Japanese Shares Climb on Fed's U.S. Outlook, Led by Sony; Komatsu Jumps

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese shares rose, sending the
Nikkei 225 Stock Average to a three-month high, after the U.S.
Federal Reserve said growth will pick up in the world's biggest
economy.

The Fed's outlook helped the Standard & Poor's 500 Index
pass its 2000 record and eased concern a slump in Chinese stocks
will cause a sell-off worldwide.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Chico's, Motorola, Novell, Optium, Payless ShoeSource: U.S. Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies
whose shares may have unusual price changes in U.S. exchanges
today. This preview includes news that broke after exchanges
closed yesterday. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company
names.

Ceridian Corp. (CEN US) rose $1.41, or 4.1 percent, to
$35.60 in trading after the official close of U.S. exchanges.
The provider of human resource and payroll services agreed to be
acquired by Thomas H. Lee Partners LP and Fidelity National
Financial Inc. for $5.3 billion, or $36 a share. ``Some
investors were expecting a larger premium,'' Tien-tsin Huang, an
analyst with JPMorgan Securities Inc., wrote in a note.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

JGBs fall on stock rebound, BOJ rate hike concern

(Reuters) - Short-term bonds remained under pressure as investors have
grown wary about an interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan in
the coming months, sending two-year yields to a 10-year high.




"Stock market gains and cheaper U.S. bonds were attracting
investors away from JGBs," said Tetsuya Miura, a bond strategist
at Shinko Securities.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Oil flat after four-day slide; gasoline build eyed

(Reuters) - Oil prices were little changed on Thursday after a four-day losing streak as traders took pause ahead of a likely further rise in U.S. gasoline inventories.

London Brent crude rose 8 cents to $67.92 a barrel by 0710 GMT, putting this week's losses at more than $2.50 a barrel. U.S. light, sweet crude was flat at $63.49 after bucking the trend to gain 34 cents on Wednesday.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Rand weaker vs dollar, eyes PPI, trade data

(Reuters) - South Africa's rand weakened slightly against the dollar on Thursday with producer inflation data and trade numbers due later in the day expected to direct further trading on the currency, dealers said.

The rand was trading at 7.16 versus the dollar at 0658 GMT, little changed from its New York closing levels of 7.1450 on Wednesday. Dealers said the local unit was likely be caught in range of 7.09-7.18 in the session.


Read more at Reuters Africa

U.K. Pound Declines Versus Euro on Signs House Price Inflation Is Cooling

(Bloomberg) -- The pound fell against the euro for a
fifth day after an industry survey showed house prices rose at a
slower pace in May, a sign that four interest rate increases in
the past year is cooling the property market.

The U.K. currency slid to near its lowest in a week versus
the dollar after a report two days ago showed the number of loans
granted for house purchases declined in April. The pound is also
heading for its longest streak of losses since August versus the
euro and since October versus the dollar as separate reports today
showed mortgage approvals fell and consumer credit dropped.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Oil steady after four-day slide; gasoline build eyed

(Reuters) - Losses in Brent crude and gasoline prices came as traders grew increasingly hopeful that motor fuel inventories would last out the peak-demand summer driving season.




Gasoline stocks are expected to have risen by 1.3 million barrels in the week preceding Monday's Memorial Day holiday, which marked the informal start of the summer, according to a Reuters poll ahead of data due out at 1530 GMT.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News