UPDATE 1-Anadarko shares up as 2nd-qtr profit tops Street

(Reuters) - HOUSTON, July 31 - Shares of independent oil and
gas producer Anadarko Petroleum Corp. climbed on
Tuesday, a day after the company reported better-than-expected
quarterly earnings and raised its annual production forecast.




Houston-based Anadarko's shares initially rose more than 5
percent, but fell back a bit and were trading up 4.4 percent,
or $2.20 at $52.30 on the New York Stock Exchange at midday.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

CVC Asia Pacific agrees to buy Taiwan curtain maker

(Reuters) - The price represented a 13.6 percent premium over Monday's
closing price of T$36.35.




Shares of Nien Made, the world's top maker of blind shades,
surged by the daily 7 percent limit to T$38.85 in midday trading
on Tuesday.



Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

U.A.E. Shares Decline, Led by Etisalat and Dubai Islamic Bank: Gulf Stocks

(Bloomberg) -- Shares in the United Arab Emirates
dropped, paced by Emirates Telecommunications Corp., known as
Etisalat, and Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC.

The Abu Dhabi Securities Market Index fell 2.8 percent to
3430.03, the biggest one-day drop since June 7, 2006. The Dubai
Financial Market General Index slipped 0.6 percent to 4226.77,
bringing the two-day decline to 2.4 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

AFGRI shares fall after halts unbundling plan

(Reuters) - Shares in South Africa's farm group AFGRI fell 4.25 percent on Wednesday after the company said it had shelved plans to spin off its products unit and list it separately.

"The board has following further investigation, resolved not to proceed with the unbundling and separate listing of the products division as it is not satisfied that such a step will add significant value to shareholders," AFGRI said.


Read more at Reuters Africa

German Benchmark Index Declines, Led By E.ON, Deutsche Post, ThyssenKrupp

(Bloomberg) -- German stocks dropped, led by E.ON AG
after a report said the world's largest utility by sales is
facing delays with a project in the Czech Republic.

Shares of Deutsche Post AG, Europe's biggest postal service,
and ThyssenKrupp AG, the country's largest steelmaker, also fell.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

US STOCKS-Forecast-topping profits lift Wall Street

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 19 - U.S. stocks rose on Thursday
after forecast-topping results from companies such as IBM and
Juniper Networks shifted investor focus back on to earnings
optimism, away from subprime jitters.




Shares of International Business Machines Corp. ,
the world's largest technology services company, rose 4.2
percent after it posted a jump in quarterly profit and raised
its 2007 earnings forecast. For details, see [ID:nN18415715].


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

US STOCKS-Profits boost Wall Street, led by IBM, Juniper

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 19 - U.S. stocks rose on Thursday
after earnings from companies such as IBM and Juniper Networks
topped expectations, moving the spotlight back onto profit
optimism, away from subprime mortgage concerns.




Shares of International Business Machines Corp. ,
the world's largest technology services company, rose 4.3
percent after it posted a jump in quarterly profit and raised
its 2007 earnings forecast. For details, see [ID:nN18415715].


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

WESCO International posts higher quarterly net profit

(Reuters) - Analysts were expecting the provider of electrical
construction products to post a profit of $1.27 a share, before
items, according to Reuters Estimates.




Shares of Wesco have gained about 10 percent in 2007,
underperforming the Dow Jones U.S. Electrical Component
Equipment Index , which has risen about 20 percent
year-to-date.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Tokyo Electric Shares Fall as Nuclear Plant May Be Shut a Year After Quake

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Tokyo Electric Power Co.
had their biggest drop in seven years on concern the company's
nuclear facility in central Japan, the world's biggest, may be
shut for a year after an earthquake caused radioactive leaks.

The stock slumped as much as 7.5 percent, the biggest
intraday decline since Feb. 18, 2000, after the Nikkei said the
shutdown will be prolonged by checks to ensure the plant will
resist future earthquakes. The company was the second-biggest
decliner on the Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Yahoo posts lower profit, gives weak 2007 forecast

(Reuters) - Shares in the Internet media company fell 4.2 percent in extended trade.




Jerry Yang, the company's co-founder who took the CEO job in a June management shakeup, promised a new strategic plan as he sought to convince investors he is open to change and able to take on rapidly growing rival Google Inc. .


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Shoemaker, Phone Company, Shrimp Farm Lead Rally by Asia Mining Companies

(Bloomberg) -- A shoe manufacturer, a former
telephone company, and a onetime shrimp farmer are among Asia's 10
best performing stocks this year. Their new focus: mining.

Shares of Nority International Ltd., a Hong Kong shoemaker
that last week bought a stake in an iron ore explorer, have soared
6,411 percent in 2007. Mongolia Energy Ltd., a former Hong Kong
telephone company that bought Mongolian mine plots in May, is up
4,068 percent. PT ATPK Resources, an Indonesian shrimp farmer that
became an energy explorer last year, has leapt 2,763 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japan's Government Bonds Advance on Concerns Over U.S. Subprime Mortgages

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's 10-year bonds gained on
speculation losses in securities backed by U.S. subprime
mortgages will fuel demand for government debt.

Bonds in Japan halted a two-day drop after Treasuries
yesterday extended a weekly advance. Concerns that U.S. economic
growth will slow may hurt Japanese exporters, boosting the
attraction of debt's fixed payments. Shares of Japanese electric
power producers and insurance companies may drop after a
magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck northwest Japan yesterday,
damaging a nuclear reactor operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

US STOCKS-Indexes extend gains on earnings optimism

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 16 - U.S. stocks rose on Monday,
with the Dow flirting with 14,000, on optimism about earnings
of major industrial companies and speculation that Verizon
Communications could be a takeover target.




Shares of Verizon were the biggest percentage gainer on the
Dow after a Financial Times blog said Vodafone Group
was considering a $160 billion takeover bid for the U.S.
wireless operator. Vodafone denied the report, but Verizon
shares rose 2.6 percent to $42.84.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Posco Shares Surge to Record on Prices, Speculation of Takeover Defenses

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Posco, Asia's third-
largest steelmaker, posted their biggest gain since 2002 on
expectations of higher prices and as the company buys its own
shares to strengthen defenses against takeover attempts.

``Posco still wants to raise its share price to deter
takeovers,'' said Kim Joo Hyoung, who helps manage $1.1 billion
at KTB Asset Management Co. in Seoul. Dongkuk Steel Mill Co.'s
decision to raise prices means Posco may do the same, he said.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

J.C. Penney same-store sales beat expectations

(Reuters) - "They are continuing to be strong. I think you're going to see that growth continue," said Faith Hope Consolo, retail leasing and sales chairman at Prudential Douglas Elliman Retail Leasing. "They've retooled, refreshed and gone forward very strong."




Shares of J.C. Penney, which earlier rose as much as 5 percent, were up $2.38 at $73.54 in morning trade on the New York Stock Exchange.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

RPT-US STOCKS-Oil sector, financials boost stock indexes

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 11 - U.S. stocks rose on
Wednesday, helped by gains in energy shares as oil prices
traded near $73 a barrel and financial shares rebounded a day
after falling on worries about the subprime mortgage industry.




Shares of Exxon Mobil Corp. , up 0.4 percent at
$86.82, also benefited from Lehman Brothers' increase in the
stock's price target. U.S. crude oil futures slipped but
were still trading at $72.90 a barrel. On Tuesday Brent crude
hit an 11-month high of $76.63 in London.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Vallourec Shares Jump on Speculation Arcelor Mittal to Make a Takeover Bid

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Vallourec SA, a French
maker of steel tubes used to carry oil and gas, jumped as much
as 6.2 percent on speculation the company may get a takeover
offer from Arcelor Mittal.

The stock rose 7.9 euros, or 3.6 percent as of 4:42 p.m. in
Paris and had earlier gained as much as 13.67 euros.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Compuware, Dendreon, Forest Laboratories, Rock-Tenn: 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 8:10 a.m. New York time.

Barnes Group Inc. (B US): The maker of components for
automobiles and aircraft said certain of its 3.75 percent
convertible notes were eligible for conversion. Shares fell 43
cents to $32.56 in regular trading yesterday.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Hong Kong's Stocks Post Biggest Drop in a Month; Construction Bank Falls

(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong's stocks fell, with the
Hang Seng Index posting its biggest drop in a month, as investors
judged excessive a rally that drove the Hang Seng Index to a
record. China Construction Bank Corp. led the drop.

Shares also declined as earning reports from U.S. retailers
heightened concern a weak housing market is hurting consumer
spending. Li & Fung Ltd. slipped.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Futures drop on Home Depot; Bernanke eyed

(Reuters) - Shares of Dow-component Home Depot fell 1.5 percent in Europe after the largest U.S. home improvement chain cut its 2007 profit outlook, citing a weak housing market.




Home Depot joins other companies, including printer maker Lexmark International Inc , whose lowered outlooks could temper hopes for strong profits in the reporting season now under way.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News