UPDATE 1-LG Elec sees better Q2 earnings, PDP break-even

(Reuters) - LG, the world's second-biggest maker of plasma display panels
, said last week it would halt one of its three domestic
plasma panel lines and was reviewing several strategic options
for the loss-making business.




LG's chief executive officer Nam Yong, however, reiterated
that LG would keep both PDP and LCD businesses.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Rubber Futures Extend Rally in Tokyo as Dollar Strengthens Against Yen

(Bloomberg) -- Rubber futures in Tokyo, the global
benchmark, rallied for a fifth day as the dollar traded near a
three-month high against the yen, boosting the value of contracts
traded in the Japanese currency.

The dollar rose as much as 0.51 percent to 121.63 yen
yesterday in late New York trading, the highest since Feb. 23.
The currency traded at 121.48 yen at 10:48 a.m. Tokyo time today.
Rubber futures are denominated in yen on the Tokyo Commodity
Exchange, Tocom, while the commodity trades globally in dollars.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Charts Show Euro's Drop Versus Dollar May Stall at About $1.34, MUFG Says

(Bloomberg) -- The euro's slide against the dollar may
stall at about $1.34, according to signals on charts traders watch
to predict future price movements, said Masashi Hashimoto, a
currency analyst at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd.

The decline of the single currency, down 1.6 percent from a
record high of $1.3681 on April 27, will falter as it nears so-
called support at $1.3399, the euro's 65-day moving average
against the dollar, Hashimoto said.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Japan Shares Advance; Banks Rise on Earnings Expectations, NEC, Sony Jump

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks advanced, led by
banks, after Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. forecast
profit will increase for this business year.

Sumitomo Mitsui climbed 4.7 percent after projecting a 22
percent increase in its net income for this business year. NEC
Corp. jumped the most since Oct. 2005, after saying profit will
triple this year.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Duratex, Industrial Saltillo, Tam, Urbi: Latin American Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may make
significant gains or losses in Brazil and Mexico today. Symbols
are in parentheses after the company name, and stock prices are
from the last session.

In Brazil, preferred shares are the most commonly traded
class of stock.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Dollar holds near 5-week high vs euro on Fed view

(Reuters) - Solid economic data last week has offered the U.S. currency a respite from a wave of selling that pushed it to a record low versus the euro last month, and chances that the Fed will not cut rates from 5.25 percent in the coming months has prompted some investors to pare back short dollar positions.




"There's a feeling that the recent dollar selling has gone too far, so we're seeing some short covering," said Takehiko Jimbo, a forex manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

China's Wu, `Force of Nature,' Seeks to Deflect Paulson, Congress Pressure

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. officials who have bargained
with China's chief trade negotiator come away with the same
conclusion: Wu Yi is one formidable lady.

``She is not shy,'' said Mickey Kantor, former U.S.
secretary of commerce. ``She was considered a tough pro,''
recalled James Lilley, U.S. ambassador to China from 1989 to
1991. ``She was pretty good-looking, an attractive woman too.''


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News