Barclays Raises ABN Offer to $93.4 Billion With China, Singapore Funding

(Bloomberg) -- Barclays Plc, vying to buy ABN Amro
Holding NV in the biggest banking takeover, raised its offer to
67.5 billion euros ($93.4 billion) after securing investments
from the governments of China and Singapore.

Barclays's revised bid is worth 35.73 euros a share and
includes 37 percent cash, the London-based company said today,
4.3 percent more than its previous offer. The bid remains lower
than the 38.40 euro-a-share offer made last week by a trio of
banks led by Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

EDF, Faurecia, Klepierre, PPR, Nexity, Sopra, Vinci: French Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or
fall on the Paris stock exchange. Symbols are in parentheses
after company names and prices are from the close on July 20.

August futures on France's benchmark CAC 40 Index added 1.5
to 5977.5 at 8:15 a.m. in Paris.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Absa sees H1 headline EPS up 22-27 pct

(Reuters) - South Africa's biggest retail lender Absa expected first-half headline earnings per share to rise by as much as 27 percent, the group said on Monday.

Absa, majority owned by Britain's Barclays Plc, said in a trading statement that headline EPS and earnings per share for the six months to end June will rise between 22-27 percent.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Oil falls, OPEC concern on world economy

(Reuters) - London Brent crude currently seen as more representative of the world market, slid 36 cents to $77.28 a barrel by 0444 GMT, after easing 3 cents on Friday. U.S. crude for September traded 22 cents lower at $75.57.




The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is concerned about the potential impact of near-record oil prices on the world's economy, but has seen little sign that growth has been hit by higher energy costs, the group's president said on Sunday.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

US business outlook better than before, mixed-survey

(Reuters) - "We saw a mix of responses," said Ken Simonson, chief
economist at Associated General Contractors of America and an
analyst for the survey. "The tone was definitely more positive
than in the first quarter ... But it was not overwhelmingly
upbeat, particularly in the goods-producing sector."




The survey of 109 NABE members was conducted between June
18 and July 10 and looks forward to business prospects for the
balance of this year.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

Japan ready to accept IAEA inspectors after quake

(Reuters) - Japan's nuclear industry -- which supplies about one-third of
the country's electricity needs and is central to its efforts to
battle global warming -- has been tarnished by cover-ups of
accidents and fudged safety records.




The Japanese government had first told the International
Atomic Energy Agency that it did not need help for now,
but then came under pressure from local authorities to allow
inspections.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

Sri Lanka's Central Bank Keeps Key Rate Unchanged at Highest Level in Asia

(Bloomberg) -- Sri Lanka's central bank kept its
benchmark interest rate unchanged at the highest level in Asia
to help bring inflation below 10 percent.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka maintained its repurchase
rate at 10.5 percent for a fifth straight meeting, the Colombo-
based bank said in a statement today. Ten out of 11 analysts in
a Bloomberg News survey predicted the decision. One expected a
25 basis point cut.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News