Kepco, Hyundai Heavy Industries, SK Networks: South Korea Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following shares may rise or fall in South Korea. Prices refer to the April 20 close. This preview includes news announced after markets shut. Stock symbols are in brackets after the company names.

The Kospi index rose 1.3 percent to 1533.08. The Kosdaq added 1.3 percent to 691.56. Kospi 200 futures expiring in June gained 1.4 percent to 198.65, while the underlying index climbed 1.4 percent to 197.24.


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Barclays deal for ABN looms; LaSalle set for sale

(Reuters) - Barclays will announce plans to sell ABN's U.S. retail bank LaSalle to Bank of America as part of the deal, sources said. Analysts have said Chicago-based LaSalle could be worth between $18 billion and $23 billion.

Barclays has been in exclusive talks to buy ABN for more than a month. The deadline for those talks ran out on Friday, and sources said talks continued over the weekend and may be confirmed early on Monday.


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Crude Oil Trades Little Changed After Rising on U.S. Fuel Supply Concern

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil was little changed in New York after rising late last week on signs a refinery strike in Belgium and output cuts by OPEC may restrict U.S. oil and fuel imports.

Workers at four refineries in Antwerp will strike from May 9 over a pay dispute, their union said April 20. European plants account for more than 70 percent of U.S. gasoline imports. Oil output by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will probably fall 0.3 percent to 30.6 million barrels a day in April, consultants PetroLogistics Ltd. said last week.


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U.S. gasoline prices rise to $2.87 a gallon: survey

(Reuters) - The latest average was nearly 4 cents below the year-ago average price of $2.91 a gallon and about 15 cents below the August 11, 2006, all-time high of $3.03.

"The average price may not meet or exceed that all-time high because the main reason for the price hike seen this year is rapidly dissipating," survey editor Trilby Lundberg said.


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WEEKAHEAD-Emerging debt to eye stocks, Brazil cenbank minutes

(Reuters) - Emerging debt risk spreads closed on Friday at 158 basis points, close to a record-tight level of 157 basis points, according to JP Morgan's EMBI+ index .

Brazil's and Colombia's risk spreads tightened to record levels in the past three consecutive sessions, as a rally in the U.S. equities market left investors more comfortable taking on risk.


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RPT-Wall St Wk Ahead:Dow 13,000 in focus with earnings on tap

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, April 22 - As the Dow industrials approach 13,000 for the first time, investors will keep a close eye on the heavy flow of quarterly earnings while new data on consumer sentiment and the pace of the U.S. economy stream this week.

U.S. stocks jumped on Friday, with the Dow closing at a record high after coming within 35 points of 13,000 as stronger-than-expected earnings reports poured in.


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Egypt's Stocks Gain, Including Orascom Telecom; Orascom Construction Slips

(Bloomberg) -- Egyptian stocks, including Orascom Telecom Holding SAE, the largest mobile phone company by users in the Middle East and North Africa, advanced.

Orascom Construction Industries, the largest listed cement maker in the Middle East and North Africa, fell on concern the company's price has outpaced its prospect for earnings growth.


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