U.K. Inflation Rate Probably Held at Second-Highest in a Decade in March

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. inflation probably held at the second-highest rate in a decade in March, adding to the case for an interest-rate increase as soon as next month, a survey of economists shows.

Consumer prices may have risen 2.8 percent from a year earlier, the same pace as in February, according to the median of 33 forecasts in a Bloomberg survey. In December, inflation reached 3 percent, the highest since 1997. Other government reports this week may show retail sales rose and unemployment fell in March, separate surveys show.


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Treasury Yield Curve May Turn Positive; Gross, Lundgren Pick 2s Over 10s

(Bloomberg) -- Bond investors are starting to bet the Treasury market is returning to normal.

Yields on two-year notes will fall below 10-year Treasuries and stay there for the first time since August, say investors from Pacific Investment Management Co.'s Bill Gross to Colin Lundgren at RiverSource Institutional Advisors. During the past decade, the so-called yield curve has been inverted only 20 percent of the time, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.


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Japan's Savers May Finally Be Ready to Spend, Keeping Its Economy Growing

(Bloomberg) -- Hiroko Kobayashi, a 65-year-old grandmother from Nagoya, Japan, says she's starting to feel a little more comfortable about spending now that the bank pays her more interest.

``If I can earn a little money on my savings, it'll mean I can go out and get a few things for my grandkids,'' she says.


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Sallie Mae agrees to be sold for $25 bln: report

(Reuters) - JPMorgan and Bank of America each would take 24.9 percent stakes in the company, the Journal reported.

The group plans to pay $60 per share for the student lender, the Journal said.


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U.K. Pound May Fall Before Producer Prices Report, Release of BOE Minutes

(Bloomberg) -- The U.K. pound may drop against the dollar before a report today which will probably show prices of goods leaving factories eased last month, and before minutes of the last Bank of England meeting later this week.

The pound climbed last week by the most in three months on carry trades and speculation signs growth and inflation are quickening will push interest rates higher. So-called core producer prices rose 0.3 percent last month after gaining 0.5 percent in February, according to a Bloomberg survey. The BoE, which kept rates unchanged this month, will release minutes of the meeting on March 18.


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3i Group, BG, Burberry, Countrywide, HSBC: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses and prices are from the market close on March 13.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index rose 46.00, or 0.7 percent, to close at 6462.40 in London as 58 stocks rose, 36 fell and eight were unchanged. The FTSE All-Share Index advanced 21.07, or 0.6 percent, to 3360.44.


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Grupo Iusacell, Lojas Americanas, Grupo Televisa: Latin Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may make significant gains or losses in Brazil, Chile 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.

Brazil


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