of 10:10 a.m. in New York.

Home Depot Inc. (HD US) rose the most since June 20, gaining
61 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $37.36. Shares of the world's
largest home-improvement retailer could double in the next three
years, Barron's said, citing no one.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Gold Rises in New York as Euro Rebounds Against the Dollar; Silver Climbs

(Bloomberg) -- Gold rose in New York as the
dollar's decline against the euro boosted the appeal of the
precious metal as an alternative investment. Silver also gained.

Gold generally moves in tandem with the euro, which
rebounded against the dollar after dropping 1.4 percent last
week. Before today, gold had gained 5.4 percent this year, while
the euro climbed 3.3 percent against the dollar.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

CSG Systems to buy interactive messaging services firm

(Reuters) - CSG Systems, which expects the deal to close by mid-August,
said it may incur certain acquisition-related charges in 2007.
The deal will add about $7 million to $8 million in revenue for
the remainder of 2007, it added.





Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Loews 2nd-qtr profit rises

(Reuters) - Net income at the New York-based conglomerate, which is run by the billionaire Tisch family, rose to $653.4 million from $568.7 million a year earlier.



Profit attributable to Loews shareholders rose to $511.7 million, or 95 cents per share, from $474.9 million, or 85 cents a share.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-Canada factory prices tumble on C$, metals

(Reuters) - The second consecutive monthly decline was more than twice
the 0.6 percent fall forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll. In
the year to June, producer prices rose 2.2 percent compared
with 3.1 percent in May.




Raw materials prices climbed 0.6 percent in the month,
thanks mainly to rising crude oil prices, while the average
forecast called for a 0.1 percent drop. The year-on-year rise
jumped to 4.9 percent in June from 1.9 percent in May.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

FDA reviewer says pull Avandia

(Reuters) - Senior FDA officials say they do not know if Avandia, known generically as rosiglitazone, increases heart-attack risk and are asking the advisory panel if the drug should come off the market or stay with stronger warnings or limits. Panel recommendations are expected on Monday afternoon.




Graham, a scientist in the FDA office that monitors the safety of medicines after approval, has been outspoken about drug risks and publicly criticized top FDA officials for failing to respond to warning signs with various medicines.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

H1 foreclosures jump: RealtyTrac

(Reuters) - "Despite a slight drop in June, foreclosure activity shows no sign of slowing down," James Saccacio, RealtyTrac Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement.




"If the current pace were to continue, foreclosure filings would surpass two million by the end of the year, which would represent a year-over-year increase of more than 65 percent," Saccacio said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Corporate Bond Risk Surges After Subprime Losses Spread to Germany's IKB

(Bloomberg) -- The risk of owning corporate bonds
surged by a record as losses on U.S. subprime mortgages at
Germany's IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG triggered concerns of
global market contagion.

Contracts on 10 million euros ($13.8 million) of debt
included in the iTraxx Crossover Series 7 Index of 50 European
companies increased as much as 60,000 euros to 504,000 euros,
according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. The CDX North American
Investment-Grade Index rose $16,000 to $97,000, Deutsche Bank AG
prices show.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Monster profit falls, to restructure

(Reuters) - Earnings from continuing operations, including a 10-cent charge for severance for former executives and its stock options investigations, were 22 cents per share.




Without the charge, earnings were 2 cents below the 34-cent Wall Street consensus forecast, according to Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

CV hires Lehman Vice Chairman to review options

(Reuters) - In May, CV announced a plan to cut jobs and reduce the
number of sales territories to lower operating expenses.




"CV Therapeutics is in a unique position with a deep R&D
pipeline, global rights to a growing, first-in-class product in
Ranexa, and the potential 2008 approval of a second unique
compound in regadenoson. I am looking forward to helping the
company build value for these assets," Frank said in the brief
statement Monday.



Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Taiwanese Banks With Weak Ratings May Face Higher Funding Costs, S&P Says

(Bloomberg) -- Taiwanese banks with weak credit
ratings will probably face rising funding costs because of
``rising risk awareness in the debenture market,'' said Taiwan
Ratings Corp., a subsidiary of Standard & Poor's.

Taiwan's banks, which have largely been absent from the debt
market since 2006, are expected to issue more debentures to boost
capital and lock in lower long-term funding costs anticipating
more interest-rate increases, Taiwan Ratings said in a statement
on its Web site. It is 51 percent owned by Standard & Poor's.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Rand, bonds weaken on EM sentiment

(Reuters) - South Africa's rand slipped more than one percent against the dollar on Monday, extending losses over the past week in line with other emerging markets, to touch a new one-month low.

The local currency was trading at 7.1950 against the greenback at 1035 GMT, 1.2 percent weaker than its New York close on Friday of 7.1125. It earlier hit 7.1999 to the dollar --its weakest level since June 27, according to Reuters data.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Humana quarterly revenue jumps

(Reuters) - Revenue rose to $6.22 billion from $5.26 billion.



Net income rose to 216.8 million, or $1.28 per share, compared with $89.5 million, or 53 cents a share, a year earlier.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

HSBC says pleased with U.S. recovery, losses in line

(Reuters) - HSBC's impairments were $3.89 billion in the first half after it wrote off $10.6 billion in 2006, largely due to cover bad loans made to U.S. home owners.




The rest of the year is likely to remain tough, Flint said, however, due to an expected rise in the number of homeowners on 2-year fixed rate mortgages adjusting to higher rates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

TIMELINE: Key events in the battle for ABN AMRO

(Reuters) - March 20, 2007 - Barclays and ABN outline the plan for a potential merger.




April 13 - Royal Bank of Scotland , Spain's Santander and Belgian-Dutch group Fortis say they have approached ABN, inviting it to talks and asking for access to its books.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

KPN to buy Getronics for $1 bln, core profit flat

(Reuters) - By Niclas Mika



AMSTERDAM, July 30 - Telecoms group KPN agreed to buy struggling information technology services company Getronics for 766 million euros , making it the Dutch market leader in IT services.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Germany's DAX Shares Climb, Led by Linde on Earnings; Volkswagen Advances

(Bloomberg) -- Germany's benchmark DAX Index rose
for the first time in five days, paced by Linde AG after
reporting earnings that beat analysts' estimates. Volkswagen AG
gained after analysts raised their price estimates on the stock.

IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG tumbled after the lender that
invested in U.S. subprime mortgages cut its profit forecast.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Ubisoft's Guillemot Brothers Thump Electronic Arts With Wii Games Strategy

(Bloomberg) -- Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft Entertainment
SA's chief executive officer, picked up a prototype of Nintendo
Co.'s Wii video-game console in 2005 and saw something his
biggest shareholder and rival didn't: a chance for a larger piece
of the $32 billion a year market.

As Electronic Arts Inc., the world's top maker of video
games, funneled funds into titles for new consoles by Sony Corp.
and Microsoft Corp., Guillemot flew a team of game developers
from France to Kyoto, Japan, to learn more about the Wii.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News

REFILE-Japan PM defeat casts cloud over fiscal,tax reform

(Reuters) - TOKYO, July 30 - The crushing defeat that Japanese
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling camp suffered in Sunday's
election could stall debate on fiscal and tax reforms needed to
address the country's huge public debt, economists said.




The Democratic Party of Japan, the main opposition party
that won the most seats in the upper house of parliament,
opposes raising the 5 percent consumption tax. The party is also
seen as more open to new spending, such as programmes to provide
child care and help struggling farmers.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Rand steady; eyes equities, euro

(Reuters) - South Africa's rand firmed against the dollar on Monday and looked set to take direction from equities and the euro, traders said.

At 0638 GMT, the rand stood at 7.09 versus the dollar, about 0.3 percent firmer than its New York close of 7.1125 on Friday. Traders said the local unit would probably trade in the 7.02 - 7.13 range in the session.


Read more at Reuters Africa

South Korea Stocks Rebound from Two-Day Rout; Samsung Electronics Advances

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks rose, snapping a
two-day plunge that had wiped out $68 billion in market value.
Samsung Electronics Co. gained after the country's industrial
production increased almost twice as much as expected.

Higher output of chips, autos and mobile phones, which
account for about a third of the nation's exports, accounted for
the gain in production, according to a government report. Concern
that a deepening U.S. housing-market slump would hurt the world's
biggest economy had triggered a $2.1 trillion rout in global
equities last week.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

KPN to buy back Getronics debt, prefs for 415 mln euros

(Reuters) - KPN is planning to make a cash offer for struggling IT
services company Getronics of 6.25 euros per share.




Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News