Tuesday, April 24, 2007

UPDATE 2-Novartis buys rights to Cytos anti-smoking jab

(Reuters) - ZURICH, April 25 - Novartis , the Swiss-based drugs group, will buy rights to the anti-smoking vaccine made by Switzerland's Cytos Biotechnology in a deal valued up to 600 million Swiss francs .

Novartis, which has made vaccines a key part of its growth platform, said it purchased global rights to the vaccine, CYT002-NicQb, which could be ready to market in 2011 after late-stage trials in 2008.


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European Bonds Are Little Changed Before Ifo's Business Confidence Report

(Bloomberg) -- European government bonds were little changed before a survey that's expected to show business confidence in Germany climbed for a second month in April.

Benchmark European debt posted an advance last week as the euro's gain versus the dollar stoked concern about growth in the $10.4 trillion euro region economy. Germany's Ifo institute will say its gauge of business confidence in Europe's biggest economy rose to 107.9 from 107.7 in March, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.


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Autonomy Q1 profit jumps, to demerge consumer unit

(Reuters) - Autonomy posted an adjusted pretax profit of $19.5 million for the three months to March 31, compared with $10.3 million for the same period a year ago, on revenues of $65.5 million, up from $56.1 million a year ago.

The market had expected the company to post adjusted pretax profit of $18 million on revenues of $65 million, according to the average of analysts' forecasts provided by the company.


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Barclays's Varley Relies on Bank of America Agreement to Win ABN Amro Deal

(Bloomberg) -- Barclays Plc Chief Executive Officer John Varley may have Bank of America Corp. to thank for his $91 billion acquisition of ABN Amro Holding NV.

Just a week ago, Varley was at risk of losing Amsterdam- based ABN Amro to Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc. A defeat for Varley would have left Barclays, the third-largest U.K. bank, vulnerable to a takeover, said Howard Wheeldon, senior strategist at BGC Partners, a London-based brokerage firm.


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Rubber Futures Decline in Tokyo Amid Speculation Holiday Spurring Sales

(Bloomberg) -- Rubber futures in Tokyo, the global benchmark, fell to the lowest in more than a month amid speculation traders were selling ahead of Japan's Golden Week holidays next week.

Prices also dropped as a decline in the U.S. currency cut the dollar value of contracts traded in yen and amid signs Japanese economic growth may be slower than some had expected. The yen traded at 118.46 per dollar at 1:15 p.m. in Tokyo, compared with 118.59 in New York late yesterday.


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Philippine Bonds Plunge After Treasurer Cruz Quits; Peso Little Changed

(Bloomberg) -- Philippine bonds fell after National Treasurer Omar Cruz resigned, raising concern that the government may change plans to narrow its budget deficit. The peso recovered from earlier losses.

Ten-year bonds fell the most in more than a month after Cruz, 52, resigned effective June 1, citing family reasons that he didn't disclose. There were ``no policy differences'' with other government officials, the treasurer said late yesterday, damping speculation he's leaving because of a disagreement.


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Yell's Shout, DuPont's Conflict, Utility Laggards: Commentary by D. Wilson

(Bloomberg) -- Yell Group Inc.'s projection of slower sales growth in its U.S. telephone-directory unit isn't just a disappointment for its shareholders. It's the shout heard 'round the world.

Shares of U.S. and European phone-book publishers sank along with Yell, whose 20 percent decline was the biggest ever. The Reading, England-based company said U.S. revenue for the 12 months ending in March would rise 3 percent after accounting for currency swings and acquisitions.


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Taiwan's Central Bank Probes Bond Traders After Yields Lag Behind Key Rate

(Bloomberg) -- Taiwan's central bank confirmed it investigated bond trading companies on suspicion of price manipulation, pushing up 10-year yields by the most in a year.

``Yesterday, we inspected several bond traders to see if any abnormal transactions occurred,'' Alan Chiu, deputy director- general of the bank's examination department, said in an interview in Taipei today. ``Government bond yields failed to follow the central bank's policy in raising rates. We feel the yields have been twisted.''


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Malaysia Central Bank May Keep Benchmark Rate Unchanged for Eighth Meeting

(Bloomberg) -- Malaysia's central bank will probably keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged for an eighth straight meeting, refraining from a cut in borrowing costs until it's sure inflation will remain low.

Bank Negara Malaysia will leave its overnight policy rate at 3.5 percent, according to all 20 economists in a Bloomberg News survey. The central bank's decision is due to be announced on April 27 at 6 p.m. in Kuala Lumpur.


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UPDATE 2-Japan's trade surplus up sharply, exports firm

(Reuters) - TOKYO, April 25 - Japan's trade surplus jumped in March from a year earlier, exceeding market forecasts, as exports climbed to a record high despite a slowdown in the U.S. economy, government data showed on Wednesday.

Slowing import growth was also behind the sharp expansion in the surplus, largely because of falling crude oil prices and a fall in imports of clothing from China.


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Japanese Shares Drop on U.S. Slowdown Concern, Led by Toyota; Canon Rises

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks slipped after U.S. consumer confidence and sales of previously owned homes slumped, renewing concern slower growth in Japan's largest export market will curb profits for exporters such as Toyota Motor Corp.

``We are now seeing the main impact from past Fed rate increases with weak figures coming out of the U.S.,'' said Kiyoshi Ishigane, who helps oversee $61 billion in assets at Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. ``Exporters will be particularly cautious with their forecasts because of concern about the slowing U.S. economy.''


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CORRECTED - CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-Japan's trade surplus rises more than expecte

(Reuters) - Also behind a sharp expansion in the surplus was a slowdown in growth of imports, largely due to falling crude oil prices and a fall in imports of clothing from China.

The customs-cleared trade surplus rose 73.9 percent in March from a year earlier to 1.6335 trillion yen , above economists' median forecast for a surplus of 1.3458 trillion yen, data from the Ministry of Finance showed.


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Hyundai Card, PT Berlian Laju Tanker, Indika, Woori Bank: Asia Bond Alert

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of bond sales in Asia expected in the coming days and weeks.

Investment Grade


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South Korea's Kospi Index Falls From Record; Hyundai Heavy, Posco Drops

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks fell as some investors sold shares to take advantage of the index's recent gains. Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. and Posco paced the retreat.

KT Freetel Co. slid after reporting its fifth straight quarterly loss on higher marketing costs.


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Exporters, Kia Motors, Samsung Heavy, Solomon: South Korea Stock Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following shares may rise or fall in South Korea. Prices refer to the previous close. This preview includes news announced after markets shut yesterday. Stock symbols are in brackets after the company names.

The Kospi index added 0.8 percent to a record 1556.71. The Kosdaq lost 0.1 percent to 691.60. Kospi 200 futures expiring in June gained 0.7 percent to 201.20, while the underlying index rose 0.7 percent to 200.02.


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Travelzoo net earnings flat; shares fall

(Reuters) - First-quarter net earnings were flat at $4.1 million year-over-year. However, earnings per share rose by a penny to 25 cents.

Analysts were expecting a profit of 32 cents a share, excluding items, according to Reuters Estimates.


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US STOCKS-Dow rises as IBM boosts blue chips

(Reuters) - But data pointing to more weakness in the housing market limited the broader market, and the Nasdaq and S&P 500 closed little changed.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 35.27 points, or 0.27 percent, at 12,954.67. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 0.44 points, or 0.03 percent, at 1,480.49. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 0.87 points, or 0.03 percent, at 2,524.54.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Copper Falls, Erasing Gains, After Report Shows Decline in U.S. Home Sales

(Bloomberg) -- Copper futures fell in New York, erasing earlier gains, after a report showed sales of previously owned homes in the U.S. declined more than forecast in March to the lowest level in almost four years.

Purchases dropped 8.4 percent last month to an annual rate of 6.12 million, from 6.68 million in February, the National Association of Realtors said today in Washington. Declines in home prices in 20 U.S. metropolitan areas accelerated in the 12 months ended in February, a private survey showed today.


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Goldman Sachs Favors Chilean Peso, South African Rand as Metal Prices Soar

(Bloomberg) -- The South African rand and Chilean peso may extend gains because of robust economic growth and the surge in commodity prices, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

The rand and peso have risen with other emerging market currencies as prospects for stronger growth stoked demand for high yielding assets. Gold makes up about 13 percent of exports in the economy, Africa's largest, and the rand often moves in tandem with the precious metal. The price of copper, of which Chile is the biggest producer, climbed 41 percent last year.


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CME first quarter profit rises 42 percent

(Reuters) - Revenues were $332 million, up 32 percent from $251 million a year earlier.

Analysts on average had expected net income of $3.62 per share and revenues of $337 million, according to Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

McGraw-Hill quarterly profit, revenue rise

(Reuters) - Revenue rose nearly 14 percent to $1.3 billion.




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Pentair quarterly profits up slightly

(Reuters) - Analysts, on average, expected a profit of 40 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates.




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Snap-On promotes Pinchuk to president

(Reuters) - Pinchuk, previously president of Snap-On's Worldwide Commercial and Industrial Group, has also been appointed to the company's board.




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Burlington Northern quarterly profit falls

(Reuters) - Excluding a charge of 14 cents related to higher environmental expenses, BNSF earned $1.10 a share for the quarter.

On average Wall Street analysts had expected earnings per share of $1.10, according to Reuters Estimates.


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UPDATE 1-LaBranche reports quarterly loss as revenue slumps

(Reuters) - New York-based LaBranche posted a net loss of $5.6 million, or 9 cents a share, compared with net income of $112.3 million, or $1.83 a share, a year earlier.

Excluding a $4.2 million pretax loss related to the decline in fair value of the company's stake in NYSE Euronext , the loss was $3.2 million, or 5 cents per diluted share.


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UPDATE 1-Pentair quarterly profits up slightly

(Reuters) - The company, which also makes industrial fluid-handling and heat-exchange systems, reported profit of $42.3 million, or 42 cents per share, compared with $41.6 million, or 41 cents per share, a year earlier.

Analysts, on average, expected a profit of 40 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-Snap-on profit rises on strong tool demand

(Reuters) - Snap-on also said it expects continued operating and earnings improvement for the rest of this year.

First-quarter net profit was $39 million, or 66 cents a share, up from $22.1 million, or 37 cents a share, a year earlier.


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Ecolab 1st-quarter profit rises 15 percent

(Reuters) - Analysts, on average, expected 35 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates.




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PepsiAmericas posts higher quarterly profit

(Reuters) - April 24 - PepsiAmericas Inc. , the No. 2 bottler of Pepsi drinks, reported a higher first-quarter profit, helped mainly by the acquisition of bottling operations in Central Europe. Revenue rose about 13 percent to $960.2 million, on volume and pricing gains in both the United States and Central Europe.

Net income rose to $20.6 million, or 16 cents a share, compared with $14.1 million, or 11 cents a share, a year earlier, the manufacturer, seller and distributor of PepsiCo beverages said.


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CORRECTED - CORRECTED-Ensco International Q1 earnings rise

(Reuters) - Net income for the quarter rose 55 percent to $232.3 million, or $1.54 a share, from $149.8 million, or 97 cents a share in the year-ago quarter. Revenue rose to $514.1 million from $381.6 million.

For the quarter, analysts on average expected earnings of $1.50 a share, before exceptional items, according to Reuters Estimates.


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UPDATE 1-Higher output swells Petro-Canada's profit

(Reuters) - Net earnings from continuing operations rose to C$590 million , or C$1.19 a share, from C$54 million, or 11 Canadian cents a share, a year earlier.

Excluding gains and losses related to currency translation, asset sales and derivative contracts, the company earned C$580 million, or C$1.17 a share, up from C$486 million, or 95 Canadian cents a share a year earlier.


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UPDATE 1-TCF Financial posts higher quarterly profit on gain

(Reuters) - The latest first quarter included a $31.2 million pretax gain on the sale of 10 outstate Michigan branches and a $8.5 million reduction of income tax expense related to a favorable settlement with the Internal Revenue Service, the company added.

However, TCF's first quarter operating results were hurt by the inverted yield curve and the slow housing markets, Chief Executive Lynn Nagorske said in a statement.


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AT&T posts higher quarterly profit, revenue up

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, April 24 - Telecommunications service provider AT&T Inc on Tuesday posted a higher quarterly profit as revenue rose from growth in its wireless business and its purchase late last year of BellSouth Corp.

First-quarter profit rose to $2.8 billion, or 45 cents a share, from $1.4 billion, or 37 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter, before it bought BellSouth. Total operating revenue rose to $28.97 billion from $15.76 billion, also excluding BellSouth in the year-ago quarter.


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Copper Prices Rise in N.Y. on Strike Concerns in Peru, Falling Stockpiles

(Bloomberg) -- Copper futures rose to the highest in almost a week in New York as stockpiles declined and concerns mounted over potential supply disruptions from Peru, the world's second-biggest producer of the metal behind Chile.

Workers at Southern Copper Corp.'s Ilo smelter in southern Peru rejected a wage offer from the company on April 20 and said they may begin a strike before the end of the month. Southern Copper is the world's fifth-biggest producer of the metal. Copper stockpiles shrank for a third session in a row.


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Actuant, DuPont, iRobot, Resmed, SanDisk, Whirlpool: 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. Share prices are as of 7:30 a.m. New York time.

Actuant Corp. (ATU US): The industrial tools maker is a potential takeover target for private equity firms, CNBC host Jim Cramer said on his ``Mad Money'' show. Shares fell 6 cents to $52.50.


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Aussie's fall drags down other high-yielders

(Reuters) - A set of surprisingly tame inflation data from Australia poured cold water on expectations of a near-term interest rate hike there and made investors more cautious about buying other currencies based on monetary tightening prospects.

That led to some unwinding of carry trades, where purchases of high yielders, like the Aussie, are funded by cheap borrowing in low return units such as the yen or Swiss franc.


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LUKOIL 2006 net rises 16 pct, misses forecast

(Reuters) - Revenues rose to $68.11 billion from $56.22 billion. Analysts had expected the revenues to amount to $68 billion.




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Real-Estate Stocks in Spain Tumble, Led by Astroc and Grupo Inmocaral

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Astroc Mediterraneo SA, Grupo Inmocaral SA, Montebalito SA and other Spanish real estate stocks slumped more than 10 percent.

Astroc's shares dropped as much as 20 percent to 14.10 euros in Madrid, while Inmocaral fell as much as 15 percent to 4.13 euros. Montebalito declined as much as 18 percent to 20.62 euros and Urbas Proyectos Urbanisticos SA lost as much as 22 percent to 2.11 euros.


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Slovak Koruna May Fall Versus Euro on Expectations Bank to Cut Rates Today

(Bloomberg) -- The Slovak koruna may decline against the euro on expectations the central bank will cut interest rates today, reducing the appeal of the currency.

The Bratislava-based bank will lower the two-week repurchase rate a quarter-point to 4.25 percent, according to the median estimate of 14 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Four predicted no change in the key rate.


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EU court strikes down U.S.-Dutch open skies deal

(Reuters) - The European Court of Justice decided in 2002 that bilateral aviation trade deals between several EU governments and the United States violated the bloc's laws.

Tuesday's announcement, made in a statement from the court, that the Dutch deal also violated EU rules was in line with a recommendation made in November by an adviser to the ECJ.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

UPDATE 2-Akzo Q1 core profit beats expectations, shares up

(Reuters) - AMSTERDAM, April 24 - Dutch chemical group Akzo Nobel NV beat expectations on Tuesday with an 18 percent rise in first-quarter core profit to 219 million euros on organic sales growth and strong margins.

Analysts had expected earnings before interest and taxes , excluding its pharma unit which will be sold, and incidentals, to fall 5.3 percent to 179 million, according to the average forecast of six analysts in a Reuters poll. Forecasts ranged from 165 million euros to 197 million euros.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

KKR buys further 459 mln stg Alliance Boots shares

(Reuters) - It also said Alliance Boots Deputy Chairman Stefano Pessina, who is part of the consortium, owns 15.05 percent of the group.

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U.K. FTSE 100 Index Is Little Changed; Glaxo Climbs as AstraZeneca Slides

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks including GlaxoSmithKline Plc advanced. Deutsche Bank AG advised investors to buy shares in Europe's largest drugmaker.

Aviva Plc gained after it said first-quarter life and pension sales rose 14 percent, helped by its purchase of AmerUs Group Co. in the U.S.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-Nikko Cordial earnings slide in fourth quarter

(Reuters) - TOKYO, April 24 - Citigroup takeover target Nikko Cordial Corp. reported a decline in its underlying fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday, hit by an accounting scandal and a sector-wide slowdown in new share issues.

A change in Nikko's tax status allowed Japan's third-biggest brokerage to book net profits of 24.7 billion yen in the January-March fourth quarter, up 38 percent versus the same period a year earlier.


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Finland's Jobless Rate Falls to 16-Year Low in March Led by Private Sector

(Bloomberg) -- Finland's jobless rate fell to 7.7 percent in March, the lowest for that month in 16 years, led by increased private sector employment.

The unemployment rate fell from 8.1 percent in the same month last year and increased from 7.5 percent in February, Helsinki- based Statistics Finland said on its Web site today. The median forecast for the rate was 7.5 percent, according to the five economists surveyed by Bloomberg.


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Home Resales in U.S. Probably Fell Last Month, Delaying Housing Recovery

(Bloomberg) -- Home resales in the U.S. probably fell in March to the lowest in three months, delaying housing's recovery from a slump that's shown some signs of reaching bottom.

The National Association of Realtors may report home resales fell 4.3 percent last month to a 6.40 million annual rate, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of 65 economists.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Cisco extends tender offer for WebEx

(Reuters) - It said it continued to expect to complete tender offer in the fourth quarter of its 2007 fiscal year.




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UPDATE 1-Oil giant BP Q1 profits fall on lower oil price

(Reuters) - BP said in a statement on Tuesday that its replacement cost profit, which strips out the impact of changes in the value of fuel inventories, was $4.36 billion in the first quarter.

Excluding one-off items, such as oil field sales, which amounted to a net gain of $363 million, the result was $3.998 billion. A Reuters poll of 10 analysts on Friday gave an average forecast of $4.08 billion for BP's first-quarter replacement cost net profit excluding one-off items, down from $5.28 billion in the same period last year.


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UPDATE 1-Alcatel Lucent sees "soft" Q1 revenue

(Reuters) - The recently merged French-American telecoms equipment group said it expected to post an adjusted operating loss of some 260 million euros in the first quarter, half of which would be attributed to significant items.

"As previously stated, we anticipated that some of the factors which affected our business in the fourth quarter 2006 would continue in the early months of the year leading to some revenue decline," Alcatel Lucent said in a statement.


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