Polish Unemployment Rate Fell to 12.4 Percent in June, Near Eight-Year Low

(Bloomberg) -- Poland's unemployment rate fell in
June to 12.4 percent from 13 percent in May, according to
preliminary estimates from the Labor Ministry.

The number of unemployed totaled 1.896 million, a near
eight-year low, the Warsaw-based ministry said today in an e-
mail. The rate remained the highest in the European Union,
according to national statistics figures.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

UPDATE 1-Coca-Cola HBC agrees to buy Russia's Aquavision

(Reuters) - "The acquisition provides us with immediate access to state
of the art production facilities and significant expanded
capacity to meet growing consumer demand for our products,"
Doros Constantinou, CCHBC's chief executive, said in a
statement.




CCHBC will fund the purchase by a combination of cash and
short-term debt. It expects the deal to be earnings accretive in
2008, the company said.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

GLOBAL MARKETS-Interest rate decisions focus investor minds

(Reuters) - European stocks fell, as did bond prices. The euro rose
against both the dollar and yen ahead of the ECB meeting, where
officials are expected to keep rates on hold at 4.0 percent
[ECB/INT].




Britain's pound bumped along near 26-year highs above $2.
The BoE is expected to raise rates 25 basis points to a six-year
high of 5.75 percent [BOE/INT].


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Rubber Futures Rise in Tokyo on Concern Thailand Supply Slow to Pick Up

(Bloomberg) -- Rubber futures in Tokyo, the global
benchmark, rose for a third day amid concern that supply in
Thailand is not picking up as fast as it should after the end of
the low production season.

Futures contracts also looked cheap compared with physical
rubber prices, which were underpinned by rain in Thailand, the
world's biggest producer, said Takaki Shigemoto, an analyst at
commodity broker Okachi & Co. in Tokyo, by phone today. Rubber
supply in Thailand typically increases after the low production
period known as wintering.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

UPDATE 1-UK's Michael Page soars on record Q2 profit

(Reuters) - LONDON, July 5 - British recruitment firm Michael
Page International Plc reported record quarterly gross
profit on Thursday, 38 percent ahead of the year before, sending
its shares up almost 6 percent.




"There has been some negativity around about slowdowns but
all I can say is we have seen none of it," Chief Executive Steve
Ingham told journalists.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

JGBs fall on Nikkei gains, euro zone bond weakness

(Reuters) - JGBs pulled further away from three-week highs hit earlier
in the week, with investors cautious about buying while 10-year
yields remain near the middle of the 1.85-1.95 percent range
that has held for the last few weeks.




"The market extended losses, probably led by declines in
futures, while domestic investors were seen selling on the
upside," said Takafumi Yamawaki, a fixed income strategist at
Morgan Stanley.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

South Korea's Stocks Gain for a Fourth Day; Samsung Rises on DRAM Prices

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks advanced for a
fourth day, led by Shinsegae Co., after local consumers became
the most confident in 15 months, adding to speculation increased
spending will extend the longest economic expansion in a decade.

Shares also gained after Woori Investment & Securities Co.
lifted its estimate for the Kospi index, citing faster earnings
growth and rising local demand for stocks. Samsung Electronics Co.
paced the climb.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News