ADP, April, Areva, Bouygues, CNP, EADS, Renault: French Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of the following companies
may rise or fall on the Paris stock exchange. Stock symbols are
in parentheses and prices are from the last close.

July futures on the CAC 40 Index added 2.5 to 6107 at 8:18
a.m. in Paris.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

IMF endorses Mozambique policies with new programme

(Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund on Monday approved Mozambique's graduation to an IMF programme designed to monitor a country's policies but involves no loans.

The IMF also agreed to disburse $2.4 million to the southern African nation, the sixth and final tranche under a 2004 IMF loan agreement that now expires.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Delta Air Lines may place $20 bln Boeing order: report

(Reuters) - Delta could not immediately be reached for comment. A spokesman for Boeing, reached at the Paris air show, said the company does not comment on speculation about future orders.




Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Platinum Futures Hold Near Record in Tokyo as Anglo Shuts Rustenburg Mine

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum futures held near a record
high in Tokyo after Anglo Platinum Ltd., the world's largest
producer, said yesterday it would shut its biggest mine for as
long as seven days.

The disruption may cut output at the mine in Rustenburg,
South Africa, by as much as 15,000 ounces this year, Anglo
Platinum said. The Johannesburg-based company said the closure is
to improve safety after 12 workers were killed at the mine this
year, including five in the past two weeks.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

GE to buy stake in Regency Energy for $603 mln-WSJ

(Reuters) - The transaction also gives GE Energy Financial Services a 91 percent stake in Regency's general partner, meaning GE will have operational control of the company.




Neither GE nor Regency were immediately available for comment.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Anglo Platinum Closes Biggest Mine for a Week After 12 Workers Killed

(Bloomberg) -- Anglo Platinum Ltd., the world's
largest platinum producer, will cut production at its biggest
mine after the death of 12 workers this year prompted the
largest shareholder to call for improved safety.

Cynthia Carroll, who on March 1 became chief executive
officer of London-based Anglo American Plc, which owns 75
percent of Anglo Platinum, said in a statement today a
``dramatic improvement'' in safety is an ``overriding
priority.'' All of Anglo Platinum's mines are in South Africa.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Peru: Latin America Government Bond Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following events and economic
reports may influence trading in Latin American local bonds
today. Bond yields are from the previous session.

Argentina: Industrial production likely expanded 7 percent
in May from the year-ago period, according to the median
estimate of eight economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Output rose
6.8 percent in April. Argentina's national statistics institute
will release the industrial production report at 3 p.m. New York
time.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Korea Western Power Scraps Plan to Buy 30,000 Tons of Fuel Oil for July

(Bloomberg) -- Korea Western Power Co., one of the
six generating units of Korea Electric Power Corp., scrapped a
plan to buy 30,000 metric tons of fuel oil for July delivery,
according to its Web site.

Asian benchmark 180-centistoke fuel oil for immediate
delivery in Singapore rose to a record of $366.50 a ton on June
15 because of reduced availability of the ship fuel in Singapore,
the world's largest bunker port.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Japan's Bonds Are Little Changed on Speculation U.S. Export Demand to Slow

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's 10-year bonds were little
changed after a report showed confidence among U.S. homebuilders
fell to a 16-year low, renewing concern growth in the world's
biggest economy will slow.

Bonds may rise for a fourth day, the longest rally since
March, on speculation a housing slump in Japan's largest export
market may prompt traders to reduce bets for higher interest rates.
Ten-year yields in Japan have dropped a 10th of a percentage point
since reaching the highest since July last week, as yields in the
U.S. retreated from the highest in more than five years.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

U.S. Treasury Notes Little Changed; Report May Show Housing Starts Fell

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. notes were little changed before
a Commerce Department report that's forecast to show residential
construction fell to a four-month low in May.

An increase in mortgage rates to the highest in almost a
year may exacerbate a cooling housing market and help keep the
Federal Reserve from raising borrowing costs this year. Ten-year
notes yesterday rose for a second day, the first two-day gain in
a month, after a private report showed confidence among U.S.
homebuilders dropped to the lowest since 1991.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

UPDATE 3-Merrill delays selling Bear Stearns assets-CNBC

(Reuters) - Merrill Lynch and creditors including JPMorgan Chase & Co.
and Citigroup met to discuss the matter on
Monday, CNBC said, and worked out a plan that would include an
infusion of about $500 million in capital into the fund by a
group of firms led by Citigroup.




Bear Stearns, which does not have much exposure to the
fund, would also step in and invest about $1.5 billion of its
own money, CNBC said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Euro Advances to Record High Against Yen Before German Confidence Report

(Bloomberg) -- The euro rose to a record high
against the yen before a report today that is forecast by
economists to show business confidence in Germany rose to a one-
year high this month.

The currency may also gain for a fifth day versus the
dollar as signs of improved sentiment raises speculation the
European Central Bank needs to boost borrowing costs to tame
inflation. It reached a one-week high against the dollar after
European Central Bank official Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo
yesterday said monetary policy was accommodative, indicating
interest rates have room to increase from 4 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Japanese Stocks May Slip, Led by Toyota, After U.S. Housing Concerns Mount

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks may drop for the
first time in four days after confidence among U.S. homebuilders
fell to the lowest in 16 years, raising concern that a slumping
housing market may curb growth in the world's biggest economy.

Exporters including Toyota Motor Corp. and Advantest Corp.
may pace declines. Investors will also be looking to data on new
housing starts set to be released tonight, and mortgage
applications figures due tomorrow for clues on the U.S. real
estate market.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UnitedHealth sells $1.5 bln debt in 3 parts - source

(Reuters) - Banc of America Securities, Citigroup Global Markets and
Morgan Stanley were the joint lead managers of the sale, the
source said.




Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Progressive to sell $1 bln of subordinated debt

(Reuters) - Goldman, Sachs & Co. is the sole structuring
coordinator for the offering.




Progressive said at its investor meeting on June 14 that it
would sell the hybrids, which allow companies to raise cash
more cheaply than in the stock market without adding debt to
the balance sheet, to fund a $3 billion buyback and special
dividend.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Macquire to buy fixed-base operator for $615 mln

(Reuters) - In April, Macquarie said it would buy Mercury Air Centers
for $456.2 million. As a result of the increase in the size of
the Mercury transaction, it now intends to raise about $230
million in a follow-on equity offering.





Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Penn Virginia files for $700 mln debt, stock shelf

(Reuters) - Under a shelf registration, a company may sell securities
in one or more separate offerings with the size, price and
terms to be determined at the time of sale.




Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

U.S. Stocks Decline, Led by Homebuilders; Lennar, Centex Shares Retreat

(Bloomberg) -- Most U.S. stocks fell for the first
time in four days after confidence in the homebuilding industry
dropped to a 16-year low, renewing concern that the housing slump
isn't over.

Homebuilders Lennar Corp., Centex Corp. and Beazer Homes USA
Inc. slipped to the lowest since April. Wendy's International
Inc., the third-largest hamburger chain, retreated after the
company cut its earnings forecast. Transportation stocks declined
as oil rose to a nine-month high.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-Tognum could raise up to 2.24 bln eur in July IPO

(Reuters) - The deal could raise up to 2.24 billion euros
in what would be Germany's largest IPO since Deutsche Post
floated in 2000.




Swedish private equity firm EQT will sell 63.65 million
shares, with a green-shoe option for another 11.25 million
shares, while the firm will sell 11.35 million shares in a
capital increase. Green shoe is when the firm issues additional
shares to the underwriters if there is great public demand


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Former Enron exec gets 27-month sentence

(Reuters) - Enron, once a high-flying energy trader that tried to add broadband Internet access to its portfolio, inflated revenues and earnings and collapsed in a 2001 accounting scandal.




Rice, who was allowed to remain free on $3 million bond pending assignment to a prison, could have received a penalty ranging from probation to 10 years in prison.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

U.S. hospitals try to pick up the ER pace

(Reuters) - Like the pizzeria that picks up the bill for taking too long, a Kansas City hospital offers cinema passes and a Detroit hospital system gives away major league baseball tickets to patients who wait half an hour for emergency room service.




With competition for healthcare dollars tight and complaints about care on the rise, hospitals from California to Virginia are trying to cut wait times. They pitch "quality care at a moment's notice" and "door to doc" treatment in minutes.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

U.S. Stocks Decline as Bond Yields Trade Near 5-Year High; Wendy's Falls

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks fell for the first time
in four days as bond yields remained near a five-year high,
spurring concern that rising borrowing costs will crimp
corporate profits and make takeovers more expensive.

Exelon Corp. and Dominion Resources Inc. led shares of
utilities lower as higher returns on bonds make their dividends
less appealing. Wendy's International Inc., the third-biggest
hamburger chain, declined after the company reduced its profit
forecast.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-U.S. home builder index lowest since Feb 1991 - NAHB

(Reuters) - The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market index fell two points to 28 in June, the lowest since it hit 27 in February of 1991, the group said.




Economists had predicted the index would be unchanged from May's 30 reading, based on a Reuters survey. Readings below 50 mean more builders view market conditions as poor rather than favorable.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

JPMorgan names Smith card chief, Srednicki retires

(Reuters) - Smith will join JPMorgan's operating committee and report
to Chief Executive Jamie Dimon.




Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Final arguments under way at Conrad Black trial

(Reuters) - "We are not here because somebody made mistakes. We are not
here because somebody didn't disclose something in a timely
fashion," prosecutor Julie Ruder told the 12 women and four men
as the trial entered its 14th week.




"We are here because five men -- these four defendants and
David Radler -- systematically stole $60 million. They checked
their fiduciary duty at the door," she said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Switzerland's Upper House Votes to Toughen `Toothless' Insider-Trading Law

(Bloomberg) -- Swiss upper-house lawmakers voted
today to close a legal loophole that allows insider trading on
advance knowledge of company earnings.

Switzerland's penal code requires jail terms or fines for
executives, directors or auditors who capitalize on knowing what
the rest of the market doesn't know. However, it limits such
cases to a planned sale of new shares, a merger or
``circumstances of comparable significance.''


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.S. Stocks Little Changed as Higher Oil Lifts Shares of Energy Producers

(Bloomberg) -- Energy producers rallied after the
price of crude oil climbed to a nine-month high, while an
advance in bond yields sparked a retreat in utilities and
financial companies.

Chevron Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp. rose after crude
climbed on concern U.S. refiners aren't keeping up with
increased gasoline demand. Exelon Corp. and Dominion Resources
Inc. led shares of utilities lower as higher returns on bonds
make their dividends less appealing.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Oil Climbs to Nine-Month High; Nigerian Strike Threat Spurs Supply Concern

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil rose to a nine-month high
after a coalition of labor unions in Nigeria, Africa's biggest
oil producer, threatened to strike this week.

Oil production is also likely to be affected during the
strike as Nigeria's two main oil unions plan to participate, said
Lumumba Okugbawa, deputy general secretary of the Petroleum &
Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, or Pengassan.
Nigeria produces low-sulfur, or sweet, crude oil, prized by U.S.
refiners because of the high proportion of gasoline it yields.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

REFILE-IMF's Rato to central banks:watch out for inflation

(Reuters) - "Central banks must continue to be very vigilant on
inflation pressures, everywhere," Rato told reporters at a
conference.




He added that a recent spike in long-term interest rates
globally did not pose a threat to economic growth.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

America Movil, Cemex, Grupo Mexico, IXE and Invex: Mexican Equity Movers

(Bloomberg) -- Mexico's main stock index rose for a
fourth day, led by shares of America Movil SAB, Latin America's
largest mobile-phone company.

The Bolsa index gained 132.13, or 0.4 percent, to 32,261.10 at
10:15 a.m. New York time, after setting a record June 15.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

REFILE-IMF approves changes to currency surveillance-Rato

(Reuters) - "The new decision reflects current best practice in our
work of monitoring members' exchange rate policies and domestic
economic policies," Rato said in the prepared text of a speech
in Montreal.




He said that, while IMF's surveillance will continue to
focus on members' exchange rate policies relating to currency
manipulation and intervention in the currency markets, it will
now also ensure that "a member should avoid exchange rate
policies that result in external instability."


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Passport, Please: Quebec-Vermont Library's Books Are on Wrong Side of Law

(Bloomberg) -- Canadian readers at the Haskell Free
Library and Opera House soon will need more than a library card
to borrow books: They'll have to show their passports.

The library sits half in Stanstead, Quebec, and half in
Derby Line, Vermont, and the front door is on the Vermont side.
Under U.S. rules taking effect in January, Canadian patrons
won't be able to reach the door unless they show a passport to
cross into the U.S.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News

U.S. Stocks Gain on Acquisitions; Shares of Alcoa, Dow Jones Lead Advance

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks rose for a fourth day on
takeover speculation, including a report that BHP Billiton Ltd.
may bid $40 billion for Alcoa Inc.

Dow Jones & Co. advanced after the Wall Street Journal
reported General Electric Co. and Pearson Plc are in talks to make
a joint offer for the newspaper's publisher, possibly beating out
News Corp. CBOT Holdings Inc., the owner of the second-largest
futures market, climbed after two suitors said they may raise
their bids for the company.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Canadian Energy Stocks, Encana, May Fall; Metals Shares May Gain With Gold

(Bloomberg) -- Canadian energy stocks including EnCana
Corp. may decline along with crude oil prices, which retreated
today from a nine-month high.

Declines in the broader market may be limited as raw-materials
producers including Goldcorp Inc. advance on higher bullion and
copper prices.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Stocks set to open higher on M&A

(Reuters) - Shares of Alcoa rose 2.4 percent in trading before the bell after the Times newspaper in London reported BHP Billiton Ltd./Plc , the world's biggest mining group, may bid for the aluminium producer.




General Electric Co. and Pearson Plc may challenge News Corp.'s $5 billion bid for Dow Jones & Co. with a plan that could let Dow Jones's controlling Bancroft family keep an interest in the company, the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal reported on their Web sites.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Consol Energy to buy Amvest for $335 million

(Reuters) - The purchase would add about 200 million tons of low-sulfur coal reserves to Consol's holdings, as well as four coal preparation plants.




In 2006, Amvest shipped about 4.9 million tons of coal, with about 84 percent of that sold to domestic and international utilities.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

US STOCKS-Futures point to higher open on deal news

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, June 18 - U.S. stock futures rose on
Monday, boosted by a flurry of deal news including a report
that BHP Billiton has revived plans for a $40 billion takeover
of aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. .




Shares of Alcoa rose 3.7 percent in Europe after the Times
newspaper in London reported BHP Billiton Ltd./Plc
, the world's biggest mining group, may bid for the
aluminium producer.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Palm Oil Futures Rise on Supply Concern as Indonesia Raises Export Taxes

(Bloomberg) -- Palm oil futures rose on concern
that supply of the vegetable oil on international markets may
lag behind demand after Indonesia increased export taxes on
crude and refined palm oil products.

Indonesia, which with Malaysia controls almost 90 percent
of world palm oil output, will raise crude palm oil exports to
6.5 percent of a base price to be decided by the trade ministry,
up from 1.5 percent, top economics minister Boediono said in
Jakarta on June 15. The new tax rates, aimed at boosting
domestic supply and curbing price gains, took effect immediately.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Indonesia Rupiah Gains on Investors' Risk Appetite: World's Biggest Mover

(Bloomberg) -- Indonesia's rupiah had its biggest
advance in more than a year as overseas investors returned to
the country's financial markets. Bonds rose.

The rupiah gained 1.6 percent, the biggest fluctuation of
any major currency, as the Jakarta Composite Index of stocks
rose as much as 0.8 percent to a record. The Philippine peso and
Malaysian ringgit also rose as a rebound in U.S. Treasuries gave
investors confidence to invest in emerging markets.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

China's Shares Surge, Completing Recovery From Rout: World's Biggest Mover

(Bloomberg) -- China's key stock index rose to a
record, having taken less than two weeks to rebound from a rout
that erased more than $400 billion of market value.

China Merchants Bank Co. and property developer China Vanke
Ltd. paced gains after policy makers held off from raising
borrowing costs. Premier Wen Jiabao last week said monetary
policy needs ``moderate tightening,'' after reports showed
inflation is at a two-year high and money-supply growth exceeds
the central bank's target.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Slovenia Lawmakers Probably Will Approve Naming of New Central Bank Chief

(Bloomberg) -- Slovenian lawmakers probably will
approve a new central bank chief who will also sit on the European
Central Bank board, ending a two-and-a-half-month test of wills
between the president and the prime minister.

Marko Kranjec, the first finance minister of an independent
Slovenia in 1990-91, emerged this month as the compromise choice
after parliament rejected two other nominees, including then-
central bank Chief Mitja Gaspari, who was seeking another term.
The vote takes place tomorrow in the capital Ljubljana.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Airbus lands $17 billion Qatar order

(Reuters) - Qatar had already ordered 3 of the A380 superjumbo aircraft with options for another two.




Qatar will be the first airline to get the revamped A350 in 2013, Airbus President Louis Gallois told a news conference.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

GLOBAL MARKETS-Euro strong vs yen, stocks test fresh peaks

(Reuters) - LONDON, June 18 - The euro hit an all-time high
against the yen on Monday amid expectations that Japan's low
interest rates will rise only gradually, while stocks reached
fresh peaks on confidence the global economy will remain strong.




The New Zealand dollar held firm despite suspicions the
central bank had again interevened to sell the high-yielding,
high-flying currency, while U.S. and euro zone government bonds
steadied after last week's hefty sell-off.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

Platinum Gains as Anglo Platinum Halts Rustenberg Mine; Palladium Advances

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum rose the most in two weeks
after South Africa's Anglo Platinum Ltd., the world's biggest
producer, halted output at its largest mine following the deaths
of five workers in the past two weeks. Palladium also advanced.

The Rustenburg mine will be closed for as long as seven
days, reducing annual production by between 10,000 and 15,000
ounces, Johannesburg-based Anglo Platinum said in a statement
today. Platinum supply fell short of demand in seven of the past
eight years, helping prices to more than triple since 1998.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Akzo Nobel says ICI rejected takeover approach

(Reuters) - It said there was no certainty it would make a further proposal to ICI or that any offer would result.




Akzo did not give any financial details. A source told Reuters on Sunday it had offered about 600 pence a share.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

China Telecom to Buy Three Units From Parent for $185 Million to Cut Costs

(Bloomberg) -- China Telecom Corp., the nation's
biggest fixed-line telephone carrier, will buy three units from
its parent to increase sales of voice and Internet services
between China and other countries.

The operator will pay 1.41 billion yuan ($185 million) to buy
China Telecom (Hong Kong) International Ltd., China Telecom (USA)
Corp. and China Telecom System Integration Co. from parent China
Telecommunications Corporation, the Hong Kong-listed unit said in
a statement today.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News