BA profit rise beats forecasts, warns on revenues

(Reuters) - LONDON, Aug 3 - British Airways posted a 28 percent rise in quarterly operating profit on Friday to beat analysts' forecasts, but warned a weak dollar and soaring fuel prices would slow full-year revenue growth and raise costs.



Earnings before interest and taxes for the three months to end-June rose to 263 million pounds , BA said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

LSE eyes $1 bln for shareholders after Italy deal

(Reuters) - In a circular to shareholders published on Monday, the London Stock Exchange said the deal included the possibility of up to 350 million pounds being used in the merger and that it had arranged appropriate banking facilities.



"On the assumption that this cash will not be required for the purposes of the merger, the board of London Stock Exchange plans to use this cash, together with the 96 million pounds remaining from the previously announced share buy-back programme, to return 500 million pounds to its shareholders," the LSE said in its circular.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

HDG Mansure to Sell Shares in Islamic Property Fund in Dubai and London

(Bloomberg) -- HDG Mansur Capital Group LLC, an
investment company managing about $2.4 billion of property assets,
plans to sell shares in an Islamic real-estate fund in Dubai and
London to raise at least $400 million.

HDG Mansur, which has offices in the U.K. and U.S., will
list its Al-Umran Global Property Fund Ltd. as a company on the
Dubai International Financial Exchange, it said in a statement on
its Web site today. The fund's shares will also trade through
global depositary receipts on the London Stock Exchange.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Platinum Rises for First Time in Five Sessions in London; Palladium Drops

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum rose for the first time in five
sessions in London as industrial buyers deemed that a drop to the
lowest in eight weeks yesterday was exaggerated. Palladium fell.

Platinum, used in jewelry and car exhaust systems, fell to
$1,253.75 an ounce yesterday, the lowest since April 10, partly
on fading prospects for investment demand to soak up increased
supplies of the metal. Prices have dropped 3.1 percent since
securities backed by platinum were introduced on April 24 on the
London Stock Exchange followed by the SWX Swiss Exchange. The
metal rose to a record $1,402.50 an ounce in November on
speculation the so-called ETFs would put a squeeze on supply.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Nasdaq, Foiled on LSE Purchase, Will Acquire Sweden's OMX for $3.7 Billion

(Bloomberg) -- Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. agreed to buy
Sweden's OMX AB for 25.1 billion kronor ($3.7 billion) after
failed attempts to acquire London Stock Exchange Plc left the
U.S. company behind in the race to expand into Europe.

Nasdaq offered 208.1 kronor for each share in Stockholm-
based OMX, the companies said in statement today. Nasdaq will pay
with 0.502 new share and 94.3 kronor in cash for each share in
OMX, Europe's fifth-largest stock exchange.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News