Japanese Bonds Rise as Yields Near Highest Since April Attract Investors

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's 10-year government bonds rose, ending two days of losses, on speculation yields near the highest in three weeks attracted investors.

Yields, which move inversely to prices, declined as the Bank of Japan today started a two-day policy board meeting. Policy makers will probably keep interest rates unchanged as the economy slows and consumer prices fell for two consecutive months, according to a Bloomberg News survey of economists.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Tokyo gold, platinum recover on technicals

(Reuters) - Tokyo gold futures edged up on Wednesday, reversing the previous day's falls as investors viewed the recent weakness in the dollar and favourable technicals as supportive of gold.

Platinum futures also wiped off the previous day's losses and neared a record high marked earlier this week.


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TREASURIES-Recover in Asia after three-day slide

(Reuters) - If U.S. growth stays weak, economists believe a further cooling of inflation will prompt the Fed to change its current bias towards fighting price pressures in a first step towards trimming rates from the current 5.25 percent.

Kansas City Fed President Thomas Hoenig said in a speech late on Tuesday that he expects growth to improve this year and next, that current interest rates are "firm" but that a case could be made for either higher or lower borrowing costs.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Inter-Tel says Vector Capital bids $26.50/shr

(Reuters) - But Inter-Tel said its special committee had determined that Vector Capital's bid was reasonably likely to lead to a superior proposal.

Inter-Tel said it has notified Mitel of its special committee's decision and that it intends to engage in talks with Vector Capital.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Premier Wen Says China to Make Yuan More Flexible as Paulson Summit Nears

(Bloomberg) -- China's Premier Wen Jiabao pledged to loosen controls on the exchange rate and take steps to curb a record trade surplus, a week before a summit in the U.S. to discuss ways to reduce imbalances.

Since scrapping a decade-old link to the dollar in July 2005, the yuan has been restricted to a maximum 0.3 percent daily move against the U.S. currency. U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who has refrained from labeling China a currency manipulator, has called for a more freely traded yuan to help address the widening trade gap between the two nations.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Banco Bradesco, Homex, Marcopolo, Porto Seguro: Latin Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may make significant gains or losses in Brazil and Mexico today. Symbols are in parentheses after the company name, and stock prices are from the last session.

In Brazil, preferred shares are the most commonly traded class of stock.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

New Banco Popolare Q1 net at 293 mln euros

(Reuters) - The two banks agreed earlier this year to merge. They have said they shortlisted three groups in view of choosing an insurance partner that would distribute its products at their combined network.




Read more at Reuters.com Market News