Arkema sells resins business to Hexion

(Reuters) - Terms were not disclosed.




Arkema said the sale required anti-trust approval and should
be completed in the third quarter of 2007.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

G20 to focus on multilaterals, commodity prices - Manuel

(Reuters) - The Group of 20 economic powers will this year focus on reform of the IMF and World Bank to help ensure more influence for poorer nations in the global institutions, South Africa's Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Thursday.

Manuel, who will chair the group at its annual meeting in November, said the G20 should work toward ensuring a more equal partnership between emerging and advanced economies on the global stage.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Gap and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Advance on Earnings: U.S. After-Hours

(Bloomberg) -- Gap Inc. rose in extended U.S.
trading after the largest U.S. clothing retailer reported profit
that topped analysts' estimates.

Shares of San Francisco-based Gap added 21 cents, or 1.1
percent, to $18.50 as of 6:31 p.m. New York time. The retailer
slashed prices at the Gap chain to lure customers after losing
market share to retailers such as Abercrombie & Fitch Co.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Asian Currencies: Taiwan Dollar Rises as Central Bank May Buy; Rupiah Down

(Bloomberg) -- Taiwan's dollar rose to the highest
in more than two weeks on speculation the central bank will buy
the currency to stem losses after it reached a 17-month low.

The currency added to yesterday's 0.3 percent rally after
the Economic Daily News, citing unidentified traders, today said
the central bank is stepping up oversight of overseas mutual
funds to slow the Taiwan dollar's slide. A weaker exchange rate
may add to inflation by making imported goods more expensive.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

UPDATE 4-Japan consumer prices fall again, but more slowly

(Reuters) - TOKYO, May 25 - The slide in Japanese consumer
prices slowed in April as expected, doing nothing to change the
view that the Bank of Japan is on track to lift interest rates
but that it will have to wait at least until August to do so.




The core consumer price index , excluding fresh food
prices, fell 0.1 percent in April from a year earlier, the third
straight month of year-on-year declines. But it slowed from a 0.3
percent fall in March, data showed on Friday.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Platinum Rises on Speculation of Increased Demand From Metal-Backed Funds

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum rose amid speculation that
demand from exchange-traded funds for the metal used in auto-
catalysts and jewelry will be higher than expected.

Zuercher Kantonalbank, a state-controlled Swiss lender,
introduced funds, known as ETFs, for platinum, palladium and
silver earlier this month. The funds have investment equal to
25,000 ounces of platinum, and 133,000 ounces of palladium,
according to a report from HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Allianz Sells Stake in Korean Insurance Venture to Partner Hana Financial

(Bloomberg) -- Allianz SE, Europe's biggest insurer,
sold all its shares of a venture to South Korean partner Hana
Financial Group Inc.

Hana Financial's banking unit signed an agreement to acquire
the remaining 50 percent stake it doesn't own in Hana Life
Insurance Co. from Allianz, Seoul-based Hana Financial said in an
e-mailed statement yesterday, without providing financial terms
or other details. Hana bought the shares to strengthen its life
insurance business, spokesman Lee Jeong Dae said.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News