Gold, Silver Prices Little Changed in Asia as Dollar Stabilizes Vs Euro

(Bloomberg) -- Gold was little changed in Asia
after falling for the first day in three yesterday as the
dollar's decline seemed to stall, reducing the precious metal's
appeal as an alternative investment. Silver was unchanged.

Gold generally moves in tandem with the euro, which fell
for the second day yesterday after reaching a record against the
dollar on July 13. Gold has gained 4.5 percent while the euro
has risen 4.4 percent against the dollar this year. Europe's
single currency traded at $1.3787 at 2:16 p.m. in Singapore
compared with an all-time high of $1.3814.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Dollar sluggish, nagged by subprime concerns

(Reuters) - The dollar hovered near a record low against the euro and its weakest in more than 20 years versus sterling and the New Zealand dollar on Tuesday as concern about the U.S. subprime market kept it under selling pressure.

The yen slipped, hitting a 16-year low against the Australian dollar as traders returning after a Japanese public holiday sold the low-yielding currency for assets in higher-yielding ones in what many in the market call the "carry" trade.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Tata Consultancy Predicts Operating Margin Improvement If Rupee Is Stable

(Bloomberg) -- Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.,
India's largest computer-services exporter, said it expects
operating margin to widen this financial year if the local
currency maintains its level.

``If the rupee is stable, we should be able to improve the
margin,'' Chief Executive Officer S. Ramadorai said in an
interview in Mumbai today, a day after the company announced its
first-quarter earnings. ``I think the rupee will be in the
region of 40 to 41 or so. The wages have been factored in. The
first quarter had the maximum impact in terms of wages.''


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

TREASURIES-Slip in Asia after gains on subprime jitters

(Reuters) - "The flight-to-quality characteristics of the market are
fading from the subprime story," said a Treasuries trader at a
European bank in Tokyo. "The problem is a lot of people in the
market are long, so they are less sensitive to ABX."




Treasuries have also gotten a boost as signs of cooling price
pressures have prompted investors to think the Fed's next move on
policy may be to cut interest rates from the current 5.25 percent
later this year or in 2008.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Accor, PPR, Aeroports de Paris, Soitec, PPR, Vinci: French Equity Preview

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

The benchmark CAC 40 Index gained 7.64, or 0.1 percent, to
6125.60. The broader SBF 120 Index also climbed 0.1 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-HSBC interested in KEB, contacted Lone Star-paper

(Reuters) - Continuing legal proceedings over Lone Star's 2003 purchase of KEB, however, have delayed a deal.




Citing people close to the situation, the Daily Telegraph reported that HSBC's expression of interest was "extremely preliminary and contingent upon a resolution of ongoing criminal investigations into KEB's sale in 2003 to Lone Star."


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

PetroChina's Share Rating Is Raised by Deutsche on China Share Sale, Oil

(Bloomberg) -- PetroChina Co. had its stock rating
raised by Deutsche Bank AG because climbing oil prices and a
Shanghai listing by the nation's biggest oil company are likely
to prompt further gains in its shares.

The stock was upgraded to ``buy'' from ``hold'' and the
target price increased to HK$13.38 from HK$12.21, Deutsche Bank
analysts David Hurd and Christine Pu wrote in a research note.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News