U.S. Treasuries Are Little Changed on Growth Concern as Stocks Decline

(Bloomberg) -- Treasuries were little changed as
global stocks fell and speculation increased that losses tied to
subprime mortgages will slow economic growth.

Ten-year notes may extend their gains into a fifth week
after the risk of owning corporate bonds rose and a report showed
employers added fewer jobs than expected last month. Investors
increased bets the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates as
soon as October.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

ICI opens books to Akzo after raised $16.3 bln bid

(Reuters) - ICI, the maker of Dulux paints, said the new proposal was 670 pence a share in cash, up from the 650 pence a share it rejected last week.




"The board of ICI has agreed that Akzo can undertake certain limited due diligence, which ICI expects to be completed within a few days," it said in a statement.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

U.K. Natural Gas Falls on Lower Demand Forecast; Pipeline Flips to Export

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. natural gas costs declined as a
drop in demand prompted a switch in the direction of flows on a
pipeline connecting England with mainland Europe.

Gas for delivery intraday slipped 3.4 percent to 28.25
pence a therm, according to prices on Bloomberg from the broker
ICAP Plc. The day-ahead price fell 2.6 percent to 28.5 pence a
therm. That's equivalent to $5.83 a million British thermal
units. A therm is 100,000 Btus.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Akzo Nobel sweetens takeover bid for ICI

(Reuters) - "It would also allow Akzo Nobel to return further cash to
its shareholders," Akzo said, adding that Henkel would pay 2.7
billion pounds , calculated on a cash and debt
free basis, for ICI's adhesives and electronic materials
businesses.




Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

FTSE dips, tracking Wall St. on credit concerns

(Reuters) - Britain's top share index dipped early on Monday on fresh concerns over global credit markets after Bear Stearns said it was weathering the worst storm in financial markets in more than 20 years.

At 0738 GMT, the FTSE 100 was down 21.1 points, or 0.34 percent, at 6,203.2, having closed 1.2 percent lower on Friday.


Read more at Reuters Africa

U.K.'s FTSE 100 Drops for Second Day; Northern Rock, Rolls-Royce Retreat

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks fell for a second day.
Northern Rock Plc, a mortgage lender, and Rolls-Royce Group Plc,
the world's second-biggest aircraft-engine maker, led the
retreat.

The FTSE 100 Index declined 56.2, or 0.9 percent, to 6168.1
at 8:04 a.m. in London.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

European Government Bonds Advance as Asian Stocks Slide on Subprime Losses

(Bloomberg) -- European government bonds rose for a
second day as Asian stocks slid on concern U.S. subprime mortgage
losses will slow economic growth and drive up global financing
costs.

Gains in bunds pushed benchmark 10-year yields to near the
lowest since May as investors sold riskier assets and sought the
relative safety of government debt. Bear Stearns Cos. ousted Co-
President Warren Spector after credit-market losses and eroding
investor confidence.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News