Sallie Mae in talks to go private: report

(Reuters) - The Blackstone Group is one potential bidder, the Times said.

Sallie Mae and Blackstone could not immediately be reached for comment.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Arius Research and Le Chateau Shares: Canadian Equity Market Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following are 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 98.66, or 0.7 percent, to 13,499.65.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Euro extends gains on ECB rate view, G7 in focus

(Reuters) - The euro hit a two-year high against the dollar on Friday on expectations that euro zone interest rates will soon rise, while investors awaited a meeting of Group of Seven finance officials later in the day.

The single currency poked up to a record high against the yen, and traders expected G7 officials would not single out yen weakness at the gathering in Washington. In that case, the low-yielding yen could come under even more pressure.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Italy regulator aims to separate T.Italia network

(Reuters) - "By Dec. 31," he added. "Either we do a deal or the reguolator should be able to impose the separation of the network," he said.




Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

U.K. Median Pay Rose Most in Five Years During First Quarter, IDS Reports

(Bloomberg) -- British wage bargainers negotiated the biggest median salary increases in the first quarter since 2001, led by pay for staff at U.K. banks, a report by Incomes Data Services showed.

The median pay settlement rose to 3.5 percent from 3.4 percent for the period ended February, the London-based salary researcher said in a statement today. The report covers 186 wage agreements for 457,907 employees.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Wholesale Prices in U.S. Probably Rose Last Month on Food, Energy Costs

(Bloomberg) -- Rising costs for food and fuel pushed U.S. wholesale prices higher in March, highlighting why the Federal Reserve maintains inflation is still a risk, economists said before a government report today.

Prices paid to factories, farmers and other producers rose 0.7 percent after a 1.3 percent gain in February, based on the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey. Prices excluding food and fuel, called the core index, rose 0.2 percent and were up 1.8 percent over the last 12 months, the survey showed.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

UPDATE 2-KKR group may seek partner for Coles bid-source

(Reuters) - MELBOURNE, April 13 - A Kohlberg Kravis Roberts-led consortium pursuing Australian retailer Coles Group Ltd. is considering partnering with a listed company in its bid, which could make the offer more attractive for Coles shareholders.

KKR [KKR.UL] is facing a potential bidding war with conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd. for Australia's second-largest retailer, which has offered A$19.7 billion in a combination of cash and shares. It would be the country's biggest ever takeover.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Canadian Stocks Fall on Research In Motion Earnings Forecast, Rate Concern

(Bloomberg) -- Canadian stocks declined for a third day, led by Research In Motion Ltd., whose shares plunged after its profit forecast fell short of analysts' estimates.

Also weighing on the market was speculation that inflation may prompt the Federal Reserve to increase borrowing costs in the U.S., Canada's biggest trading partner. A report showed that U.S. import prices rose more than twice as much as forecast in March.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-Ross Stores March same-store sales up 6 pct

(Reuters) - Wall Street, on average, had been expecting the off-price retailer to post a same-store sales gain of 4.6 percent, according to a Reuters survey.

Total net sales for the five weeks ended April 8 rose 14 percent to $599 million, the Pleasanton, California-based company said.


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Kohl's March same-store sales rise 16.8 percent

(Reuters) - CHICAGO, April 12 - Kohl's Corp. , which runs a chain of mid-priced department stores, on Thursday said March sales at stores open at least a year rose 16.8 percent, well above analysts' expectations, helped by strong demand for spring apparel.

Analysts, on average, had been expecting a same-store sales rise of 9.7 percent, according to a Reuters survey.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Corel sees better-than-expected Q1 results

(Reuters) - The company said it plans to delay the filing of its quarterly report in order to complete the accounting of its acquisition of InterVideo in December.




Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

Fannie Mae sells $3 bln new 10-yr benchmark notes

(Reuters) - Joint lead managers on the sale were Citigroup Global Markets, Deutsche Bank Securities and HSBC Securities Inc.

Later on Thursday, Fannie Mae will also sell via an Internet auction $1.0 billion in three-year benchmark notes due March 12, 2010 in a reopening of a 4.75 percent issue.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Wal-Mart Investors, Rebuffed on Worker Issues, Press for Shareholder Vote

(Bloomberg) -- In September 2005, three officials of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and a handful of prominent shareholders gathered in Manhattan for an unpublicized meeting.

The investors renewed their call for the world's biggest retailer to name a ``special committee of independent directors'' to investigate the company's workplace policies amid a rising tide of employee lawsuits.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News

UPDATE 2-China's foreign reserves breach $1.2 trillion

(Reuters) - BEIJING, April 12 - China's foreign exchange reserves breached $1.2 trillion in the first quarter after a record quarterly jump, but money supply growth eased slightly in March in response to a government tightening campaign.

The central bank said on Thursday that reserves had swollen by $135.7 billion to $1.202 trillion between January and March, more than half the $247.3 billion reserves accumulation for the whole of 2006.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

US STOCKS-Futures signal lower start on Wall St.

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, April 12 - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a weaker market open on Thursday after Federal Reserve officials said they remain worried about inflation, sparking concern about higher interest rates.

The market also was under pressure from the latest company financial results, which fed fears of slowing profit growth. Mortgage insurer MGIC Investment Corp. and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. reported results that missed Wall Street expectations.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks down after ECB holds rates, euro firm

(Reuters) - LONDON, April 12 - Stocks eased on Thursday after the European Central Bank kept interest rates on hold and kept its rhetoric on the upside risk to prices unchanged, following hawkish comments on inflation from the U.S. Federal Reserve.

The euro hit a two-year peak against the dollar and notched up another all-time high versus the yen ahead of the ECB decision, on expectations the single currency's yield will rise in the coming months.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-Dollar General March same-store sales up 5.5 pct

(Reuters) - Excluding sales in 130 stores that are in the process of closing, same-store sales increased 5.0 percent, it said.

Analysts, on average, had expected a same-store sales increase of 5.1 percent, according to a Reuters survey.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

TREASURIES-Bonds rise, helped by jobless claims

(Reuters) - A jump in U.S. weekly claims for jobless benefits offset the impact on bonds from a steep rise in U.S. import prices in March, analysts said.

Even though the import price data underscored the persistent inflation that could prevent any bond-friendly cut in official interest rates for many months, bond traders seized on signs the labor market might be slipping.


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Bezeq Auditor Finds `Improprieties' in Executives' Stocks Options, Bonuses

(Bloomberg) -- Bezeq Ltd.'s external auditor found ``improprieties'' in the granting of options and bonuses to top executives, an interim report to Israel's largest telecommunications company said.

Bezeq released attorney Yoram Danziger's 48-page document to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange today.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

UPDATE 1-Children's Place March same-store sales rise 7 pct

(Reuters) - Wall Street analysts, on average, had been expecting a same-store sales gain of 6.9 percent, according to Reuters Estimates.

The children's clothing retailer said total sales for the five-week period ended April 7 rose 18 percent to $204.7 million.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Regis says third quarter same-store sales flat

(Reuters) - April 12 - Hair salon operator Regis Corp. on Thursday said third-quarter same-store sales were flat, in line with its prior outlook, while consolidated revenue rose 8.4 percent.

Regis, which owns the Vidal Sassoon, Jean Louis David and Supercuts chains, said January was a difficult month due to weather.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

ECtel sees Q1 profit below market estimate

(Reuters) - The analysts on average were expecting the company to report $7.5 million, according to Reuters Estimates.




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UPDATE 1-Bebe Stores March same-store sales rise

(Reuters) - Analysts on average had expected the company to post a same-store sales increase of 2.2 percent in March, according to estimates gathered by Reuters.

The Brisbane, California-based company reported total sales of $60.6 million in the five-week period ended April 7, an increase of 8.6 percent over sales reported last year.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

BJ's Wholesale same-store sales up 3.1 percent

(Reuters) - The company, the No. 3 U.S. warehouse club operator, reported total sales for the five weeks ended April 7 of $790.8 million, compared with $718.7 billion a year earlier.




Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-Bon-Ton March same-store sales fall 3.8 pct

(Reuters) - Two analysts, on average, expected the same-store sales to rise 4.5 percent, according to a poll by Reuters.

Total sales for the five weeks ended April 7 rose 18.1 percent to $288 million, compared with $244 million a year earlier.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-Aeropostale same-store sales jump 15.9 pct

(Reuters) - Analysts, on average, had expected the teen clothing retailer to post a same-store sales increase of 8.9 percent, according to a Reuters survey.

Total sales for the five weeks ended April 7 jumped 31.5 percent to $124.8 million, with strength across the United States and its women's and men's categories.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Ross Stores says March same-store sales up 6 pct

(Reuters) - Total net sales for the five weeks ended April 8 rose 14 percent to $599 million from $526 million in the year-ago period, the Pleasanton, California-based company said.




Read more at Reuters.com Market News

AnnTaylor March same-store sales rise 6.1 pct

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, April 12 - Women's apparel retailer AnnTaylor Stores Corp. Thursday posted a higher-than-expected 6.1 percent increase in March sales at stores open at least a year.

Analysts on average had been expecting the operator of the Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor LOFT chains to post a rise of 1.7 percent, according to a Reuters survey.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Dillard's March same-store sales rise 6 pct

(Reuters) - Eight analysts, on average, expected a 0.3 percent increase in same-store sales, according to a poll by Reuters.

Sales for the five weeks ended April 7 rose to $679.6 million, compared with $631.9 million for the five weeks ended April 1, 2006.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Astral second-quarter profit rises on TV revenue

(Reuters) - TORONTO, April 12 - Canadian specialty-TV and radio group Astral Media Inc. reported a higher second-quarter profit on Thursday, on stronger television subscriber and advertising revenues.

Astral, which also announced a C$1.08 billion bid for Standard Radio Inc., earned C$24.6 million


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Polaris posts higher quarterly profit

(Reuters) - First-quarter net profit rose to $12.4 million, or 34 cents a share, from $11.5 million, or 27 cents a share, a year earlier. The per-share result was the same for continuing operations.

Analysts, on average, expected the company to report a profit of 33 cents a share.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-Polaris quarterly profit rises 7.8 percent

(Reuters) - First-quarter net profit rose to $12.4 million, or 34 cents a share, from $11.5 million, or 27 cents a share, a year earlier.

Analysts, on average, expected earnings of 33 cents a share.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

ECB Holds Key Interest Rate at 3.75 Percent, Awaiting Inflation Evidence

(Bloomberg) -- The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged after seven increases since late 2005, awaiting evidence that inflation will pick up before raising borrowing costs again.

Policy makers meeting in Frankfurt today kept the benchmark refinancing rate at 3.75 percent, as anticipated by all 43 economists in a Bloomberg News survey. The bank will raise the rate to 4 percent in June, a separate survey shows.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Ipsos open to discussions over share ownership

(Reuters) - By Dominique Vidalon

PARIS, April 12 - The co-chairman of French market research firm Ipsos said on Thursday the company remained open to discussions about share ownership but said it had given no mandate for a sale.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

WestLB temporarily holds 14 pct of DaimlerChrysler

(Reuters) - FRANKFURT, April 12 - German regional state bank WestLB [WDLG.UL] has temporarily amassed a 14.0 percent voting stake in DaimlerChrysler , the U.S-German carmaker said on Thursday.

The bank previously held below 3 percent of Daimler, which is currently holding talks with potential bidders for Chrysler that could result in an eventual disposal of its loss-making U.S. unit.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

UPDATE 1-Rite Aid to buy Brooks, Eckerd by end of May

(Reuters) - Rite Aid, the third-largest U.S. drugstore chain, also said it had reached an agreement with FTC staff to divest 24 stores. That pact is subject to the FTC commissioners' approval, which Rite Aid said it expected to obtain.

The attorneys general of several states are also reviewing the deal, and that process is going smoothly, the retailer said.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

SABMiller year volumes up 10 pct, cool on S&N

(Reuters) - S&N shares were the biggest losers in the FTSE 100 index, off 3.2 percent at 579-1/2p, as SABMiller was one of the leading and most realistic names in the frame to bid for S&N, having the resources and lack of anti-trust barriers, analysts said.

SABMiller Chief Financial Officer Malcolm Wyman did not comment directly on talk it may bid for Britain's biggest brewer S&N, but said the global brewer saw the beer market in western European as "singularly unattractive."


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

Kraft shares rise after upgrades

(Reuters) - The stock rose to $32.40 in electronic trade, from a close of $32.02 on the New York Stock Exchange.




Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

Copper Rises to Seven-Month High on Dispute at Codelco, World's Top Miner

(Bloomberg) -- Copper rose to a seven-month high in London after workers at Codelco, the world's biggest producer of the metal, blocked the entrance to the company's largest mine following a labor dispute.

About 20 employees used their cars yesterday to prevent traffic from entering the Chuquicamata copper mine in northern Chile, said Miguel Lopez, a director at Workers' Union No. 3 at the mine. The protest slowed output, the union said. Codelco said yesterday that production was unchanged.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

China Soybean Import Forecast for This Year Reduced as Feed Demand Less

(Bloomberg) -- China, the world's biggest soybean buyer, may import 30 million metric tons of the oilseed this year, 1 million tons below a previous forecast because of reduced feed demand, the China National Grain & Oils Information Center said.

Hog diseases and avian flu hurt the nation's livestock and poultry industry, cutting expected feed demand, the state-owned market forecaster said in a report today. The projected imports in the marketing year ending Sept. 30 are still up from 28.3 million tons a year ago.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Euro Climbs to Two-Year High Against Dollar, Record Versus Yen Before ECB

(Bloomberg) -- The euro climbed to a two-year high against the dollar and a record versus the yen on speculation European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet will today say higher interest rates may be needed to curb inflation.

Europe's 13-nation single currency has risen 2.2 percent against the dollar and 5 percent versus the yen since the ECB last raised rates on March 8 as traders bet the fastest economic growth in six years will lead to higher borrowing costs. Anton Boerner, head of Germany's exporter and wholesaler association representing 135,000 companies, said there isn't ``any reason to worry'' about the gains in the euro.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

S.African gold output falls 8.8 pct yr/yr in Feb

(Reuters) - South African gold output fell 8.8 percent in volume terms while overall minerals production increased 4.4 percent in February compared with the same month the previous year, official data showed on Thursday.

Production of non-gold minerals rose by 7.2 percent in February, Statistics South Africa added.


Read more at Reuters Africa

German Next-Year Power Prices Climb; Carbon Dioxide Emission Permits Gain

(Bloomberg) -- German electricity prices for 2008 gained for a fourth day, in line with rising oil prices. Carbon- emission permits advanced.

Next-year power prices in Germany, Europe's biggest power market, climbed 30 cents, or 0.4 percent, to 54.30 euros ($73.04) a megawatt hour, according to prices from the broker GFI Group Inc. on Bloomberg at 10:46 a.m. Berlin time. That's the highest price this month. Baseload means power delivered around the clock.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

IEA warns on oil inventories after big Q1 drop

(Reuters) - In its April monthly report on Thursday, the adviser to 26 industrialized countries also shaved its 2007 world oil demand forecast by 250,000 barrels per day to 85.8 million bpd though left growth in oil use unchanged.

Oil inventories are falling as supply cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries kick in. Lower stocks have helped boost U.S. crude prices to $62 a barrel from below $50 in mid-January.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks, bonds struggle, euro strong before ECB

(Reuters) - The euro powered to a two-year peak against the dollar and notched up another all-time high versus the yen ahead of the ECB decision, on expectations the single currency's yield will rise in the coming months.

The ECB is widely tipped to leave interest rates on hold at 3.75 percent at its 1145 GMT announcement but President Jean-Claude Trichet is likely to harden his language in preparation for a further hike later this year when he speaks at 1230 GMT.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Asian Currencies: Singapore's Dollar Declines to Three-Week Low, Won Rises

(Bloomberg) -- The Singapore dollar fell to the lowest in three weeks on speculation the Monetary Authority of Singapore is selling to aide exporters.

The island's currency is heading for a weekly drop after rising to the strongest in nine years on April 10, when the central bank reiterated a three-year policy of a ``modest and gradual appreciation.'' The Monetary Authority declined to comment on today's price action.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Malaysian Bonds Gain on Stronger Auction Demand; Ringgit Little Changed

(Bloomberg) -- Malaysian bonds rose, reversing earlier declines, after stronger demand at an auction of five- year bonds. The ringgit was little changed.

The government today sold 3 billion ringgit ($869 million) of June 2012 bonds at an average yield of 3.407 percent. That's the lowest for a sale of similar-maturity debt since August 2005, suggesting demand for debt remained good.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

European Bond Yields Trade at Highest in Almost Five Years Before Trichet

(Bloomberg) -- Government bond yields rose to the highest in almost five years on speculation European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet will today signal interest rates need to go higher.

Policy makers will hold benchmark interest rates steady at 3.75 percent when they meet today, according to all 37 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Benchmark debt has fallen this week as traders add to bets that the ECB will lift rates as much as half a percentage point more this year.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News