European Stocks May Rise; ABB, Pernod Ricard May Gain on Earnings, Outlook

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks may advance for the
first time in three days after ABB Ltd., the world's largest builder
of electricity networks, and Apple Inc. of the U.S. reported
earnings and sales that were higher than analysts estimated.

Pernod Ricard SA will probably gain after the world's
second-largest liquor company said annual profit will top
analysts' expectations. Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe's biggest
oil company by market value, and European Aeronautic Defence &
Space Co., parent of planemaker Airbus SAS, also reported better-
than-expected profit.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.K. FTSE 100 Benchmark Index Declines, Led by HSBC, HBOS; Shell, BP Drop

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks fell for a second day,
led by HSBC Holdings Plc and HBOS Plc on concern losses in
subprime mortgages in the U.S. will erode economic and earnings
growth.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BP Plc dropped after Goldman,
Sachs & Co. downgraded the shares and crude oil retreated.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

European Energy Stocks, Shell May Advance; UBS,Roche Shares May Decline

(Bloomberg) -- European oil stocks may rise as
Deutsche Bank AG raised its price estimates for companies
including Royal Dutch Shell Plc, BP Plc and Total SA.

UBS AG fell in pre-market trading after the world's biggest
money manager ousted Chief Executive Officer Peter Wuffli. Roche
Holding AG will probably drop after the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration said babies are at increased risk of death if they
are given the drugmaker's Rocephin along with products containing
calcium.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Gazprom-Shell Venture Tests Russia's First Liquefied-Gas Processing Plant

(Bloomberg) -- An OAO Gazprom and Royal Dutch Shell
Plc joint venture said they started testing a liquefied natural
gas plant at Sakhalin, eastern Russia, a further step toward the
country's first LNG export sales, scheduled for 2008.

The LNG facility at the Sakhalin-2 project will be
commissioned, or tested, using gas from Shell's LNG tanker
Granosa, which docked at the plant's jetty in Prigorodnoye
earlier today, the Sakhalin Energy Investment Co. venture said
in a statement.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

European Stocks Rise, Heading for Quarterly Gain; BP, Swatch Pace Advance

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks gained, heading for a
fourth consecutive quarterly advance.

BP Plc and Royal Dutch Shell Plc rose as oil traded near a
nine-month high. Swatch Group AG, the world's largest watch
maker, rallied after Deutsche Bank AG advised investors to buy
the shares.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Oman Oil to Boost Qarn Alam Field Oil, Gas Output Through Steam Injection

(Bloomberg) -- Petroleum Development Oman, a state-
owned company in which Royal Dutch Shell Plc is the largest
foreign investor, signed two agreements to increase output from
the aging Qarn Alam oil and gas field through steam injection.

Dodsal Group, an Indian construction company based in the
United Arab Emirates, will drill 150 wells and build a water
treatment plant at Qarn Alam, Petroleum Development Oman said in
a statement late yesterday.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News