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