Friday, May 11, 2007

Paulson sending deputy to G8 ministers' meeting

(Reuters) - The Group of Eight finance ministers will meet in Potsdam, a Berlin suburb, on May 18-19, partly to set an agenda for a subsequent June meeting of political leaders from the G8 nations in Germany.

Paulson also is heavily engaged in preparing for a May 22-24 round of talks with Chinese official leaders, who will visit Washington to participate in the second round of a "strategic economic dialogue" with the United States on key economic issues between the two countries.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

U.S. Treasuries Decline as Inflation Data Leaves Federal Reserve on Hold

(Bloomberg) -- Treasuries fell the most in more than two weeks after a government report showed a measure of inflation was flat for a second consecutive month, adding to speculation the Federal Reserve may not change interest rates for the rest of the year.

Producer prices excluding food and fuel were unchanged in March and April. Fed policy makers on May 9 left their benchmark lending rate unchanged at 5.25 percent for the seventh straight meeting and said the ``predominant'' concern was that ``inflation will fail to moderate.'' Bonds also declined as stocks advanced.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

UPDATE 1-Attacks planned for US targets in Germany -ABC

(Reuters) - German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told ABC: "The danger level is high. We are part of the global threat by Islamist terrorism."

U.S. air marshals are providing additional protection of flights between Germany and the United States, law enforcement officials told ABCNews.com.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Barr Pharmaceuticals gets tentative OK for generic dementia drug

(Reuters) - The product had annual sales of about $140 million for the 12 months ended March 2007, according to IMS sales data. Janssen Pharmaceutica is a unit of Johnson & Johnson




Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

Televisa, Vitro, Petroleo Brasileiro, Lan, Credicorp: Latin Equity Movers

(Bloomberg) -- Mexico's main stock index rose, led by America Movil SAB and Grupo Televisa SAB.

The Bolsa index gained 302.75, or 1 percent, to 29,956.57 points at 10:47 a.m. New York time. The Bovespa index of the most- traded stocks on the Sao Paulo exchange rose 669.1, or 1.3 percent, to 50,903.78.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-S&N buys wound firm for up to $110 mln, shares up

(Reuters) - LONDON, May 11 - Smith & Nephew Plc will pay an initial $15 million and further milestone payments of up to $95 million related to revenues or other events.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

US Steel deal for Lone Star gets antitrust nod

(Reuters) - Officials completed their investigation of the deal without taking any action, the Federal Trade Commission said in a notice.

U.S. Steel announced the deal in March, saying it would expand its reach in the lucrative oilfield sector. Lone Star makes products to line oil and gas wells and build pipelines.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Total Oil Field in Congo Shut After Fire Extinguished; Two Workers Killed

(Bloomberg) -- A Total SA oil field in the Republic of Congo halted production for a second day after a fire yesterday morning killed two workers and injured others, a spokeswoman said.

Output from the N'kossa field was about 60,000 barrels a day prior to the fire, Patricia Marie, a Paris-based Total spokeswoman said by telephone today. About 36,000 barrels a day is Total's share. ``We have an internal investigation,'' Marie said. It was not clear what started the fire, she said.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Canadian Stocks May Fall on Jobs Report, Led by Royal Bank, Alcan Shares

(Bloomberg) -- Canadian stocks may fall for a third day, led by financial companies such as Royal Bank of Canada, after a report showing Canada's economy lost jobs in April raised concern corporate profit growth may slow.

Falling prices for copper and speculation that prices for some other metals may drop may weigh on raw-materials producers such as Alcan Inc. Near-record prices for metals such as nickel have triggered a wave of consolidation among global mining companies. Commodity-related stocks have helped lift Canada's main stock index by 7.3 percent this year to a record on May 8.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks, bonds rally as data supports Fed rate cut

(Reuters) - LONDON, May 11 - U.S. Treasuries rose and European stocks trimmed losses on Friday as tame U.S. producer inflation data and sluggish retail sales numbers revived the odds of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates later this year.

U.S. producer prices rose a stronger-than-expected 0.7 percent in April but excluding food and energy, prices were unchanged versus expectations of a 0.2 percent rise.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Producer prices rose 0.7 percent in April

(Reuters) - Overall producer prices rose 3.2 percent from the same month a year ago, while core producer prices gained 1.5 percent from April 2006.

Energy prices gained 3.4 percent, while food prices rose 0.4 percent in April. It was the smallest gain in food prices since November


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

TREASURIES-Bonds up on weak stocks, await retail sales

(Reuters) - European and Asian stocks suffered in the wake of Wall Street's drop on Thursday, its sharpest one-session fall in two weeks. The move in global stocks lifted euro zone government bonds, in turn helping to firm up sentiment on Treasuries heading into Friday's New York trading session.

Futures indicated U.S. stocks would regain their footing on Friday, but much will hinge on the data due to be reported at 8:30 a.m. . Any weakness in retail sales would heighten recent concerns that the economy is slowing more than previously thought.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

U.K. Shares Drop, Led by Anglo American, BHP; Friends Providents Declines

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks dropped, paced by Anglo American Plc and BHP Billiton Ltd. as metal prices retreated. Shares of Friends Provident Plc slid.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index declined 18.8, or 0.3 percent, to 6505.3 in London at 8:12 a.m. The FTSE All-Share Index lost 13.71, or 0.4 percent, to 3379.75. Ireland's ISEQ Index rose 15.58 to 9527.55.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Blockbuster investors back plan on exec pay: WSJ

(Reuters) - The proposal was nonbinding, the Journal said.

Blockbuster could not immediately be reached for comment.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News