Bonheur ASA, H. Lundbeck A/S and OMX AB Shares: Nordic Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or
decline in Nordic markets. Symbols follow company names and
prices are from the last close.

The Dow Jones Nordic 30 Index rallied 108.74, or 1.2
percent, to 9030.83, as all but two of its members gained. The
measure added 1.2 percent this month.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Yunnan Tin Agrees to Buy 5 Percent Stake in Australia's Metallica Minerals

(Bloomberg) -- Yunnan Tin Co., the world's largest
producer of the metal, agreed to buy 5 percent of Australia's
Metallica Minerals Ltd. for A$5.9 million ($4.9 million).

Yunnan's Australian unit will buy 5.38 million shares at
A$1.10 apiece to help Metallica fund a development study for its
nickel project, Brisbane-based Metallica said in a statement to
the Australian Stock Exchange. The agreement needs regulatory
approval in the next two months.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Lehman Completes Its Biggest Sale of Bonds Backed by Japan's Real Estate

(Bloomberg) -- Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., which
holds more than $2 billion of debt, property and other assets in
Japan, sold 78.7 billion yen ($646 million) of bonds backed by
real estate in the nation, its biggest sale of such securities.

Lehman sold the bonds to Japanese banks and other investors,
said Mark Gabbay, the firm's managing director in Tokyo. The
bonds were split into 10 portions with different credit ratings
and maturities, he said.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

TREASURIES-Drift lower in Asia before jobs data

(Reuters) - Implied prospects for a single rate cut this year fell below
30 percent from 44 percent overnight. At the start of May, the
market had priced in between one and two quarter-percentage point
cuts by year-end.




Investors remained on their guard as they believed strong
figures in high-profile non-farm payrolls data would trigger more
bond selling, pushing the 10-year yields towards the
psychologically important 5 percent level, traders said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

South Korea's Exports Increase 11.9 Percent in May, Faster Than Expected

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's exports rose more than
expected last month, stoked by sales of cars and mobile phones,
suggesting growth in Asia's third-largest economy may accelerate.

Exports climbed 11.9 percent in May from a year earlier
after surging 17.1 percent in April, the Ministry of Commerce,
Industry and Energy said today in Gwacheon, South Korea. That
beat the median estimate of 9 percent in a Bloomberg News survey
of 11 economists.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

U.S. Two-Year Notes Poised for Sixth Weekly Loss; New Jobs May Increase

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. two-year Treasury notes headed
for their sixth straight weekly drop on speculation a jobs
report today will indicate the economy is quickening after a
first-quarter slowdown.

The notes fell as a rally in stocks and gains in consumer
confidence and business activity led traders to trim bets the
central bank will cut interest rates this year. A sixth weekly
loss would be the longest losing streak since 2005 for the notes,
among the most sensitive to Federal Reserve rates.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Japan Teachers' Society May Invest in Government Bonds as Yields Increase

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Teachers' Mutual Aid Co-
operative Society, which provides insurance services for its
members, may invest directly for the first time in Japanese
government bonds to capture rising yields.

The 42-year-old organization earned a 1.64 percent return
on its 650 billion yen ($5.4 billion) of bond and stock
investments, which are made through money managers, in the year
through March 2006. Assets grew to 690 billion yen in the last
fiscal year.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

ASM, Bayer, Fiat, France Telecom, H. Lundbeck: European Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in European markets. Prices are from the last close.

The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 advanced 0.8 percent to 396.74. The
Dow Jones Stoxx 50 Index climbed 0.5 percent to 3933.16. The Euro
Stoxx 50 Index, a benchmark for the 13 nations using the euro,
increased 1 percent to 4512.65.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Mexico finmin has no precise tax reform timeline

(Reuters) - The government "still needs to work very closely with
Congress" on the tax reform plan, Carstens said.




He declined to comment on whether financial markets are
overly optimistic in their assessment that the government would
unveil its tax proposals "soon," as Mexican President Felipe
Calderon said on Tuesday.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Thailand's Economy May Grow at Slowest Pace in Two Years on Spending Drop

(Bloomberg) -- Thailand's economy probably grew at
the slowest pace in two years as consumers and companies curbed
spending amid worsening protests against the military-installed
government.

Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy expanded 3.7
percent in the three months ended March 31 from a year earlier,
according to the median estimate of 11 economists surveyed by
Bloomberg News. The economy grew 4.2 percent the previous period.
The report is due June 4 at 9:30 a.m. in Bangkok.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Brazil to mull forex steps after investment grade

(Reuters) - When credit rating agencies rate Brazil investment grade,
the inflows of dollars should grow, propping the national
currency up, he said.




Brazil's sovereign rating is just one notch below the key
grade and Wall Street banks forecast Brazil may join the
investment-grade club next year, although it could happen even
earlier.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-Pall Corp. quarterly earnings rise

(Reuters) - The company reported third-quarter profit of $67.1 million,
or 54 cents a share, compared with $25.2 million, or 20 cents a
share, a year earlier. Excluding items, it earned 53 cents a
share in the latest quarter.




Analysts had expected a profit of 43 cents per share,
before special items, according to Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-Another FDA delay for Labopharm pain drug

(Reuters) - Labopharm said it received a second approvable letter from
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, signaling the medicine
would not be approved until certain conditions are met. The
company said it was possible the agency would require
additional data before the drug could be approved.




The FDA said Labopharm had not demonstrated the efficacy of
its once-daily formulation of tramadol because statistical
methods used to analyze data from clinical trials did not
adequately address missing data relating to those who dropped
out and did not complete the study, the company said.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

Mitsui, Japan Shipping Shares Lead Rally, Cost Less Than Nikkei Average

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Japanese shipping lines
have soared 10 times more than the stock market this year. And
they're still cheap, says Toru Kitani, who is putting his money
where his mouth is.

``Growth in emerging markets is solid and demand is strong,
which is good for shipping lines,'' said Kitani, who oversees $3
billion at Sompo Japan Asset Management Co. in Tokyo and owns
``slightly more'' of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. than in his
benchmark.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News

RPT-TREASURIES-Strong economic data lift yields before jobs data

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, May 31 - U.S. government bond prices
slipped on Thursday, after robust economic data on the eve of
the government's employment report further curbed expectations
of an interest rate cut by year-end.




For a time, it looked as if bonds would suffer a sharper
loss, but prices found support at technical levels and that,
combined with some month-end buying, lifted prices from their
lows, analysts said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

KV Pharma fourth-quarter net revenue rises

(Reuters) - KV Pharma said it will report complete financial results
after it completes a review into its stock option award
practices.





Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Soybeans Fall From 35-Month High as Rain May Aid Development of U.S. Crop

(Bloomberg) -- Soybean futures in Chicago fell from
a 35-month high on speculation rains may reach dry fields from
Illinois to Ohio, improving seed germination and early
development of the second-biggest U.S. crop.

Midday updates from the National Weather Service indicated
some fields east of the Mississippi River, which received less
than 25 percent of normal rain in May, will get as much as
1.25 inches (3.2 centimeters) in two separate storms in the next
10 days, said Fred Gesser, senior global meteorologist for
Planalytics Inc. in Wayne, Pennsylvania.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

COMSYS IT to acquire Plum Rhino Consulting

(Reuters) - COMSYS said the deal is expected to add slightly to
earnings in 2007 and future years.





Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Peruvian Stocks Rebound, Gaining Most in 13 Years: World's Biggest Mover

(Bloomberg) -- Peru's main stock index rose the most in
more than 13 years as investors bet a selloff left some shares
cheap, given the prospect for profits driven by increased consumer
spending and high commodity prices.

The Lima General Index climbed 1537.42, or 8.3 percent, to
20,081.24, as of 3:05 p.m. New York time, its steepest gain since
November 1993 and the biggest move among global benchmarks.
Mexico's stock index rose to a record for a second day, led by
copper miner Grupo Mexico SAB and cement-maker Cemex SAB.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Wheat Rises to One-Month High as Rain Slows U.S. Harvest, Promotes Disease

(Bloomberg) -- Wheat in Chicago and Kansas City rose
to the highest in a month as wet weather in the U.S. southern
Great Plains slowed the harvest and damaged the winter crop.

Some fields from Texas to Kansas may receive as much as
three times the normal moisture in the next five days, T-Storm
Weather said. As much as four times the normal rain fell in the
region in the past 30 days, according to data from the National
Weather Service. Wet, warm weather promotes fungal diseases such
as leaf rust, reducing both yields and quality.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

JPMorgan quietly climbs subprime ladder

(Reuters) - "We don't do much in the subprime business -- at all," JPMorgan Chief Executive Jamie Dimon told investors earlier this month at the company's annual meeting. "It will be a good business, by the way."




Indeed, the No. 3 U.S. bank, along with other Wall Street companies, has stepped into a void triggered by a meltdown in the market for lending money to homebuyers with weak credit.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 3-Brazil confident on world trade deal

(Reuters) - BRASILIA, May 31 - Senior officials from Brazil
and the United States, adversaries in trade talks, voiced
optimism on Thursday that negotiations on a global trade deal
were gathering momentum despite remaining divisions.




Brazil's foreign minister said he was "rather confident" a
accord could be reached in coming weeks and said his country
was prepared to improve a tariff offer on manufactured goods.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-Columbia University reaches student loan settlement

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, May 31 - Columbia University on Thursday
reached a settlement with New York State's attorney general over
student loan practices that will require the school to pay $1.1
million into an educational fund and submit to financial aid
monitoring procedures.




Columbia and the financial aid officers' national association
also have agreed to abide by New York's code of conduct for
lending practices, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Mexican government says has no tax deal date

(Reuters) - "We don't know what date it might be," he told reporters.
"These are terms and dates the legislators themselves are also
working on. We are working on it."




Investor optimism about the anticipated tax review has
helped drive Mexican debt, currency and stock markets sharply
upward in recent days.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Dollar Heads for Best Month Versus Euro in More Than Year on U.S. Economy

(Bloomberg) -- The dollar headed for its biggest
monthly gain versus the euro in more than a year as signs of
economic strength reduced the likelihood of cuts in interest
rates this year by the Federal Reserve.

The U.S. currency rebounded from an all-time low in May on
reports showing gains in new home sales and manufacturing. The
central bank said in minutes of its May 9 meeting released
yesterday that it still expects a pickup in the economy this
year and views inflation as its main concern.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Morgan Stanley Sells CLO to Finance Nicaraguan Potters, Peru Shopkeepers

(Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley sold a $110 million
collateralized loan obligation that will help finance small
businesses in developing economies from Nicaraguan potters to
Peruvian shopkeepers.

The securities, which package loans and use the income to
pay investors, were bought by about 21 banks, hedge funds
insurance companies, money managers and mutual funds, Morgan
Stanley said today.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

UPDATE 1-UAW says Delphi talks continue, no timeline

(Reuters) - MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich., May 31 - The United Auto
Workers union remains in talks with parts supplier Delphi Corp.
on the terms for a labor agreement that would allow
the company to emerge from bankruptcy, UAW President Ron
Gettelfinger said on Thursday.




Gettelfinger declined to say whether the two sides had
moved any closer after the UAW submitted a counter-proposal to
Delphi and its former parent, General Motors Corp.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Circuit City to trim HQ jobs, shift store staff

(Reuters) - "The number of managers in the store will be based on store volume," the spokesman said. "We will be eliminating some positions and creating other positions. At the end of the day the number of people working in our stores will be about the same."




However, 200 jobs will be eliminated from the 3,100 at its Richmond, Virginia, headquarters, due to cost cutting. The company has about 46,000 employees in all.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Dendreon, Jo-Ann Stores, Navteq, Red Hat, Stifel: U.S. Equity Movers

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies
whose shares are having unusual price changes in U.S. exchanges
today. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names.
Share prices are as of 11:40 a.m. New York time.

A.G. Edwards Inc. (AGE US) jumped $10.55, or 14 percent, to
$87.70 and traded as high as $90.44. Wachovia Corp. (WB US), the
fourth-largest U.S. bank, agreed to buy the biggest full-service
brokerage based outside New York for about $6.8 billion in cash
and stock. The $89.50-a-share price tag is about 16 percent more
than A.G. Edwards's last close.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

CVS Caremark May same-store sales rise

(Reuters) - Same-store sales do not include the drugstores acquired on
June 2, 2006, which will be included in same store sales after
the one-year anniversary of the acquisition, CVS Caremark said
in a statement.





Read more at Reuters.com Market News

PAI withdraws from Altadis bid, CVC goes it alone

(Reuters) - CVC and PAI made a 50 euros a share preliminary bid for
Altadis on May 4, valuing the maker of Gauloises cigarettes at
12.8 billion euros .




Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

TREASURIES-Yields at 9-month high after strong data

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, May 31 - U.S. government bond prices
fell on Thursday, pushing benchmark yields to an August high,
after robust economic data further diminished hope of an
official interest rate cut by the end of the year.




The 10-year note's yield rose above 4.91 percent to its
highest level in nine months after a strong reading of Midwest
business activity.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Five Major Hurricanes May Form in Atlantic, University Forecasters Predict

(Bloomberg) -- Colorado State University forecasters
said five major hurricanes will form this season, and there's a
74 percent chance a storm will make landfall in the U.S.

The forecast released today reiterates the team's April
prediction for above-average tropical activity during the
Atlantic season, which officially starts tomorrow. Ten storms and
six hurricanes have formed, on average, during the June-November
season over the last 50 years.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

S.Africa April trade deficit widens to 5.7 bln rand

(Reuters) - South Africa's trade balance drifted further into deficit in April, recording a shortfall of 5.67 billion rand from a 2.7 billion rand gap in March, the South Africa Revenue Service said on Thursday.

The data follows two months of relatively small deficits and will keep pressure on the country's current account, which hit a shortfall of 7.8 percent of gross domestic product in the fourth quarter of 2006.


Read more at Reuters Africa

U.S. construction spending rose 0.1 pct in April

(Reuters) - Spending in March was revised up to a 0.6 percent gain from
a previous 0.2 percent advance, according to the U.S. Commerce
Department.




Construction spending in April was down 2 percent from the
same time a year ago.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

Crude Oil Is Little Changed After Unexpected Decline in U.S. Stockpiles

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil was little changed after a
government report showed an unexpected decline in U.S.
inventories.

Supplies of crude oil fell 1.96 million barrels to 342.2
million barrels in the week ended May 25, the Energy Department
reported. A gain of 1 million barrels was expected, according to
the median of 15 responses in a Bloomberg News survey.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Polish Economy Expanded at Fastest Rate in 10 Years in the First Quarter

(Bloomberg) -- The Polish economy accelerated at the
fastest pace since 1997 as rising demand for homes and consumer
goods fueled investment by companies while growth in the
European Union fed exports.

The economy grew an annual 7.4 percent in the first quarter
after expanding 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006,
exceeding the median estimate of 18 economists surveyed by
Bloomberg on May 9-31 of 7.3 percent. First-quarter growth in
the 13 countries that use the euro was 3.1 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Crude Oil Declines on Speculation Gasoline Inventories May Gain in U.S.

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil fell before a government
report that's expected to show U.S. gasoline inventories climbed
for a fourth week.

Gasoline stockpiles increased 1.5 million barrels in the
week ended May 25, according to the median of responses by 15
analysts before today's Energy Department report. Gasoline
stockpiles increased 3.6 million barrels in the three weeks ended
May 18. Refiners typically boost motor-fuel output before the
peak-demand summer-driving season, which began last weekend.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Malaysia Stocks Have Record Winning Streak on Ringgit, Palm Oil, Economy

(Bloomberg) -- Malaysia stocks, Southeast Asia's
most expensive, are the only ones in Asia that have risen for 11
straight months. The rally may have further to run as rising
government spending and wages lift earnings.

``We're a lot more bullish than some people on Malaysia,''
said Hugh Young, who oversees $35 billion as managing director
at Aberdeen Asset Asia Ltd. in Singapore. ``The market may not
be cheap, but we're bullish on what's happening in that
market.'' The firm this year added to its stake in Bumiputra-
Commerce Holdings Bhd., Malaysia's second-biggest bank, and owns
stock in British American Tobacco Bhd., the nation's biggest
cigarette maker.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News

German Unemployment Holds at Six-Year Low as Economic Growth Fuels Hiring

(Bloomberg) -- Germany's unemployment rate held at a
six-year low in May as growth in Europe's largest economy
encouraged companies to invest and hire.

The jobless rate, adjusted for seasonal swings, stayed at
9.2 percent for the third straight month, the Nuremberg-based
Federal Labor Agency said today. The adjusted number of people
out of work rose 3,000 to 3.86 million. Economists expected a
drop of 20,000, according to the median of 38 forecasts in a
Bloomberg News survey.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

First-quarter growth weakest in over 4 years

(Reuters) - The Commerce Department revised down its estimate for first-quarter expansion in gross domestic product, or GDP, to 0.6 percent from 1.3 percent that it estimated a month ago.




It was the slowest rate of quarterly growth since the fourth quarter of 2002 when the economy edged ahead at a 0.2 percent rate and was below Wall Street economists' forecasts for a 0.8 percent quarterly growth rate.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

Sears Holdings posts higher quarterly profit

(Reuters) - The Hoffman Estates, Illinois, retailer said earnings came to $216 million, or $1.40 a share, for the first quarter ended May 5, compared with $180 million, or $1.14 a share, a year earlier.



)


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

N.Hydro Q1 beats forecasts, helped by strong metal

(Reuters) - Operating profits at the oil, gas and aluminium producer
fell to 14.82 billion crowns in January-March
from 16.87 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.




The result beat an average forecast of 13.56 billion crowns
in a Reuters poll of 11 analysts whose estimates had ranged from
12.55 billion to 15.0 billion crowns.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

U.K. FTSE 100 Index Advances, Led by Johnson Matthey, HBOS, BHP Billiton

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks advanced, led by
Johnson Matthey Plc and HBOS Plc on broker recommendations.

BHP Billiton paced a rise in share of mining
companies. The world's largest mining company promoted
Marius Kloppers to chief executive officer, succeeding
Charles ``Chip'' Goodyear.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

US STOCKS-Futures edge up after Wachovia deal; GDP ahead

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, May 31 - U.S. stock futures rose on
Thursday after banking company Wachovia Corp. . After the initial 1.3 percent estimated rise,
economists on average expect the annual growth rate to be put
even lower at 0.8 percent.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Coke, Cargill team up on new sweetener: report

(Reuters) - Neither company specified development costs for rebiana, according to the report.




Coke did not immediately return a call seeking comment.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

European Stocks Climb to 6 1/2-Year High; Nokia, BHP, E.ON Pace the Gains

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks rallied, sending the
Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index to the highest since September 2000,
after E.ON AG said it will buy back $9.4 billion in shares and
Belgian billionaire Albert Frere bought a stake in Iberdrola SA.

E.ON and Iberdrola led utility shares to an all-time high.
Scottish & Southern Energy Plc rose after earnings beat analysts'
estimates. ASML Holding NV climbed the most in six weeks on plans
to pay cash to shareholders. BHP Billiton Ltd. paced a rebound in
mining stocks as copper advanced and the company named a new
chief executive officer.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Crude Oil Declines on Expectations U.S. Will Report Gasoline Supply Rising

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil fell before a report that's
expected to show U.S. gasoline supplies rose for a fourth week.

An Energy Department report today will probably show U.S.
gasoline stockpiles, which remain below their average levels,
gained 1.5 million barrels last week, while oil supplies rose for a
sixth week, according to a Bloomberg News survey of analysts.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

FTSE gains 0.6% early, helped by miners, realtors

(Reuters) - Britain's top share index rose on Thursday, helped by miners and real estate companies, and tracking gains in the United States where Federal Reserve minutes helped stocks recover from weakness sparked by a Chinese tax move.

At 0810 GMT, Britain's FTSE was up 0.7 percent, with mining stocks accounting for nearly a third of the index's gains.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Mr Price lifts year earnings by 27 pct

(Reuters) - South African fashion and homeware retailer Mr Price increased full-year diluted headline earnings by 27 percent to 183.6 cents per share, the company reported on Thursday, and said it had set new revenue and operating margin targets.

Revenue from continuing operations rose 24 percent to 6.1 billion rand.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Australian Dollar Gains Most in 11 Months as Global Stock Markets Rebound

(Bloomberg) -- The Australian dollar had the biggest
gain in 11 months as record U.S. stocks gave investors confidence
to buy higher-yielding assets.

The currency traded at a 15-year high against the yen,
headed for a third monthly advance, as investors borrowed at
Japan's low interest rates to buy Australian assets in so-called
carry trades. Rising equities in Asia and Europe may encourage
investors to take on more risk after yesterday's slump in China.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Dollar steady as U.S. data awaited for Fed clues

(Reuters) - Revised U.S. data on first-quarter growth at 1230 GMT is forecast to show a downward revision from the initial estimate, but the May non-farm payrolls report on Friday is expected to show a rise, while a snapshot of manufacturing activity, also due on Friday, is seen holding up well in May.




The dollar has clawed back from a record low hit against the euro in April and a 26-year low against the pound as worries about the U.S. economy's health have eased, reducing speculation of lower rates that would erode the greenback's yield appeal.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

Circuit City plans more job cuts: report

(Reuters) - Another 200 jobs will be eliminated at its Richmond, Virginia headquarters.




Circuit City did not immediately return a call seeking comment.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News