Treasuries Rise Before Reports on Consumer Price Inflation, Housing Starts

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. Treasuries rose before
government reports this week that economists said will show
consumer prices slowed in June and home building declined.

Notes have risen in the past week as losses tied to subprime
mortgages fed speculation that a cooling in the U.S. housing
market will hurt the world's biggest economy. Federal Reserve
Chairman Ben S. Bernanke may speak about housing during
congressional testimony July 18 and 19.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Gold steady near 5-week high, Tokyo market shut

(Reuters) - Gold held steady on Monday and was within sight of a five-week high hit last week but overall trading was sluggish in the absence of Japanese investors.

Other precious metals were mostly higher, with silver hovering near Friday's three-week highs. Tokyo's precious metals futures were closed for the Marine Day holiday.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Bank of America Earnings Trail as Citigroup, JPMorgan, Merrill Go Abroad

(Bloomberg) -- Bank of America Corp. does more
business in the U.S. than any of its competitors, and that's
eroding returns for shareholders of the Charlotte, North
Carolina-based company.

Demand for financial services is increasing three times as
fast outside the U.S., fueled by companies and investors in
Brazil, China, India and Russia. While Bank of America operates
in 45 countries, they produce only 13 percent of its revenue.
That's puny compared with Citigroup Inc., which derives almost
half its sales from abroad and ranks among the biggest banks in
Mexico, Poland and South Korea.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Eletropaulo, Marcopolo, Sonda, Telmex, America Movil: Latin Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may make
significant gains or losses in Brazil, Chile and Mexico
today. Symbols are in parentheses after the company name, and
stock prices are from the last session.

In Brazil, preferred shares are the most commonly traded
class of stock.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korea, EU to Seek Progress on Free-Trade Agreement as WTO Hopes Fade

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea and the European Union
aim to move closer this week to a free-trade agreement that would
strengthen their 61 billion-euro ($84 billion) relationship while
creating jobs and fueling economic growth.

The EU wants greater access to South Korea's markets for
cars, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals and machinery. South
Korea wants EU duties slashed on electronics and auto parts, and
more access to audio-visual industries such as broadcasting and
films. An agreement, which may come within a year, follows on the
heels of a U.S.-South Korea free-trade accord, or FTA.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

China Xi'an Aircraft to sell up to $872 mln in shrs

(Reuters) - Proceeds will fund the purchase of 3.07 billion yuan of civil
aviation assets from the parent firm and other aviation projects,
it said.




Xi'an Aircraft International, which like its parent company
is part of state aircraft maker AVIC I, is also a supplier of
parts for the country's first self-developed regional jet, the
ARJ21, due for its maiden test flight next Spring.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

China's Refined-Copper Imports Decline in June From May, Customs Reports

(Bloomberg) -- China's copper imports, the biggest
in the world, fell 6.1 percent in June from May as rising prices
made shipments of the metal unprofitable.

Refined copper and alloy imports were 121,991 metric tons
last month, the Beijing-based customs office said in a statement
today, citing preliminary data. This compares with 129,949 tons
in May and 69,715 tons in June 2006, according to Bloomberg data.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Dollar Trades Near Record Low Versus Euro Before Fed Manufacturing Report

(Bloomberg) -- The dollar traded near a record low
against the euro before U.S. central bank report today that will
probably show a manufacturing slowdown, adding to speculation the
Federal Reserve will lower interest rates.

The U.S. currency also may decline for a third day against
the yen after Iran last week asked Japanese refiners to use their
own currency to pay for crude oil purchases. Iran's request is
``effective immediately,'' according to a letter dated July 10
and obtained by Bloomberg News. Iran's central bank in March said
it was cutting its U.S. dollar reserves.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Asian Stocks Rise in U.S. Trading; Posco, Alumina Shares Gain on Takeovers

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks rose in U.S. trading after
Posco bought its shares to fend off takeovers and Alumina Ltd.
gained amid speculation more acquisitions may take place in the
aluminum industry.

The Bank of New York Co.'s Asia ADR Index, tracking the
region's American depositary receipts, added 0.2 percent to 174.64,
rounding out the week with a 1.7 percent gain. That's the
benchmark's third consecutive weekly advance.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

First Solar shares may be overvalued - Barron's

(Reuters) - Barron's said though First Solar's technology is more
cost-effective than competitors, it still falls short of the
huge potential for Solar 2.0, a thin-solar energy technology
based on chemicals and vapor deposition.




First Solar is also highly dependent on European government
subsidies, especially in Germany, which said two weeks ago it
wants to cut subsidies further for solar, Barron's reported.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Arpida superbug drug benefits confirmed in trial

(Reuters) - The Phase III trials were designed to compare the efficacy
and safety of iclaprim in the treatment of skin infections with
that of market leader linezolid, marketed by Pfizer as Zyvox.




"The pre-specified primary efficacy endpoint of statistical
non-inferiority in the clinical cure rate at the Test-Of-Cure
visit was achieved," Arpida said.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

RPT-Wall St Week Ahead: Stocks to ride robust earnings wave

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 15 - Stock market bulls are
betting strong second-quarter profits will send equities even
higher with the earnings reporting season in full swing this
week.




Rising energy and food prices coupled with uneven retail
sales are not likely to slow down investors as they test the
market's limits. At the same time, the financial sector is
expected to avoid major losses from the subprime sector.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

Zimbabwe to freeze prices indefinitely - report

(Reuters) - Zimbabwe's government will this week enforce an indefinite price freeze in a bid to rein in runaway inflation that has ravaged consumers and increased political tensions, official media reported on Sunday.

President Robert Mugabe's government has ordered a roll back of all prices to June 18 levels after accusing businesses of unjustified increases and has formed a crack team that includes the police and military, to enforce the directive.


Read more at Reuters Africa