South Africa Oil Companies Improve Pay Offer to Try End Strike, Union Says

(Bloomberg) -- BP Plc, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and
other oil refiners in South Africa improved their wage offer to
local workers in a bid to end a strike that has led to fuel
shortages in Africa's largest economy.

``We can't say yet what the improvement is,'' Welile
Nolingo, secretary-general of the Chemical, Energy, Paper,
Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union (CEPPWAWU) said by phone
from Johannesburg today. ``We're still negotiating.''


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Barclays' ABN offer period runs until Oct 4 - filing

(Reuters) - The RBS-led consortium's offer is worth 71 billion euros
and 93 percent in cash, while Barclays
65-billion-euros offer is about 38 percent in cash.




ABN shareholders can tender shares under the Barclays offer
from Aug. 7 until Oct. 4, Barclays said in a filing to U.S.
regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission late on Friday.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

International Power says to buy Trinergy wind farms

(Reuters) - The portfolio comprises five wind farms in Germany and 31 in
Italy, three of which have yet to be constructed.




International Power said the cash element in the deal, which
will be also funded by debt, was 868 million euros.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

US July job growth slowest in five months

(Reuters) - The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent in July as employers added jobs at the slowest rate in five months and the government actually reduced its work force, the Labor Department said on Friday.

In another sign of slowing growth, the Institute for Supply Management reported the service sector grew more slowly in July as its index fell to 55.8 from 60.7 in June.


Read more at Reuters Africa

UPDATE 2-Blaming begins in Minneapolis bridge collapse

(Reuters) - MINNEAPOLIS, Aug 3 - The Minneapolis Fire Chief
said on Friday it was a miracle that only five people had so
far been confirmed dead in the collapse of one of the city's
main road bridges over the Mississippi River.




Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said outside experts would
review the decisions of state engineers to delay certain repair
work on the heavily traveled 40-year-old bridge, which crumpled
during evening rush hour on Wednesday.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-Alaska sets session to revisit disputed oil tax

(Reuters) - ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Aug. 3 - A new oil tax that is
a subject of a wide-ranging Alaska corruption investigation
will get a rewrite at a special legislative session on
Oct. 18, Gov. Sarah Palin said on Friday.




The Petroleum Profits Tax, enacted last year at the urging
of former Gov. Frank Murkowski, has proved less lucrative for
the state than advertised and has been clouded by revelations
about political corruption, Palin said at a Juneau news
conference.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Berkshire Hathaway profit rises 33 pct

(Reuters) - Operating profit, excluding gains from investments and derivatives, rose 22 percent to $2.51 billion, or $1,625 per share, from $2.05 billion, or $1,331.




Analysts on average had expected profit of $1,460 per share, according to Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News