Most Japanese Stocks Climb; Olympus Leads Gains on Earnings, Kyocera Falls

(Bloomberg) -- Most Japanese stocks advanced after
companies including Olympus Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp. reported
first-quarter profit that attracted buyers.

Gains were limited after earnings at companies including
Kyocera Corp. lagged behind investor expectations.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Alcatel-Lucent Q2 net loss wider than forecast

(Reuters) - The Franco-American telecoms equipment provider reported a net loss of 336 million euros for the three months to June 30 on Tuesday, against a profit of 302 million euros the previous year and compared with expectations of a 147.1 million loss, based on a Reuters poll of 10 analysts.



The company, which also confirmed its full-year sales growth expectations, added the outcome included a negative impact of 176 million euros from several "significant items".


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Taiwan's Stocks Gain for First Time in Five Days; Cathay Financial Climbs

(Bloomberg) -- Taiwan's stocks rose for the first day
in five as investors judged recent declines excessive and a
newspaper reported the island's mutual funds may invest more.
Cathay Financial Holding Co. led gains.

``Investors have regained their composure after being knocked
around in the global stock market turmoil,'' said Vickie Hsieh,
who helps oversees $1.4 billion at President Investment Trust
Corp. ``Leading Taiwan companies offering good value will be the
most appealing.''


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-Takeda profit rises 5.1 percent, outlook unchanged

(Reuters) - Actos, the main earnings engine for Japan's largest drug
maker, has seen its fortunes rise after sales of
GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia slumped following a critical
study by top cardiologist Steven Nissen published on May 21.




Takeda said April-June first-quarter net profit climbed to
131 billion yen on a 9.6 percent rise in revenue from a year
earlier to 366 billion yen.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Deutsche Boerse, Deutz, Infineon, MAN and MediGene: German Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in German markets.

Germany's X-DAX Index climbed 0.9 percent to 7529.98. The
index provides an estimate of the DAX Index, based on trading in
DAX futures after the Xetra electronic market closes. The DAX
added 0.1 percent to 7456.31 on the Xetra electronic-trading
system.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

French Suspicions About Wealth Make Exiles Wary of Sarkozy's Tax Reforms

(Bloomberg) -- Nicolas Sarkozy is rolling out the
welcome mat for thousands of rich French people who fled one of
Europe's most onerous tax regimes. Few may heed his call.

In his first economic act as president, Sarkozy is pushing
a tax law to lure back exiles such as rock star Johnny Hallyday,
64, and members of the Mulliez clan, who control the French
retailer Groupe Auchan SA. The measure will increase exemptions
on the ``fortune'' tax -- the bete noire of rich expatriates --
and cap the total individual tax rate at 50 percent of income.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Two-Year Note Auction in Japan to Draw Lowest Price of 99.97, Survey Shows

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's sale of 1.7 trillion yen
($14.3 billion) of two-year notes today may have a lowest-
accepted price of 99.97, according to the median forecast of 13
traders surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Estimates for the lowest-accepted price ranged from 99.97
to 99.975. The price is the minimum at which the government
sells the securities.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Indonesia's July Crude Oil Production Falls 0.4 Percent From Month Earlier

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil output in Indonesia,
Southeast Asia's biggest oil producer, fell 0.4 percent in July
from June, regulator BPMigas said.

Crude production declined to an average of 825,614 barrels a
day from 828,941 barrels a day a month earlier, BPMigas said
today. Output of condensate, a type of light oil produced in
association with natural gas, climbed 2.3 percent to 118,072
barrels a day in July.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Oil steady, investors brace for further crude draw

(Reuters) - U.S. crude eased 16 cents to $76.67 a barrel by 0201 GMT, adding to Monday's 19-cent decline after a day of volatile trade that saw prices swing between $76.05 to $77.33.




But after a seven-week, $12 rally fuelled by U.S. refinery troubles, a spurt of renewed fund investment and OPEC's adherence to supply curbs, prices remain within shouting distance of last July's all-time high $78.40 a barrel.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

China National, Reliance Win Australian Offshore Oil Exploration Permits

(Bloomberg) -- China National Offshore Oil Corp.,
Total SA and India's Reliance Industries Ltd. were among
companies that won offshore oil and gas exploration permits in
Australia.

Hess Corp., Santos Ltd. and Woodside Petroleum Ltd. also won
licenses in the bidding round, which will result in an investment
of more than A$800 million ($688 million) on exploration,
Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane said today in an e-mailed
statement.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

News Corp wants more Bancroft support on Dow Jones

(Reuters) - The comment from a News Corp. spokesman pushed Dow Jones shares down as much 8.5 percent. The stock was down 3.1 percent at $52.76 in early afternoon trading, compared to News Corp's bid price of $60 per share.




The Bancroft family, which controls more than 64 percent of Dow Jones's voting shares, is expected to decide by the end of Monday whether to support the Murdoch bid.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

UPDATE 1-Anadarko Petroleum 2nd-qtr profit down, revenue up

(Reuters) - Profit in the second quarter was $652 million, or $1.39
cents a share, compared with $814 million, or $1.76 a share, in
the same quarter a year earlier.




Total revenue in the quarter surged to $3.31 billion, up
from $1.81 billion in the year-ago quarter, as gas sales nearly
doubled.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

American Campus posts smaller quarterly loss

(Reuters) - Analysts on average had expected a loss of 6 cents per
share, according to Reuters Estimates.




Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Manufacturers, Steelmakers, Kookmin Bank: South Korea Equity Preview

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

The Kospi index gained 1.3 percent to 1,906.71. The Kosdaq
advanced 0.3 percent to 794.19. Kospi 200 futures expiring in
September rose 2 percent to 242.55, while the underlying index
climbed 1.3 percent to 241.39.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-Chile bottler Andina first half net up 9.9 pct

(Reuters) - Andina , which bottles and distributes
Coca-Cola products in Chile, Brazil and Argentina, said
profit for the January-June period was 35.014 billion pesos
versus 31.847 billion pesos in the same period
last year.




"This first quarter we had good results because of a rise
in volume, a rise in real prices and a positive macroeconomic
environment," the company said in a statement.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Canadian Dollar Falls for 4th Day on Subprime Debt, Commodities Concerns

(Bloomberg) -- The Canadian dollar fell for a
fourth day as investors sold commodity-linked currencies on
speculation U.S. subprime mortgage losses will slow the world's
largest economy.

The Canadian currency was the second-worst performer among
the 16 most actively traded currencies, trailing only Japan's
yen, while falling 0.3 percent to 93.70 U.S. cents. One U.S.
dollar buys C$1.0662.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Community Health 2nd-qtr profit up 3 pct

(Reuters) - CHICAGO, July 30 - Community Health Systems Inc. , which recently bought a rival for $5.1 billion to create the biggest investor-owned hospital chain, said on Monday that profit rose nearly 3 percent on admissions from acquisitions.



Second-quarter profit increased to $53.8 million, or 57 cents per share, from $52.4 million, or 54 cents per share, a year earlier.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Yen May Extend Decline Against Euro, Dollar as Stock Rally Encourages Risk

(Bloomberg) -- The yen may extend its decline
against the euro and dollar as a rebound in U.S. stocks might
restore investors' confidence to buy higher-yielding assets
funded by loans in Japan.

The Japanese currency dropped yesterday as rising U.S.
equities encouraged investors to resume the so-called carry
trade. Japan's yen has gained against all 16 major currencies
tracked by Bloomberg this month amid concern over subprime losses
and credit risks.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

U.S. vehicles rank bottom in world fuel efficiency

(Reuters) - The report comes as the House of Representatives will debate energy legislation this week, and some lawmakers want to tack on language to significantly increase the miles American cars and trucks travel on a gallon a gasoline.




U.S. fuel-efficiency requirements for passenger cars have been stuck at 27.5 miles per gallon since 1985, while the standard for pickups, minivans and other light trucks will increase from 20.7 mpg in 2004 to 24 mpg in 2011.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

UPDATE 1-GM offers zero-percent financing on pickups

(Reuters) - DETROIT, July 30 - General Motors Corp
said on Monday it had begun offering zero-percent financing for
up to 60 months on the extended and crew cab versions of its
2007 pickup trucks in response to competitors' discounts.




"We want to be competitive in the marketplace and there has
been increasingly heavy spending by our competitors," said John
McDonald, GM spokesman.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Paulson says Treasury to hit debt limit in October

(Reuters) - "These actions should be reserved only for extraordinary circumstances, and should be avoided," Paulson said.




The U.S. debt limit is set by statute, so the Treasury has to seek Congress' approval for an increase. With both houses of Congress now under Democratic control, the request likely sets the stage for a debate about the Bush administration's management of the economy and of the national debt.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks up, bonds slip, but credit worries lurk

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 30 - Stocks climbed on Monday
after last week's drop on credit concerns, while a safe-haven
bid for U.S. government bonds abated somewhat, but trade was
jumpy as investors' jitters about riskier assets lingered.




The dollar drifted lower against most currencies, as
traders remained wary of weakness in U.S. credit markets.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Emerging-Market Bonds Rebound, Following Equities as Risk Aversion Recedes

(Bloomberg) -- Emerging-market bonds rose, erasing
earlier losses, as gains in global stock markets prompted
investors to buy riskier, higher-yielding securities.

Developing nation debt is rebounding from declines spurred
by concern losses from subprime mortgages may spread to other
markets. The extra yield investors demand to hold emerging-
market bonds today fell to its lowest since July 25. The Dow
Jones Industrial Average advanced almost 1 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Copper Gains as Dollar Drops, Making Metal Priced in U.S. Currency Cheaper

(Bloomberg) -- Copper rose more than 1 percent in
New York on speculation that a weaker dollar will encourage
buyers holding other currencies to purchase the metal.

The dollar dropped the most in more than two weeks against
the euro. A change in exchange rates makes copper, traded in
dollars, more or less expensive for buyers using other
currencies. The metal has gained 25 percent this year, while the
dollar is down 3.7 percent against the euro.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

UPDATE 1-Cedar Fair says not in takeover talks

(Reuters) - The New York Post earlier on Monday reported that Cedar
Fair was in talks to be taken over by investment firm Destiny
Capital in a deal worth $4.1 billion.




"An article today reports a claim by an organization
referred to as 'Destiny Capital' that constructive negotiations
with the company have been undertaken. We are not currently in
negotiations with that organization or any other party," said
Cedar Fair Chief Executive Dick Kinzel in a statement.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Mexican stocks extend gains, America Movil leads

(Reuters) - The benchmark IPC stock index surged 2.50 percent to
30,989 points and the peso currency was stable
at 10.963 per dollar.




In debt trading, the price of the benchmark government
10-year peso bond rose 0.247 points to bid 101.648,
with a yield of 7.73 percent.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

U.S. Stocks Rebound on Upgrades; KB Home, Nordstrom, Terex Shares Advance

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks rebounded, pacing a
global advance, after Wall Street brokerages told investors to
buy shares that fell during last week's $2.1 trillion global
sell-off.

KB Home led homebuilders higher after Citi Investment
Resarch raised the shares to ``buy.'' Nordstrom Inc. posted its
steepest gain since August on a Goldman, Sachs & Co. upgrade.
Terex Corp., the maker of trucks and cranes, surged the most in
three weeks and led the Standard & Poor's 500 Index higher
after Goldman, Sachs & Co. advised clients to buy the shares.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.S. online help-wanted ads fall in July: report

(Reuters) - A year ago, the figure was 3.41 million.




"The monthly decline in July in large part reflects the July 4th holiday week when ad volume dropped," said Gad Levanon, economist at the Conference Board.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

US STOCKS-Credit worries drag on stocks, offset profit view

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 30 - U.S. stocks traded little
changed in erratic trading on Monday after Wall Street's worst
week in nearly five years as concerns about the deteriorating
credit market countered optimism about the earnings outlook.




Tightening lending standards threatened to slow or halt the
heavy pace of corporate buyouts, including several major deals
by private equity firms, which have fueled a rally in stocks.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-Charles Evans to replace Moskow at Chicago Fed

(Reuters) - Evans, 49, becomes the ninth Chicago Fed president. He
succeeds Michael Moskow, who is retiring on Aug. 31.




Evans will vote on U.S. interest-rate policy at the final
three Federal Open Market Committee meetings of 2007.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Copper Futures Gain in New York, Erasing Earlier Loss, on Weaker Dollar

(Bloomberg) -- Copper gained in New York, erasing
earlier losses, on speculation that a weaker dollar will
encourage buyers holding other currencies to purchase the metal.

The dollar dropped the most in more than two weeks against
the euro. A change in the U.S. currency's value makes copper,
traded in dollars, more or less expensive for buyers using other
currencies. Before today, the metal had gained 24 percent this
year, as the dollar fell 3.3 percent against the euro.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Lone Star extends tender offer for Accredited Home

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 30 - Private equity firm Lone Star, which agreed to acquire Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. in June, said on Monday it was extending its tender offer by 10 business days for all outstanding shares of the struggling subprime mortgage lender's common stock.



The date has been extended till Aug. 14 because Accredited Home had not obtained regulatory approvals required to close the tender offer by the previous deadline of July 27, Lone Star said.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Nordstrom, RadioShack, Rural Cellular, ValueClick: U.S. Equity Movers

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies
whose shares are having unusual price changes in U.S. exchanges.
Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names. Share
prices are as of 10:10 a.m. in New York.

Home Depot Inc. (HD US) rose the most since June 20, gaining
61 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $37.36. Shares of the world's
largest home-improvement retailer could double in the next three
years, Barron's said, citing no one.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.S. Treasury to sell $26 bln 4-week bills

(Reuters) - Threshold $9.1 bln
NLP Exclusion




Amt $11.2 bln


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Pound Falls Against Euro, Pares Gains Versus Yen on Carry Trade Unwinding

(Bloomberg) -- The pound declined to a two-week low
against the euro and traded near the weakest versus the yen in
almost two months on speculation investors will unwind carry
trades after the risk of holding corporate debt surged.

The U.K. currency has dropped more than 3 percent against
the yen in July, heading for its biggest monthly decline since
August 2006. Widening losses on securities backed by subprime
mortgages prompted traders to reduce investment in high-yielding
currencies such as the pound using funds borrowed in Japan. U.K.
interest rates are the highest among Group of Seven economies.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

US STOCKS-Indexes rise after last week's sell-off

(Reuters) - The Dow Jones industrial average was up 43.09
points, or 0.32 percent, at 13,308.56. The Standard & Poor's
500 Index was up 4.69 points, or 0.32 percent, at
1,463.64. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 8.45
points, or 0.33 percent, at 2,570.69.




Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Canadian Stocks Rebound From Biggest Weekly Loss in 6 Years; EnCana Gains

(Bloomberg) -- Canadian stocks rose after investors
speculated that the steepest weekly sell-off in almost six years
was overdone.

EnCana Corp. paced gains in energy and raw-material stocks,
which had among the biggest declines last week, on higher prices
for natural gas.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Oil Is Little Changed, Close to One-Year High, as Demand Outpaces Supplies

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil fell from the highest in
almost a year amid speculation U.S. fuel stockpiles increased
last week.

Crude oil for September delivery slipped 38 cents, or 0.5
percent, to $76.64 a barrel at 10:05 a.m. on the New York
Mercantile Exchange. Futures reached $77.33 today, the highest
intraday price for a front-month contract since Aug. 9.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

PPL says plans to sell two of its businesses

(Reuters) - PPL said it expects the sale to be completed during the
second half of 2008.





Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Tyson posts profit, raises outlook

(Reuters) - The results topped analysts' estimates, which averaged 25 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.




Also on Monday, Tyson forecast fiscal-year earnings at 82 cents to 92 cents a share, up from its outlook in April of 65 cents to 90 cents.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Canadian Dollar Falls for Fourth Day on U.S. Subprime Impact Speculation

(Bloomberg) -- The Canadian dollar fell for a
fourth day as investors sold commodity-linked currencies on
speculation U.S. subprime mortgage losses will slow the world's
largest economy.

The Canadian currency fell 0.3 percent to 93.69 U.S. cents
at 8:58 a.m. in Toronto, extending the decline last week when it
dropped 1.45 percent. One U.S. dollar buys C$1.0674. Canada's
dollar fell 0.42 percent against the yen to 111.03.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

UPDATE 1-US FDA scientist urges taking Avandia off market

(Reuters) - Graham, in slides prepared for his remarks to an advisory
panel, said Avandia increases the risk of cardiovascular
problems such as heart attacks while rival drug Actos, made by
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. , does not.




Senior FDA officials say they do not know if Avandia, known
generically as rosiglitazone, increases heart-attack risk and
are asking the advisory panel if the drug should come off the
market or stay with stronger warnings or limits. Panel
recommendations are expected on Monday afternoon.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

US STOCKS-Wall St. set to fall on credit jitters

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 30 - U.S. stock index futures
pointed to a weaker start for the market in choppy trading on
Monday after heavy losses last week on fear that a credit
crunch would slow or stop the pace of takeovers that have
boosted stocks.




In the latest sign of problems in the home lending market,
American Home Mortgage Investment Corp. said its banks
were demanding that it put up more cash after the mortgage
lender was forced to write down the value of its mortgage and
security portfolios. The shares fell 25 percent before the
opening bell.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Canadian Dollar Falls for Fourth Day on U.S. Subprime Crisis Speculation

(Bloomberg) -- The Canadian dollar fell for a
fourth straight day as investors sold commodity-linked
currencies on speculation U.S. subprime mortgage losses will
slow the world's largest economy.

The Canadian currency fell 0.38 percent to 93.61 U.S. cents
at 8:14 a.m. in Toronto, extending the decline last week, when
it dropped 1.45 percent. One U.S. dollar buys C$1.0683. Canada's
dollar fell 0.72 percent against the yen to 110.72.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

FPL 2nd-quarter earnings rise

(Reuters) - Excluding special items and the changing value of its
trading contracts, it earned $347 million, or 86 cents per
share.




Analysts on average had expected the company to post 80
cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

RPT-KPN says Getronics offer price is "fair" - CNBC

(Reuters) - KPN said earlier in a statement the takeover offer for
Getronics, worth 766 million euros in total, was
part of its strategy to move from providing communications links
to more value-added services in the business market.




Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Anglo Platinum CEO to resign end-August

(Reuters) - Ralph Havenstein, the chief executive of Angloplat, said on Monday he would resign from heading the world's biggest platinum producer, effective August 31.

Havenstein will be replaced by two Angloplat officials -- Norman Mbazima, the finance director, and Duncan Wanblad, the director of projects and engineering. Mbazima and Wanblad will be joint acting CEOs for operational and commercial activities, respectively.


Read more at Reuters Africa

UPDATE 1-RadioShack posts quarterly profit

(Reuters) - Earnings came to $47 million, or 34 cents a share, for the
quarter, compared with a year-earlier loss of $3 million, or 2
cents a share.




Analysts expected profit of 25 cents a share, according to
Reuters Estimates. It was not immediately clear whether the
estimates were comparable.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Tunisian bank STB first-half revenues rise 7.2 pct

(Reuters) - Societe Tunisienne de Banque (STB), Tunisia's largest bank by assets, reported a 7.2 percent increase in first-half revenues as its interest margin widened.

The bank's revenues rose to 93.7 million dinars for January-June from 87.3 million a year earlier, according to figures on the Tunis bourse Web site on Monday.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Wall Street set to open firmer after sell-off

(Reuters) - "This isn't a turnaround of the downward trend. This is just a small technical market reaction, which is not based on economic fundamentals," said Lutz Roehmeyer, a fund manager at LBB Invest.




U.S. stocks plunged for a second day on Friday as tightening credit conditions led to concerns that takeovers would slow.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Cedar Fair in talks on $4.1 bln takeover -report

(Reuters) - The talks are at an early stage after the two sides started
negotiating two weeks ago, the paper said.




Destiny Capital has proposed paying a 20 percent premium
over Cedar Fair's current market value, the Post said.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

U.S. Stock-Index Futures Rise; Alcoa, GM , Akamai Technologies Advance

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stock-index futures rose as
investors speculated the biggest weekly sell-off in more than
four years was excessive.

Alcoa Inc., the world's second-largest aluminum company, and
General Motors Corp. rose in Europe after their shares lost more
than 10 percent last week. Verizon Communications Inc. may be
active before the telephone service provider posts earnings.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

French CAC 40 Index Increases; France Telecom Gains on Recommendation

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks rose, paced by
Michelin & Cie. and France Telecom SA.

The CAC 40 Index advanced 19.77, or 0.4 percent, to 5663.73
at 10:45 a.m. in Paris. The SBF 120 Index also added 0.4
percent. The CAC sank 5.3 percent last week for its biggest
weekly loss since the five days ending March 28, 2003.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

GM, Ford, Toyota Back New U.S. Mileage Goals to Head Off Stricter Rules

(Bloomberg) -- Automakers are embracing legislation
in the U.S. House that would raise fuel-economy standards,
abandoning years of resistance because of concerns they might
otherwise be forced to accept even tougher measures.

An industry group representing General Motors Corp., Ford
Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and six other auto companies is
backing a bill that would require a more than one-quarter
increase in average vehicle mileage by 2022. Competing measures
in the House and Senate mandate stricter requirements that would
compel earlier compliance and probably cost the industry more.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News

JGBs fall from 2-month high on stocks, BOJ jitters

(Reuters) - JGBs extended losses as investors took profits after
concluding that bond yields have fallen too far if the BOJ
decides to lift the overnight call rate to a 12-year high of
0.75 percent in August from the current 0.50 percent.




A global slide in equity and corporate bond markets in the
past week has stirred doubts about a BOJ interest rate rise next
month, and driven benchmark JGB yields to two-month lows.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

European Stocks Advance, Led by Imperial Chemicals, Linde; IKB Tumbles

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose for the first
time in five days, led by Imperial Chemical Industries Plc after
the company rejected a bid from Dutch rival Akzo Nobel NV.

Linde AG, the world's largest maker of industrial gases,
also gained after reporting earnings that topped analysts'
estimates. BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group led mining
shares higher as copper increased.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Corn, Soybeans Rise on Concern Over U.S. Crop Conditions; Wheat Declines

(Bloomberg) -- Corn and soybean futures in Chicago
gained on speculation a government report later today will show
a decline in crop conditions for a fourth straight week. Wheat
futures fell as investors bet recent gains were overdone.

An estimated 62 percent of the corn crop was in good or
excellent condition as of July 22, down from 64 percent a week
earlier and up from 59 percent a year earlier, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture said in its latest report on July 23.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Pearson H1 profit up, raises education sales forecast

(Reuters) -



LONDON, July 30 - Book and newspaper publisher Pearson reported a sharp rise in first half profits on Monday and raised its full-year sales forecast for its core professional education business to growth of 5-7 percent.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News