Stocks Retreat in Europe; UBS, BNP, Philips, BHP, Lafarge Lead the Drop

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks fell, following
declines in Asia and the U.S., on mounting concern that losses in
the U.S. mortgage market will erode economic growth and raise
financing costs for companies.

UBS AG and BNP Paribas SA led a drop by financial shares.
Royal Philips Electronics NV and Lafarge SA decreased as the
dollar traded near a record low against the euro. BHP Billiton
Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group slipped after copper fell in Shanghai.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

French Stocks Drop; STMicroelectronics, Renault and BNP Paribas Retreat

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks slid, paced by
STMicroelectronics NV after Texas Instruments Inc., the world's
largest maker of chips that run mobile phones, reported lower
profit and revenue that missed analysts' estimates.

Renault SA and BNP Paribas SA also led declining shares.


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Alliance Bank Malaysia, Backed by Temasek, May Return Funds to Investors

(Bloomberg) -- Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd., with 6.57
billion ringgit ($1.9 billion) of cash on its balance sheet, may
return funds to investors after hiring BNP Paribas SA to assess
its capital needs.

The Kuala Lumpur-based bank, the closely held main division
of Malaysian Plantations Bhd., may also sell debt as part of the
review, Chief Executive Officer Bridget Lai said in an interview.
BNP's assessment should be completed next quarter, she said.
Temasek Holdings Pte, the Singapore state investment unit,
controls 15 percent of Malaysian Plantations.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

French Stocks Slide; Vinci, BNP Paribas and Pernod Ricard Pace Declines

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks dropped, paced by Vinci
SA, BNP Paribas SA and Pernod Ricard SA.

The CAC 40 Index fell 20.43, or 0.3 percent, to 5957.44 at
9:48 a.m. in Paris. The SBF 120 Index decreased 0.4 percent.


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European Stocks May Decline, Led by BNP Paribas, Banks; Shell May Gain

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks may drop for the first
time in three days, led by Deutsche Bank AG and BNP Paribas SA,
after JPMorgan, Chase & Co. cut its recommendation on the
investment banking industry.

Energy stocks may limit the decline after Citigroup Inc.
raised its forecast for Brent crude this year and upgraded shares
of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the region's biggest oil company.


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French Stocks Decline; L'Oreal, Danone and BNP Paribas Lead the Retreat

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks fell, led by L'Oreal SA, Groupe Danone SA and BNP Paribas SA.

The CAC 40 Index lost 23.47, or 0.4 percent, to 5838.50 at 9:07 a.m. in Paris. The SBF 120 Index also dropped 0.4 percent.


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European Stocks Rise on Earnings; Suez, Aegon and BNP Advance

European stocks rallied for a third day, led by Suez SA and Aegon NV after the companies reported earnings that topped analysts' estimates.

Deutsche Bank AG and BNP Paribas SA, the biggest banks in Germany and France, respectively, gained after JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its recommendation on the shares. BHP Billiton, the world's biggest mining company, led shares of raw-material producers higher as metals prices rose.

Read more at Bloomberg.com