European Stocks May Decline; UBS, ING, Philips, BHP Billiton Might Drop

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks may fall, following
declines in Asia and the U.S., as concern mounts that losses in
the U.S. mortgage market will erode economic growth and raise
financing costs for companies.

UBS AG and ING Groep NV may lead financial stocks lower.
U.S.-traded shares of Royal Philips Electronics NV and Nokia Oyj
dropped as the dollar traded near a record low against the euro.
BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group declined in Australian
trading after copper fell in Shanghai.


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GLOBAL MARKETS-US jobs data hit stocks, dollar, boost bonds

(Reuters) - LONDON, Aug 3 - Stocks and the dollar fell while
safe-haven government bonds rallied on Friday after
weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs data fanned concerns about a U.S.
economy already struggling with credit liquidity fears.




U.S. stock futures pointed to a weaker open on Wall Street
while European stocks moved deeper in negative territory
after data showed U.S. employers boosted payrolls in July at the
slowest pace since February, adding 92,000 jobs.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

European Stocks Climb, Paced by Imperial Chemicals, Linde, BHP Billiton

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose for the first
time in five days, led by chemical makers and mining companies,
after Imperial Chemical Industries Plc rejected a sweetened bid
from Dutch rival Akzo Nobel NV and copper rose in London.

ICI jumped the most in more than a month. Linde AG, the
world's largest maker of industrial gases, also gained after
reporting earnings that topped analysts' estimates. BHP Billiton
Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group led mining shares higher.


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European Stocks Drop, Led by Volvo, Randstad; Hermes International Falls

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks fell for a second day
after earnings and forecasts from Volvo AB, Randstad Holding NV
and Hermes International SCA triggered concern profit growth is
faltering.

Volvo, the world's second-largest truckmaker, dropped the most
in more than a year after reporting profit that missed analysts'
estimates. Randstad tumbled 16 percent after the world's third-
largest staffing company said it's ``cautious'' for the third
quarter. Hermes International SCA fell after saying annual profit
will stagnate.


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European Stocks Advance; Depfa, Friends Provident, Barclays Climb

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose after Hypo Real
Estate Holding AG agreed to buy Depfa Bank Plc for 5.7 billion
euros ($7.9 billion) and merger talks between two U.K. insurers
revived speculation that takeovers in the region will continue.

Depfa soared 13 percent. Friends Provident Plc jumped the most
in more than two months and Resolution Plc headed for its biggest
gain since March after the companies said they are in talks for a
merger that would create the U.K.'s fifth-biggest insurer. Barclays
Plc climbed after it increased its bid for ABN Amro Holding NV.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

European Stocks Fall Amid Hedge-Fund Losses, Earnings Outlook; Total Drops

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks dropped this week
following three weeks of gains as investors speculated hedge-fund
losses at Bear Stearns Cos. may signal wider problems in credit
markets and the strong euro might erode earnings.

``There are fears more hedge funds might get into trouble,''
said Juergen Lukasser, who helps manage $20 billion as head of
equities at Constantia Privatbank AG in Vienna. ``After months of
smooth sailing the question of how much risk you're willing to
take has come back. In the long run this might lead to more risk
aversion, making it more difficult to finance takeovers.''


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European Stocks Advance; SAP, Roche, Vodafone, Actelion Lead the Gains

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose for the first
time in three days after profit from SAP AG and Roche Holding AG
beat analysts' estimates.

SAP and Roche joined Novartis AG among members of the Dow
Jones Stoxx 50 Index to report better-than-expected earnings so
far in this earnings season. Vodafone Group Plc gained after the
mobile-phone company said it added more subscribers than analysts
anticipated. Actelion Ltd. rallied the most in two years after
the biotechnology company said net income almost doubled.


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European Stocks Fall for First Time in Four Days; BG, Man Group Decline

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks dropped for the first
time in four days after analysts downgraded oil companies and
investors speculated mounting U.S. mortgage losses will hamper
growth in the world's largest economy.

BG Group Plc and Statoil ASA paced a retreat in energy
stocks after a brokerage recommended selling the shares. Man
Group Plc and Lafarge SA led declines by financial stocks and
exporters. Anglo American Plc and Antofagasta Plc followed copper
and nickel prices lower.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

European Stocks Fall for First Time in Four Days; BG, Deutsche Bank Drop

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks dropped for the first
time in four days after analysts downgraded oil companies and a
decline in metal prices pushed mining shares lower.

BG Group Plc and Statoil ASA paced a retreat in energy stocks
after a brokerage recommended selling the shares. Anglo American
Plc and Antofagasta Plc followed copper and nickel prices lower.
Deutsche Bank AG and Allianz AG led declines by financial stocks
before a report on U.S. producer prices that may provide clues
about inflation and the outlook for rates.


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European Stocks Advance, Led by ABN Amro, Barclays, BT Group, Glaxo

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose for a third day,
led by ABN Amro Holding NV after Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc
sweetened its 71.1 billion-euro ($98.1 billion) offer for the
Dutch lender, seeking to trump Barclays Plc.

ABN Amro jumped the most in three months. Barclays also
climbed. BT Group Plc, the U.K.'s largest phone company, and
drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline Plc rose after brokerages lifted their
recommendations on the shares.


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European Stocks Rise, Led by BHP Billiton, Anglo American; Univar Surges

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks climbed for a second
day, led by mining and telecommunications companies, after a
strike in Chile sent copper prices higher and Telekom Austria AG
raised its profit forecast.

BHP Billiton Ltd. and Anglo American Plc rose. Univar NV,
the largest distributor of chemicals in the U.S., surged to a
record after CVC Capital Partners offered to buy the company.
Royal Numico NV jumped on speculation Europe's biggest baby-food
maker may receive a takeover bid.


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European Stocks May Rise; BHP Billiton, Total, Cadbury, Lloyds May Gain

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks may advance for a
third day, led by BHP Billiton Ltd. and Total SA as metal prices
rose and oil traded near a 10-month high.

Cadbury Schweppes Plc might increase. Coca-Cola Co., the
world's largest soft-drink maker, may consider making a bid for
its Snapple fruit-beverage unit. Lloyds TSB Group Plc may climb
after Citigroup Inc. recommended buying shares of the U.K.'s
biggest provider of personal loans.


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Canada's Dollar Reaches Highest in Almost Two Weeks on Increase in Oil

(Bloomberg) -- The Canadian dollar rose to the
highest in almost two weeks on speculation an advance in crude
oil will lift the country's economic growth.

Investors also pushed up the Canadian dollar against the
yen as a rebound in Asia and European stocks encouraged
investors to seek higher-yielding assets funded by loans in
Japan, a practice known as the carry trade. Commodities
including oil make up about half of Canada's exports.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

European stocks extend dip after weak US goods data

(Reuters) - European stocks extended their losses on Wednesday, led by mining and banking shares, after May U.S. durable goods figures came in weaker than expected.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares traded down 0.8 percent at 1,573.9 points, close to its low for the session.


Read more at Reuters Africa

European Stocks Fall; Deutsche Bank, France Telecom, Anglo American Drop

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks declined for a third
day, led by financial shares and insurers, after the Bank for
International Settlements said central banks will need to keep
raising interest rates to quell inflation.

Deutsche Bank AG, Germany's largest bank, and insurer Axa SA
paced the drop. France Telecom SA fell the most in two weeks as
the French government is selling shares worth about 2.7 billion
euros ($3.6 billion). Anglo American Plc and Antofagasta Plc led
mining companies lower after Cazenove downgraded the stocks.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

European Stocks Decline on Ifo Report; BHP Billiton, Julius Baer Slide

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks dropped for a second
day after German business confidence fell more than economists
forecast in June, adding to signs that growth in Europe's largest
economy may slow.

BHP Billiton Ltd. led mining shares lower on concern China
will raise interest rates to cool the economy. Julius Baer
Holding AG declined the most in a year after UBS AG sold part of
its stake in the Swiss Bank, thwarting takeover speculation.
Deutsche Bank AG and Barclays Plc led a decline by banks on
concern that losses in the U.S. mortgage market may grow.


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GLOBAL MARKETS-Yen falls, Ifo hurts European equities

(Reuters) - European stocks dropped into negative territory after
Germany's Ifo economic research institute said its business
climate index dropped to 107.0 from 108.6 a month earlier.
Economists polled by Reuter had forecast 108.4.




The report undermined a mild rally in stocks that followed
losses on Thursday driven by fears of higher interest rates and
worries about the impact of troubles at two hedge funds managed
by Bear Stearns.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

European Stocks Decline on Ifo Report; Julius Baer, Maersk Lead Drop

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks dropped for a second
day after German business confidence fell more than economists
forecast in June, adding to signs that growth in Europe's largest
economy is slowing.

Julius Baer Holding AG fell after UBS AG sold part of its
stake in the Swiss Bank. A.P. Moeller-Maersk declined after the
company named a new chief executive officer. Pearson Plc rose after
the U.K. publisher abandoned a possible bid for Dow Jones & Co.


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European Stocks Drop; Air France, DaimlerChrysler, Nokia Lead the Decline

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks fell the most in two
weeks as rising oil prices pushed airlines, automakers and
chemical producers lower and Goldman, Sachs & Co. downgraded
shares of Nokia Oyj.

Air France-KLM Group, the region's largest carrier, carmaker
DaimlerChrysler AG and chemical company BASF AG led a retreat by
companies most sensitive to increasing energy costs. Nokia, the
world's biggest maker of mobile phones, had its biggest drop in
five months.


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European Stocks Drop, Led by Tesco, Carrefour; Ryanair Falls on Forecast

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks fell after Tesco Plc,
the U.K.'s largest supermarket operator, predicted a ``tougher
year'' because of higher interest rates and increased
competition. Marks & Spencer Plc and Carrefour SA declined.

Ryanair Holdings Plc led airlines lower after Europe's largest
low-cost carrier forecast a ``big downturn'' for the industry.
Invensys Plc gained after Citigroup Inc. recommended buying the
stock on prospects for higher profitability. Thales SA rose the
most in three months after the defense company was shortlisted for
a $2.7 billion contract from the U.S. Navy.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News