Asian Shares Advance, Posting Longest Monthly Winning Streak in 20 Years

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks rose as higher earnings
from Olympus Corp. and Hang Seng Bank Ltd. helped the region's
benchmark post its longest monthly winning streak in 20 years.

BHP Billiton Ltd. led gains by mining companies on
speculation profits will climb along with metals prices.
Disappointing earnings from Kyocera Corp. and Kookmin Bank
limited today's advance.


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European Stocks Rise, Paced by Aviva, UBS, GlaxoSmithKline, BHP Billiton

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks advanced for the
first time in six days on speculation shares have become cheap
relative to prospects for earnings growth.

Aviva Plc, HSBC Holdings Plc and UBS AG led financial stocks
higher. GlaxoSmithKline Plc, the region's second-largest
drugmaker, rose after a panel of medical specialists said its
Avandia drug should remain on the U.S. market. BHP Billiton Ltd.
and Rio Tinto Group gained on higher copper prices.


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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.


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Asian Stocks Have Worst Week in a Year on Housing Concern; Samsung Drops

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks had the biggest weekly
drop in a year as U.S. reports heightened concern that a housing
slump is spreading in the world's biggest economy. BHP Billiton
and Samsung Electronics Co. led the slide.

``You've got an economic impact from lower housing prices
and housing demand,'' said Simon Doyle, a strategist at Schroder
Investment Management Australia Ltd. in Sydney, which manages
the equivalent of $11.4 billion. ``If the U.S. is under question,
there might be a broader contagion.''


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Australia's S&P/ASX Rises to a Record High, Led by BHP, Santos; ING Jumps

(Bloomberg) -- Australian stocks rose, pushing the
S&P/ASX 200 Index to a record. BHP Billiton Ltd. and Santos Ltd.
led gains as metals prices rose the most in almost six weeks and
oil traded at its highest in more than 11 months.

``Metals are responding to China's growth and speculation in
the sector about takeovers, so that's a plus for resources
stocks,'' said Hans Kunnen, who helps manage $107 billion at
Colonial First State Global Asset Management in Sydney. ``The
stars are aligned for another record close.''


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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 .


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Australian Commodity Stocks Slip, Led by BHP, Woodside; David Jones Gains

(Bloomberg) -- Australian commodity stocks dropped,
led by BHP Billiton Ltd., Newcrest Mining Ltd. and Woodside
Petroleum Ltd., after copper, gold and oil prices fell in New York.

David Jones Ltd. gained after announcing second-half profit
would increase as much as 42 percent on accelerating sales.


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U.K. FTSE 100 Benchmark Declines, Paced by BHP; Rolls-Royce, Kelda Slip

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks fell for a second day,
paced by BHP Billiton Ltd. after Deutsche Bank AG downgraded the
shares and metal prices retreated. Anglo American Plc and
Antofagasta Plc also declined.

Rolls-Royce Group Plc, Kelda Group Plc and Schroders Plc
slid as brokerages lowered their recommendations for the
companies' stocks. Reed Elsevier Plc dropped after it agreed to
sell Harcourt Education for $4 billion.


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European Stocks Fall for First Time in Four Days; Total, BHP Pace Declines

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks dropped for the first
time in four days, led by oil companies after ING Groep NV cut its
recommendation on shares of Repsol YPF, Statoil ASA and Total SA.

BHP Billiton Ltd., the world's biggest mining company,
dropped after Deutsche Bank AG downgraded the stock. Tate & Lyle
Plc, the maker of the sweetener Splenda, climbed after Goldman,
Sachs & Co. advised investors to buy the shares.


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Australian Stocks Slide, Led by BHP, James Hardie on Metals, U.S. Concerns

(Bloomberg) -- Australian stocks fell for a second
day. BHP Billiton Ltd. led mining shares lower along with prices
of metals including copper and nickel.

James Hardie Industries NV led declines among companies with
U.S. earnings on increasing evidence a housing slump is depressing
profits in the world's largest economy.


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U.K. Stocks Retreat, Paced by Antofagasta, BHP; Marks & Spencer Rallies

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks fell, paced by
Antofagasta Plc, Xstrata Plc and BHP Billiton Ltd. as copper
prices reversed earlier gains in Asia.

Marks & Spencer Group Plc limited declines after the company
beat analysts' estimates. Next Plc also advanced. Unilever
climbed amid takeovers in the food industry. Wolseley Plc slipped
after U.S.-based Home Depot Inc. lowered its profit forecast.


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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.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

U.K. FTSE 100 Index Advances, Paced by BP, Shell; BHP Billiton Shares Gain

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks climbed. BP Plc and Royal
Dutch Shell Plc rose on a positive research note from Deutsche
Bank AG. Shares of BHP Billiton also gained.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index climbed 31.10, or 0.5 percent,
to 6666.30 at 12:07 p.m. in London. The FTSE All-Share Index rose
0.4 percent to 3443.06. Ireland's ISEQ Index jumped 0.7 percent
to 9419.92.


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BHP's Pyrenees Oil Field in Australia May Help Increase Oil Production 22%

(Bloomberg) -- BHP Billiton Ltd., Australia's largest
oil and gas producer, may raise its annual output by as much as
22 percent after approving the $1.7 billion Pyrenees crude
project off the northwestern coast.

The field, in which it owns a 71 percent stake, will deliver
as much as 96,000 barrels of oil a day when it starts in 2010,
the Melbourne-based company said in a statement yesterday. The
production gain was derived by Bloomberg based on the company's
output of 116 million barrels in the year ended June 2006.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Australian Mining Shares Climb, Led by BHP; Commander Communications Falls

(Bloomberg) -- Australian mining shares rose, led by
BHP Billiton Ltd. and Woodside Petroleum Ltd. after prices of
commodities such as copper and oil climbed.

``Commodity demand remains overwhelming relative to supply,
so there looks like there could be more upside for mining
companies' shares,'' said Atul Lele, who helps manage about $380
million at White Funds Management in Sydney.


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European Stocks Rise, Led by Energy, Mining Shares; BP, BHP, Nestle Gain

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose for the first time
in six days as higher commodity prices lifted energy and mining
companies and Citigroup Inc. said shares in the region are cheap.

BP Plc, Europe's second-biggest oil producer, and BHP
Billiton Ltd., the world's largest mining company, advanced.
Nestle SA increased after Deutsche Bank AG recommended buying
stock in the food company. Groupe Danone rose on a report the
yogurt maker will likely sell its LU cookies division.


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Asian Shares Slide to Two-Week Low on Profit Growth Concern; Toyota Drops

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks fell to the lowest in
almost two weeks on concern earnings will be curbed by slowing
consumption in the U.S., the strengthening yen and a drop in
metals and oil prices.

Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest automaker, declined
after reports showed home sales and consumer confidence fell in
the world's largest economy and the yen strengthened for a third
day, eroding the value of overseas sales. BHP Billiton Ltd.
tracked a slump in raw-materials prices.


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Australian Shares Decline, Led by BHP, Macquarie on U.S. Economic Concerns

(Bloomberg) -- Australian stocks fell for a third
day. Stocks that depend on global growth, such as BHP Billiton
Ltd. and Macquarie Bank Ltd., dropped as the Australian dollar
traded near an 18-year high, and as concern intensified that U.S.
banks will be saddled with losses on mortgage bonds.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index slid 52.90, or 0.8 percent, to 6329.70
at the close in Sydney. About 15 stocks declined for every four
that gained.


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Asian Stocks Trading in U.S. Post Worst Weekly Drop in 2 Months; BHP Falls

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks trading in the U.S. had
their worst weekly decline in almost two months amid concern
China may boost interest rates to cool economic growth and the
damage from a collapse in U.S. subprime market may be worse than
expected.

Toyota Motor Corp. and BHP Billiton led the retreat.


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U.K. Mining Stocks Gain, Led by Shares of Vedanta; Tesco, Retailers Fall

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. mining stocks climbed, led by
Vedanta Resources Plc and BHP Billiton Ltd., after copper rallied
on concern strikes in South America will disrupt production.

Tesco Plc and William Morrison Supermarkets Plc led retailers
lower after minutes showed the Bank of England voted five to four
to keep interest rates unchanged. British Airways Plc rose after
Standard & Poor's lifted its credit rating for the airline. Man
Group Plc gained after assets for its AHL fund increased.


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