Thursday, April 5, 2007

UPDATE 3-Pet food recall expands, some dog biscuits pulled

(Reuters) - WASHINGTON, April 5 - The company at the center of a massive pet food contamination scare expanded its recall on Thursday to include products with earlier production dates and 27 more varieties sold in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Canada-based Menu Foods said its previously announced recall now extended to certain "cuts-and-gravy" style wet pet food manufactured from to Nov. 8 to March 6. The earliest production date had been Dec. 3.


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World Air to be bought by Global Aero Logistics for $315 mln

(Reuters) - Following the deal, Global Aero Logistics will operate three independent airlines: World Airways, North American Airlines and ATA Airlines.




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NEWSMAKER-Kerkorian wants another spin around Detroit

(Reuters) - As the German automaker now tries to undo that ill-starred purchase by selling the money-losing U.S. unit, the reclusive billionaire looks like he'll do quite nicely again.

That's no surprise to long-time Kerkorian watchers. Deal-making has been a recurring theme in the 89-year-old's life.


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UPDATE 1-MergerTalk: Unusual trading surrounds biggest deals

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, April 5 - Despite efforts by U.S. regulators to prevent trading on information obtained illegally, suspicions of such activity have marred some of the year's biggest takeovers, including the First Data Corp. deal announced this week.

The unusual activity reached across options, credit swaps and stocks in the days leading up to the credit and debit card payment processor's announcement of its planned sale to private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. for $26 billion.


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US STOCKS-Wall St rises with bid for Chrysler, lower oil

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, April 5 - U.S. stocks ended higher in light trading on Thursday, as a decline in oil prices and a proposed takeover of automaker Chrysler overcame caution before jobs data that held back share prices earlier.

News in the afternoon of a proposed offer for DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group by billionaire Kirk Kerkorian helped to lift indexes. Shares of General Motors also rose after the news, boosting the Dow. For details, see [ID:nN05210137]


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Foreign cenbanks big net buyers of Treasuries - Fed

(Reuters) - The breakdown of custody holdings showed overseas central banks bought $18.86 billion in Treasury debt, for a total $1.233 trillion.

The foreign institutions bought securities from government-sponsored agencies like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , adding $1.95 billion to their holdings, for a total $673.08 billion.


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US STOCKS-Wall St ends higher on Chrysler bid, lower oil

(Reuters) - The Dow Jones industrial average was up 29.66 points, or 0.24 percent, at 12,559.71. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 4.37 points, or 0.30 percent, at 1,443.74. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 12.65 points, or 0.51 percent, at 2,471.34.

For the week, the Dow was up 1.66 percent, the S&P rose 1.61 percent and the Nasdaq gained 2.05 percent.


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Jones Apparel mum on breakup speculation

(Reuters) - These announcements and other recent management changes bring a measure of uncertainty about the company's direction, according to some analysts including Merrill Lynch's Virginia Genereux, who downgraded the shares following Sotos' resignation.

Jones put itself up for sale last year, but then decided not to sell. At the time, a source said Jones could not find a buyer.


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Portugal market regulator OKs Millennium's BPI bid

(Reuters) - Shares of BPI had ended 0.8 percent lower at 6.55 euros on Thursday.

Although Millennium bcp has kept its bid so far unchanged, it can still alter its offer up to 10 days before the end of the period of the bid.


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Net $2.39 bln U.S. securities stripped in March

(Reuters) - The Treasury said $3.359 trillion in securities were eligible for stripping in March. Of the total, $196.94 billion were held in stripped form on March 31, compared with $194.55 billion at the end of the prior month.




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FACTBOX-Key facts about investor Kirk Kerkorian

(Reuters) - * Kerkorian, 89, was the largest investor in Chrysler before Germany's Daimler-Benz bought it for almost $40 billion in 1998. In 1996, he had launched an unsuccessful bid for Chrysler.

* Estimated by Forbes magazine to have a fortune of about $15 billion, he was born in 1917 in California to Armenian immigrant parents. The youngest of four children, he dropped out of school and boxed before joining the Royal Air Force to fly supply planes from Canada to Britain during World War Two.


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US STOCKS-Wall St gains with bid for Chrysler, lower oil

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, April 5 - U.S. stocks rose in light trading before a holiday weekend on Thursday, as a decline in oil prices and a proposed takeover of automaker Chrysler tempered caution before jobs data.

News in the afternoon of a proposed offer for DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group by billionaire Kirk Kerkorian helped to lift indexes. Shares of General Motors also rose after the news, boosting the Dow. For details, see [ID:nN05210137]


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TREASURIES-Bonds fall on worries about upward job surprise

(Reuters) - Moreover, data showing improvement in U.S. Midwest factory activities and news of slightly higher plane orders for Boeing in March caused some players to consider the economy may not be as weak as was thought, analysts said.

"There is a whisper going on out there of the number coming out above 200,000 ... Just a rumor of a stronger number in a shortened session" could explain why Treasury prices were slipping, said Josh Stiles, bond strategist with IDEAglobal in New York.


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Qwest founder tell jurors Nacchio wanted to quit

(Reuters) - Defense attorneys said the testimony from Philip Anschutz showed that Nacchio couldn't have been planning to commit a crime if he wanted to leave the company.

In a rare public appearance, Anschutz said Nacchio asked for a private meeting with him in January of 2001 during which Nacchio told him of his oldest son David's suicide attempt and said he wanted to resign.


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US STOCKS-Wall St edges up; caution before jobs data

(Reuters) - Investors were cautious before jobs data on Friday that could shed light on the economy and outlook for profits. It follows this week's report on a gauge of the U.S. service sector, which showed anemic growth and a rise in price pressures.

The stock market will be closed on Friday for Good Friday, but the U.S. government will release non-farm payrolls data.


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Kerkorian offering $4.5 bln for Chrysler-spokeswoman

(Reuters) - Sources close to the situation have told Reuters that private equity groups Cerberus Capital Management [CBS.UL] and Blackstone Group [BG.UL] plus Canadian car parts group Magna International Inc. are front-runners to buy Chrysler.




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GLOBAL MARKETS-Dollar falls to 2-yr low vs euro, jobs data eyed

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, April 5 - The dollar fell to a two-year low against the euro on Thursday, while U.S. stocks were little changed as crude oil prices stayed near $64 a barrel.

U.S. Treasury debt prices were steady, with government bonds little moved by a report showing a higher-than-expected rise in the number of U.S. workers filing first-time claims for jobless benefits last week.


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US STOCKS-Wall St flat as oil, data spur caution

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, April 5 - U.S. stocks were little changed on Thursday as crude oil prices stayed near $64 a barrel and investors were cautious before jobs data that could shed light on the economy and outlook for profits.

Oil has held its recent gains even though Iran freed British troops held captive, easing political tensions. High oil raises concern about inflation and the depressing effect on economic growth, analysts said.


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UPDATE 1-National Grid reaches tentative labor agreement

(Reuters) - National Grid also said the union has agreed to support its merger with KeySpan.

The agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 97, which represents National Grid's 3,210 unionized employees in New York, provides for wage increases of 3 percent for each year of the extension and runs to March 31, 2011.


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UPDATE 1-U.S. not stalked by recession -IMF chief economist

(Reuters) - "We do not think that the U.S. is heading toward a recession," IMF chief economist Simon Johnson told a news conference to discuss the first chapters of the fund's semi-annual World Economic Outlook, which will be released in full on April 11.

"Our message on the U.S. economy and world economy is really quite positive," he said, adding that the main weak spot in the United States was its cooling housing sector.


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Retailers, FBI launch crime-tracking database

(Reuters) - The effort brings together two powerful industry trade groups -- the National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association -- that had developed separate online databases used by retailers such as Macy's, Sears, and Limited Brands Inc.

But with organized crime rings becoming more sophisticated and a federal law mandating that the FBI work with retailers to set up a national database, the trade groups announced on Thursday they have joined together to support the Law Enforcement Retail Partnership Network, or LERPnet. It is scheduled to launch on April 9.


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UPDATE 1-S&P affirms Kazakhstan ratings but warns of risks

(Reuters) - It also said that a "significant deterioration" in the political climate of the oil-exporting country could trigger a downgrade of its ratings -- currently "BBB" for its long-term foreign-currency debt and "BBB+" for its local-currency debt.

"Deterioration of the government's financial position due to sharp oil price declines, substantial increases in already-high inflation or weaker asset quality for banks could result in downward pressure on the ratings," Standard & Poor's said in a statement.


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US pilot union wants to reopen airline contracts

(Reuters) - The ALPA move would affect contracts at US Airways Group Inc. and UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, which have emerged from bankruptcy protection, and would include Northwest Airlines Corp. and Delta Air Lines Inc. , both expected to emerge from bankruptcy this spring.




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S&P ups Oracle Corp ratings on recent acquisitions

(Reuters) - The business software company has been buying competitors to take on its German rival SAP .

These include the recently announced Hyperion Solutions Corp. along with Siebel Systems Inc. and Peoplesoft Inc., according to S&P.


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CVC group tables 9.5 bln stg Sainsbury bid -Times

(Reuters) - The Web site headline "CVC tables preliminary offer for J. Sainsbury" linked to a story saying that the bid was expected to be filed today with the headline "J. Sainsbury bid closer as KKR pulls out".

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Ford CEO Mulally gets $28.18 mln '06 compensation

(Reuters) - Chairman Bill Ford, who was CEO for the first eight months of 2006, did not receive any cash salary, bonus, or stock awards for 2006 as he had made a commitment in 2005 to forgo any new remuneration until the auto unit made sustained profits.

However, the company took an expense of $9.95 million last year related to Bill Ford's previous stock and option awards.


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RPT-U.S. accounting change sparks mortgage bond sales

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, April 4 - A new U.S. accounting rule that allows companies to change the way they value financial securities may have driven up to $20 billion worth of selling in the mortgage-backed securities market in recent weeks.

This accounting change has opened up a one-time chance for banks and other financial companies to clean up their balance sheets, especially those saddled with investment losses stemming from the subprime mortgage crisis, analysts said.


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Puma shares extend gains on bid talk from PPR: traders

(Reuters) - Puma declined to comment.

Puma shares were up 6.8 percent at 304.44 euros at 1155 GMT, while Germany's mid cap index was up 0.3 percent.


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Tweeter Home same-store sales fall 13 pct in Q2

(Reuters) - Total revenue from continuing operations for the quarter fell 12 percent to $139 million compared with $158 million in the same period last year, the home electronics retailer said in a statement.




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US STOCKS-Futures little changed before holiday, data

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, April 5 - U.S. stock futures pointed to a flat open on Thursday, with the market likely to pause after recent gains and before Friday's March employment report that should provide clues about the economy and profit picture.

A decision by China to increase reserve requirements for banks for a sixth time since June could also spur some caution, according to analysts. The move was intended to mop up excess liquidity. For details, see [ID:nPEK269398].


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UPDATE 1-Toyota says Q1 China sales up 66 pct

(Reuters) - SHANGHAI, April 5 - Toyota Motor Corp. sold 66 percent more vehicles in mainland China and Hong Kong in the first quarter than a year earlier, helped largely by brisk demand for locally made Camry sedans.

Toyota, which competes with Honda Motor Co. and other global carmakers in China, sold 103,000 vehicles in the market during the three-month period, including 2,700 units in Hong Kong, a company official told Reuters on Thursday.


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US STOCKS-Futures flat before holiday, jobs data

(Reuters) - China's decision to increase reserve requirements for banks for a sixth time since June to mop up excess liquidity could also spur some caution, according to analysts. For more details, see [ID:nPEK269398].

In deal news, U.S. phone company AT&T Inc. is open to Italian partners in Telecom Italia where it is discussing a stake in the controlling shareholder, according to a report in Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper. [ID:nL05649674]


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Gold near 5-week high, eyes U.S. dollar

(Reuters) - Traders said gold would be supported by a steady dollar and slightly firmer oil prices, and a large sell-off was unlikely ahead of the Easter holiday.

Spot gold hit a high of $674.70 an ounce before easing to $672.40/673.40 by 0951 GMT, versus $673.80/674.30 late in New York on Wednesday, when it jumped to its highest since March 1 at $675.80 on a weak U.S. dollar.


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Puma shares up over 4 percent on bid talk: traders

(Reuters) - "There are takeover rumors in the market. But we've got nothing concrete, neither a name of a potential bidder nor a price," a trader said.

Puma had no comment.


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RPM International posts quarterly profit vs. loss

(Reuters) - Analysts, on average, had forecast earnings of 7 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.




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Meiji Yasuda to stay mainly neutral on foreign bonds

(Reuters) - The insurer plans to reinvest around 70 billion yen in maturing unhedged foreign bonds in 2007/2008 and may buy more unhedged foreign bonds if the yen strengthens beyond 115 yen to the dollar, Yasuharu Takamatsu, a deputy president said.

"We'd like to buy if the yen climbs beyond 115 to the dollar. It's difficult to buy at current levels," he told reporters.


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GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks slip, oil firms; eyes on U.S. payrolls

(Reuters) - LONDON, April 5 - Stocks dipped but stayed within striking distance of record highs while the dollar held steady on Thursday before Easter holidays and U.S. jobs data.

Oil prices firmed slightly as a big drop in U.S. gasoline stocks offset the impact of the release of 15 British sailors and marines who had been held by Iran, ending a two-week drama that had compounded nerves over Iran's nuclear programme.


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Boart Longyear shares fall in Australia debut

(Reuters) -

By Geraldine Chua


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UPDATE 1-Universal Salvage recommends 57 mln stg Copart bid

(Reuters) - Copart said the 200 pence per share deal represented a premium of 5.3 percent to the Universal Salvage share price on Feb. 1, the day before the group said it was in talks, and would allow it to expand further into the UK market.

" will allow Copart to expand its operations into the UK and the combination of both businesses will allow us to provide an improved service to our customers," Copart President Jayson Adair said.


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AT&T open to Italian partners in Telecom - report

(Reuters) - MILAN, April 5 - AT&T is open to Italian partners in Telecom Italia , where it is discussing a stake in the controlling shareholder, the U.S. phone giant's corporate development head told a newspaper.

"We are absolutely ready to take into consideration the interests of Italian industrial and financial partners," Rick Moore, managing director for corporate development at AT&T, told Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview published on Thursday.


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Google's executive billionaires take $1 salaries

(Reuters) - In the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Web search leader said Schmidt received further compensation for $532,755 for personal security. The report did not detail the nature of the security costs. Another $22,456 went to offset taxes on aircraft chartered for Schmidt for Google business where family or friends flew along, it said.

Page received other compensation of $33,195 for transportation, logistics and personal security during personal travel and $3,600 for personal travel using rental vehicles.


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First Quantum says resumes Congo ore exports

(Reuters) - First Quantum Minerals Ltd said on Wednesday it had resumed trucking copper ore from Congo to Zambia for processing after an export ban was lifted, but a Congo provincial governor said the ban continued.

Katanga Province Governor Moise Katumbi closed the border with neighbouring Zambia to trucks transporting raw copper and cobalt ore on March 3, seeking to force mining companies to produce value-added processed products inside Katanga.


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Oil prices firm, gasoline offsets news from Iran

(Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Thursday, drawing support from a big drop in U.S. gasoline stocks that offset the impact of oil producer Iran's release of 15 British sailors and marines.

U.S. light crude for May delivery was 24 cents higher at $64.62 a barrel by 0843 GMT, while London Brent crude was up 45 cents at $68.85.


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S.Africa's Q4'06 non-farm employment, earnings rise

(Reuters) - South Africa's formal sector created 107,000 non-farming jobs in the fourth quarter of 2006, official data showed on Thursday, pointing to faster economic growth filtering through to the job market.

Economic growth in Africa's biggest economy has accelerated over the past few years but it has so far had only a marginal impact on an official jobless rate of 25.5 percent.


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