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.


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RPT-UPDATE 1-BHP no longer considering Alcoa bid - report

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 19 - BHP Billiton
is no longer considering making an offer for Alcoa , The
Australian newspaper reported on Thursday, citing unnamed
sources, pushing Alcoa shares down more than 7 percent.




Sources have previously told Reuters, and it was widely
reported, that BHP had been considering the idea of making
offers for Alcoa and Alcan Inc. , the Canadian company
that just fought off a hostile bid from Alcoa by agreeing to a
friendly deal with Rio Tinto .


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Stock index futures indicate firm market open

(Reuters) - In takeover talk, Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper reported that Alcan has begun negotiating toward a merger agreement with Rio Tinto to fend off a hostile bid from U.S. rival Alcoa .




Dow Jones & Co. , in talks for a takeover by News Corp. , met supermarket magnate Ron Burkle and Internet entrepreneur Brad Greenspan on Tuesday in an effort to find an alternative offer, a source familiar with the situation said.


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BHP seeks partner for Alcoa bid - paper

(Reuters) - Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters last month
that BHP had appointed investment bank Merrill Lynch to
work on a possible bid for Canada's Alcan Inc , which is
the subject of a $28.7 billion hostile bid from Aloca.




The Times said Alcoa was BHP's preferred target, but it was
unwilling to pay a premium for assets that it does not want to
retain and so wanted to team up with a bid partner.


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Rio Tinto said to be eyeing Alcan/Alcoa deal

(Reuters) - Rio has asked investment banks Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank to advise it on a range of options, including a possible bid for Alcan, the sources said. A bid for Alcoa is also possible but less likely, they added.




Rio declined to comment, as did Credit Suisse. A spokesman for Deutsche Bank could not be reached.


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US STOCKS-Wall St set to open higher on deal speculation

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, June 18 - U.S. stocks were poised to
open higher on Monday, boosted by deal news including a report
that BHP Billiton has revived plans for a $40 billion takeover
of aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. .




Shares of Alcoa rose 2.4 percent in trading before the bell
after the Times newspaper in London reported BHP Billiton
Ltd./Plc , the world's biggest mining group,
may bid for the aluminium producer.


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Alcan says considering all options to Alcoa bid

(Reuters) - Michaud spoke after a press conference in Paris, during which Christel Bories, president and chief executive of Alcan's Engineered Products Group, was quoted by news agencies as saying a counteroffer for Alcoa or tie-up with a big international miner were among credible options.




Alcan has rejected Alcoa's May 7 cash and stock offer, which, based on Alcoa's share price on Wednesday, was worth $75.02 a share. Alcan says Alcoa's bid does not reflect the value of Canadian company's assets, technology and growth prospects.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News