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.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks 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.


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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

Rio Tinto says to unwind Alcan hedgebook

(Reuters) - "Assuming we go through with the deal, it will all be wound
down," a Rio Tinto spokesman said on Monday.




Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

European Stocks May Fall; Volkswagen, Lufthansa, Rio Tinto Might Decline

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks may decline for the
first time in three days as crude oil traded near an 11-month
high. U.S.-traded securities of Volkswagen AG, the region's
biggest carmaker, and airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG slipped.

Rio Tinto Group, the world's third-largest mining company,
dropped in Australia after Citigroup Inc. cut its recommendation
on the shares. Royal Philips Electronics NV may be active after
saying second-quarter profit rose fivefold.


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Canada Dollar Rises on Speculation Company Acquisitions to Boost Demand

(Bloomberg) -- The Canadian dollar rose for the
first time this week on speculation that acquisitions of
Canadian companies will increase demand for the currency.

Rio Tinto Group, the London-based miner, agreed to buy
Montreal-based Alcan Inc. for $38.1 billion to form the world's
biggest aluminum maker.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Rio Tinto near deal to buy Alcan for $37 bln - WSJ

(Reuters) - Global miner Rio Tinto was near a deal to buy Canadian aluminium giant Alcan Inc. for about $100 per share, or $37 billion, The Wall Street Journal Online reported on Thursday.

A final deal should be announced early on Thursday, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the transaction.


Read more at Reuters Africa

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.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

European Commodity Stocks, Rio Tinto, Total May Advance; RWE May Decline

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks may gain for a third
day, led by mining and energy companies as prices for copper and
aluminum advanced and oil traded near a nine-month high.

Rio Tinto Group, the world's third-largest mining company,
rose in Australian trading. U.S.-traded securities of Total SA,
Europe's largest refiner, ended higher than their close in France.


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U.K. FTSE 100 Falls, Paced by Mitchells & Butlers, BHP and Rio Tinto

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks fell led by Mitchells &
Butlers Plc fell after Deutsche Bank AG lowered its
recommendation for the pub owner. Experian Group Plc and Royal &
Sun Alliance Insurance Group Plc paced advancing shares.

BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group slipped as copper
prices retreated in Asia. EMI Group Plc rose on the broader FTSE
All-Share Index.


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BP, Rio Tinto to Study $1.65 Billion Clean Coal Power Plant in Australia

(Bloomberg) -- BP Plc and Rio Tinto Group said they
will start studying a potential A$2 billion ($1.65 billion) coal-
fired power plant in Western Australia that will use a system to
capture and store carbon to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The plant will be the first new project for Hydrogen Energy,
a new venture company started up by the partners last week, BP
and Rio Tinto said today in a statement to the Australian Stock
Exchange.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News