Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Virginia Tech, Inspired by Librescu, Recruits More Scholars From Abroad

(Bloomberg) -- Long before the world learned about Liviu Librescu as a hero who saved students' lives in a campus shooting rampage, he was a world-renowned engineering professor.

Librescu, 76, was one of more than 500 foreign-born teachers and researchers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. He died along with 31 other staff members and students who were shot by Seung-Hui Cho, a mentally ill student, on April 16 in the deadliest shooting in American history.


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Ziopharm first-quarter net loss widens

(Reuters) - Operating expenses were higher by 65 percent due to development costs of its drug candidates, the company said in a release.




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Radware: Q2 revenue up sequentially; sees deal diluting 'O7 EPS

(Reuters) - For the second quarter, analysts expect Radware to post revenue of $21.1 million, according to Reuters Estimates.

Earlier in the day, Radware posted first-quarter results below market expectations. Excluding items, it reported a loss of 7 cents a share. Analysts expected a loss of 3 cents a share.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Treasuries Little Changed as Private-Sector Jobs Gain Is Lowest in 4 Years

(Bloomberg) -- Treasuries were little changed, erasing earlier declines, after an industry report showed the private sector created the fewest jobs in almost four years last month.

The report comes two days before the Labor Department's employment report for April, which also covers the public sector and is forecast to show job creation slowed. Bond investors are looking for evidence that a housing market slump is leading to a broad-based economic slowdown that may prompt the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Canada Financial Stocks Decline, Led by Manulife Financial; Nortel Gains

(Bloomberg) -- Canada's main stock index was little changed, as declines in banks and insurers such as Manulife Financial Corp. and Bank of Montreal were offset by a gain in Nortel Networks Corp.

The Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index added 0.20, or less than 0.1 percent, to 13,406.53 as of 9:43 a.m. in Toronto.


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Dorel reports higher first-quarter profit

(Reuters) - Montreal-based Dorel, whose products include ready-to-assemble furniture and Safety 1st children's products, said it earned $27.9 million, or 85 cents a share, for the quarter ended March 31. That compares with a profit of $24.2 million, or 74 cents a share, a year earlier.




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Allergan reports quarterly profit

(Reuters) - Excluding special items, Allergan earned 92 cents per share in the quarter. Analysts on average had expected 91 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates.




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Copper, Little Changed, May Fall on Speculation Peru Strike May End Soon

(Bloomberg) -- Copper futures, little changed in New York, may fall on speculation that a national strike may end soon in Peru, the world's third-largest producer of the metal.

Workers at almost half of Peru's 70 mining unions, including employees of Southern Copper Corp., joined a strike that began April 30. Southern Copper said yesterday the strike may end within two week's because Peru's government will probably declare it illegal. The strike isn't having an impact on production, Labor Minister Susana Pinilla said April 30.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

U.S. Treasury Eliminates Three-Year Note as Federal Budget Deficit Narrows

(Bloomberg) -- The Treasury eliminated the three-year note as a narrowing U.S. federal budget deficit reduces the need to borrow.

Tax receipts are rising even as the economy slows, spurred by gains in income and an unemployment rate at a five-year low. The Treasury said in Washington today that it will sell $32 billion of notes and bonds next week, $2 billion less than a year ago and below the median forecast of $33 billion in a survey of analysts by Bloomberg.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Treasuries Little Changed as Payrolls Rise Less Than Forecast During April

(Bloomberg) -- Treasuries were little changed, erasing earlier declines, after an industry report showed the private sector created the fewest jobs in almost four years during April.

The report comes two days before the Labor Department's employment report for April, which also covers the public sector and is forecast to show job creation slowed in April. Bond investors are looking for evidence that a housing market slump is leading to a broad-based economic slowdown that may prompt the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

US private sector adds 64,000 jobs in April-report

(Reuters) - Economists polled by Reuters forecasted an expected increase of 100,000 jobs in April.

Automatic Data Processing, based in Roseland, New Jersey, is the parent of ADP Employer Services and is a large payroll services company. Macroeconomic Advisers is based in St. Louis, Missouri. The ADP National Employment Report is released each month, two days prior to the government's own job survey.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

Brookfield Asset profit up 9 pct, to split stock

(Reuters) - Brookfield, an asset manager with interests in real estate and power generation, said it had a net profit of $195 million, or 46 cents a share, in the quarter ended March 31, up from a profit of $179 million, or 43 Canadian cents a share, in the same quarter last year.




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Brink's quarterly profit tops expectations

(Reuters) - Operating earnings were 61 cents a share in the latest period. Analysts, on average, had expected 56 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.




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UPDATE 1-MeadWestvaco posts first-quarter loss

(Reuters) - The first-quarter net loss totaled $16 million, or 9 cents a share, compared with a profit of $3 million, or 2 cents a share, in the year-ago period.

Sales in the quarter rose 8 percent to $1.55 billion.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Alltel, DivX, Time Warner, Tellabs, Sprint Nextel: 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 New York time.

Alltel Corp. (AT US): The mobile-phone service provider is a potential takeover target, CNBC host Jim Cramer said on his ``Mad Money'' television program. Shares fell 64 cents to $62.05 in regular trading yesterday.


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Copper Drops in London on Speculation Peru Strike to End; Nickel Increases

(Bloomberg) -- Copper snapped three days of gains in London on speculation a strike by miners in Peru, the world's third-largest miner of the metal, will end without disruption to supplies. Nickel rose after stockpiles declined.`

Peruvian miners began a nationwide strike April 30, seeking higher wages and benefits after record copper and zinc prices boosted mining companies' profits. The strike has yet to affect production, Labor Minister Susana Pinilla said April 30.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

S.Africa white maize prices rise, exports fall

(Reuters) - South Africa's most-bought maize futures extended last week's gains on Wednesday, following bullish U.S. prices.

July white maize rose 2.69 percent to 1,720 rand a tonne, inching its way back toward records set in March.


Read more at Reuters Africa

UPDATE 1-OGE Energy posts lower 1st-qtr earnings

(Reuters) - Net income was $17.2 million, or 19 cents a share, down from $24.9 million, or 27 cents a share, a year earlier.

Total operating revenue in the quarter slipped to $881.5 million from $1.11 billion, in the year-ago period.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Teva posts first-quarter profit vs year-ago loss

(Reuters) - Excluding items, Teva earned 42 cents per share, compared with 37 cents, a year-ago.

Teva was expected to earn 39 cents a share on a GAAP basis and 40 cents a share, excluding items, according to Reuters Estimates.


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Garmin drops as results disappoint

(Reuters) - The stock fell to $55 in electronic trade, from a close of $59.37 on the Nasdaq.




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UPDATE 1-Citizens Communications quarterly profit rises

(Reuters) - The Stamford, Connecticut-based rural telecommunications company reported first-quarter earnings of $67.7 million, or 21 cents per basic share, compared with $50.5 million, or 15 cents per basic share, in the year-ago period.

Revenue was up 10 percent at $556.1 million.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Garmin quarterly profit rises

(Reuters) - Excluding the effect of foreign currency, the company reported earnings of 59 cents a share, up from 43 cents in the year-ago period.

The company dominates the U.S. market for navigational devices and competes with Dutch company TomTom


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-US home loan demand rises for second straight week

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, May 2 - U.S. mortgage applications rose for a second consecutive week as demand for home purchase loans outweighed slower refinancing activity, an industry trade group said on Wednesday.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage application activity, which includes both refinancing and purchasing loans, for the week ended April 27 increased 0.6 percent to 657.2.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Buyout target BCE profit rises on investment gain

(Reuters) - MONTREAL, May 2 - Buyout target BCE Inc. , or 62 Canadian cents a share. That was up from a profit of C$477 million, or 52 Canadian cents a share, in the year earlier period.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

AmBev, Cosan, Grupo Continental, Femsa: Latin American 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. Latin American markets were closed for a holiday yesterday.

Brazil


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Macquarie closes $10.3 bln infrastructure funds

(Reuters) - Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund II will invest in eight to 15 infrastructure assets with $6.3 billion while Macquarie Infrastructure Partners has $4 billion for investments in North America.




Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Group Five says buys plaster firm

(Reuters) - South African construction firm Group Five has agreed to buy plaster and washed sand manufacturer Sky Sands for 124 million rand, Group Five said on Wednesday.

Group Five said the acquisition would help the firm hedge against the risk of material shortages amid a building boom in South Africa, and would compliment its plan to expand in the infrastructure sector.


Read more at Reuters Africa

U.S. Notes Decline; Speculation Economy Robust Enough to Delay Rate Cut

(Bloomberg) -- Treasuries fell before a report that may show factory orders accelerated in March, fuelling speculation the Federal Reserve will refrain from cutting interest rates.

U.S. notes dropped yesterday after the Institute for Supply Management said manufacturing growth accelerated to an almost one- year high in April. Traders have reduced bets that the Fed will lower its benchmark rate this year, futures prices show. A separate report today is expected to show companies hired at about the same pace in April as in the prior month.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Chicago Wheat Falls as U.S. Winter Crop Yields May Be Similar to Last Year

(Bloomberg) -- Chicago wheat futures fell on speculation hard-red winter wheat yields in the U.S. Great Plains may be similar to last year even after an Easter-weekend freeze hurt crops. Soybeans also declined, while corn gained.

Yields will average about 40 bushels an acre when the crop is harvested in June and July compared with 40.6 bushels an acre last year, according to participants in a crop tour through Kansas and into parts of Colorado, Oklahoma and Nebraska.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

European shares rise, media up on Dow bid, BSkyB

(Reuters) - European shares rose on Wednesday, led by media stocks which rallied after NewsCorp's proposed $5-billion bid on Tuesday for Dow Jones & Co. and UK broadcaster BSkyB posted strong results.

BSkyB reported a 10 percent increase in its nine-month revenues and was optimistic about the outlook for the year. Its shares rose almost 4.2 percent, making it the top gainer in Europe in early trade.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Russian Crude Oil Production Falls 0.6 Percent in April From Month Earlier

(Bloomberg) -- Russia, the world's largest oil producer this year, pumped 0.6 percent less crude in April than in the month before.

Output fell to 9.82 million barrels a day (40.18 million tons) in the month from 9.87 million barrels a day in April, according to data released today by CDU TEK, the Energy Ministry's dispatch center.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

U.K. Stocks Advance, Led by British Sky Broadcasting; BHP, Rio Tinto Rise

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks rose, paced by British Sky Broadcasting Plc. Rio Tinto Group and BHP Billiton Ltd. gained.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index rallied 28.1, or 0.4 percent, to 6447.70 in London at 8:05 a.m. The FTSE All-Share Index added 13.82, or 0.4 percent, to 3355.87. Ireland's ISEQ Index climbed 27.01 to 9516.01.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

European Bonds Fall as Report Shows German Unemployment Dropped in March

(Bloomberg) -- European bonds fell after a report showed unemployment in Germany dropped to the lowest in almost six years, reinforcing expectations the European Central Bank will raise interest rates twice more this year.

A separate report today will probably show manufacturing growth in the euro region picked up, according to a Bloomberg News survey of economists. Bonds have risen this week, with benchmark 10-year bund yields falling from their highest since August 2005, as technical charts suggested recent declines may have gone too far.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Asia stocks edge higher, dollar firms

(Reuters) - Oil prices clawed back ground after a 1 percent drop on Tuesday while base metals steadied after sharp gains overnight.

Spread betters in London expected the FTSE 100 index to open 16 to 19 points higher, France's CAC 40 from 5 points lower to 6 points higher and Germany's DAX from 7 points down to 5 up.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News