RPT-US STOCKS-Futures edge up; eyes on earnings, deals

(Reuters) - News pointing to deal-making could help cushion the market
as investors await another flurry of second-quarter earnings
reports.




United Rentals Inc , the world's largest equipment
rental company, said it had agreed to be bought by private
equity firm Cerberus Capital Management for $4 billion. For
details, see [ID:nWNAS6919]


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Are you paying too much rent?

Rents in Johannesburg increasing the fastest

Tenants worrying about big increases in the rent they pay each month should move to Pretoria.
According to the latest Rode Report, flat rentals in a few of Pretoria's suburbs hardly moved and in some cases, even decreased - great news for tenants but not for property investors.
The report lists flat rentals for standard- and upmarket-quality units, for the third quarter of 2006. The rentals are exclusive of amenities and are for unfurnished units.

Compared to the year before, the average monthly rental paid for an upmarket two-bedroom flat in Pretoria dropped 9%.
On average, it was R100 cheaper per month, to rent a bachelor flat in Pretoria in 2005 than in 2006.

Read more at MoneyWeb.co.za