JGB futures hit 10-wk high as investors seek safety

(Reuters) - September futures surged 0.55 point to 133.97, the
highest since late May, after Treasuries rose late last week on
persistent worries about problems in the U.S. subprime market.




Such concerns battered U.S. stocks then and Standard &
Poor's 500 index and the Nasdaq Composite Index
on Friday posted their worst one-day percentage drops since a
global sell-off in equities in late February.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

France's CAC 40 Index Erases 2007 Gains; Renault and PPR Lead the Decline

(Bloomberg) -- French stocks declined, with the
benchmark CAC 40 Index erasing this year's gains. Renault
SA, the country's second-largest carmaker, PPR SA, the
owner of Gucci Group, paced the retreat.

The CAC 40 dropped 62.49, or 1.1 percent, to 5535.40
as of 9:12 a.m. in Paris, taking its performance this year
to a loss of 0.1 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Australia, New Zealand Dollars Decline as Carry Trades Cut on Stock Slide

(Bloomberg) -- The Australian and New Zealand
dollars fell a second day against the yen as global stocks slid
on concern U.S. mortgage losses will worsen, deterring investors
from buying higher-yielding assets funded by loans in Japan.

New Zealand's dollar has weakened 7.5 percent versus the
yen in the past month, the most among the 16 most-active
currencies, and Australia's retreated 5 percent, as traders
pared positions in so-called carry trades. Asian shares declined
today after The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell the most in
five months in New York on Aug. 3.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Fortis, Impreglio, Munich Re, SES Global, Thomson: 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 fell 1.3 percent to 372.03. The Dow
Jones Stoxx 50 Index fell 1.4 percent to 3718.31. The Euro Stoxx
50 Index, a benchmark for the 13 nations using the euro, declined
1.4 percent to 4229.19.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Intel, Cisco, J&J Lure Value Funds as Price Ratios Converge Most in Decade

(Bloomberg) -- Intel Corp., Cisco Systems Inc. and
Johnson & Johnson, perennial favorites of money managers seeking
U.S. stocks with the fastest profit growth, are becoming staples
for so-called value investors.

Shares of growth companies in the Standard & Poor's 500
Index trade at an average 16.3 times estimated earnings, while
value stocks, those priced at a discount to the market or their
historical average, trade at 14 times profits. The gap between
them, now 2.3 points, has narrowed from 25.5 at the beginning of
the decade, data compiled by Bloomberg show.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Australian Stocks Extend Declines; Macquarie Bank, BHP Billiton Lead Slide

(Bloomberg) -- Australia's benchmark stock index, the
S&P/ASX 200 Index, fell 0.84 percent at 10:05 a.m.

The index of 201 companies traded on the Australian Stock
Exchange fell 50.60 to 5,970.40. Among the stocks in the index,
34 rose, 159 fell and 8 were unchanged.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Banks, BHP, Lipa, Oxiana, Woodside Petroleum: Australian Stock Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies
whose shares may rise or fall in Australia. This preview includes
news announced after markets closed on Aug. 3. Prices are from the
Aug. 3 close unless otherwise stated. Stock symbols are in
parentheses after the company names.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index futures contract due in September fell
2.1 percent to 5,853 at 6.59 a.m. in Sydney. The Bank of
New York Australia ADR Index lost 3.5 percent in New York.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

MOL still wants INA stake, won't go hostile

(Reuters) - "After we will sit down with the Croatian government again," MOL's Chief Executive and Chairman Zsolt Hernadi told web portal Index www.index.hu on Friday.




"It is for certain that we will not make an unsolicited public bid on the Croatian stock exchange, although we could do it," Hernadi added.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Weyerhaeuser earnings tumble

(Reuters) - Excluding items, the company earned 48 cents a share in the latest quarter.




The company's shares have fallen 16.1 percent over the last three months, tracking a 12 percent drop in the Standard & Poor's Paper and Forest Products Index.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

US STOCKS-Indexes fall on fears of more credit problems

(Reuters) - The Dow Jones industrial average was down 30.98
points, or 0.23 percent, at 13,327.33. The Standard & Poor's
500 Index was down 6.10 points, or 0.41 percent, at
1,467.81. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 17.07
points, or 0.66 percent, at 2,566.21.




Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

US STOCKS-Indexes pare gains after news from home lender

(Reuters) - The Dow Jones industrial average was up 33.73
points, or 0.25 percent, at 13,392.04. The Standard & Poor's
500 Index was up 3.38 points, or 0.23 percent, at
1,477.29. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 2.86
points, or 0.11 percent, at 2,580.42.




Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

FTSE 100 Rallies Most in 14 Months, Paced by GlaxoSmithKline, Lloyds TSB

(Bloomberg) -- U.K. stocks rose for the first time
in six days as profit reports from Lloyds TSB Group Plc and
SABMiller Plc reassured investors that earnings growth will be
sustained. The FTSE 100 Index rallied the most in 14 months.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc advanced after a panel of U.S. doctors
voted to keep the company's diabetes pill Avandia on the market.
Alliance & Leicester Plc rallied on takeover speculation.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

US STOCKS-Wall St trims gains, Nasdaq dips

(Reuters) - A rise in oil prices to a 12-month high also added to
nervousness.




The Dow Jones industrial average was up 47.63
points, or 0.36 percent, at 13,405.94. The Standard & Poor's
500 Index was up 3.33 points, or 0.23 percent, at
1,477.24. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 0.06
points, or 0.00 percent, at 2,583.34.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Latin American Stocks Rally; Mexico, Brazil Shares Have Best Gain in Month

(Bloomberg) -- Stocks in Latin America rallied as
analysts advised investors to buy companies with better-than-
expected profit growth after last week's global sell-off.

Brazil's Bovespa Index jumped 1,455.21, or 2.8 percent, to
54,377.44 as of 3 p.m. in New York. Mexico's Bolsa index rallied
747.88, or 2.5 percent, to 30,983.05. It was the biggest gain in
both markets since March 21.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.A.E. Shares Decline, Led by Etisalat and Dubai Islamic Bank: Gulf Stocks

(Bloomberg) -- Shares in the United Arab Emirates
dropped, paced by Emirates Telecommunications Corp., known as
Etisalat, and Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC.

The Abu Dhabi Securities Market Index fell 2.8 percent to
3430.03, the biggest one-day drop since June 7, 2006. The Dubai
Financial Market General Index slipped 0.6 percent to 4226.77,
bringing the two-day decline to 2.4 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Barclays, HSBC, Beazley, Pearson, EMI Group Plc: U.K., Irish Stock Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses
and prices are from the last market close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index dropped 36.00, or 0.6 percent,
to 6215.20. The FTSE All-Share Index declined 18.24, or 0.6
percent, to 3210.69.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Indian Rupee May Fall For Second Week on Concern Funds Will Sell Stocks

(Bloomberg) -- India's rupee may fall for a second
week on concern overseas funds will sell emerging-market assets
as a global rout in corporate debt and equities drives investors
to safer securities such as U.S. Treasuries.

The country's benchmark Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive
Index, or Sensex, slumped the most in four months on July 27,
causing the rupee to fall from near a nine-year high. The
currency may extend its biggest weekly decline in almost two
months, a survey of traders showed.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

German Stocks Decline, Led by Deutsche Bank, Allianz; Volkswagen Rises

(Bloomberg) -- Germany's benchmark DAX Index
dropped for a fourth day, paced by Deutsche Bank AG,
Commerzbank AG and Allianz SE, on mounting concern financing
difficulties may cloud the outlook for mergers and takeovers.

Volkswagen AG advanced after the carmaker's first-half
profit beat analysts' expectations. Siemens AG also climbed.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Hungary's Forint Posts Weekly Drop Versus Euro as Investors Avoid Risk

(Bloomberg) -- The Hungarian forint posted its
biggest weekly drop against the euro in 10 months as tumbling
global stocks and concern about U.S. subprime mortgage losses
prompted investors to shun emerging markets.

The forint was the worst performer against the euro over the
past five days, sliding more than 2 percent, as the NTX Index of
stocks in central Europe's 30 largest companies declined the most
in a week since March. Investors reversed trades where they'd
bought the forint to take advantage of Hungary's 7.75 percent
interest rate, also sending the currency tumbling.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Volatility Index Surges to Highest in 13 Months as Stocks Plunge Worldwide

(Bloomberg) -- The benchmark for U.S. stock
volatility surged to the highest in 13 months on concern higher
borrowing costs will slow takeovers, spur debt defaults and curb
earnings.

The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index jumped
as much as 27 percent to 22.96, the highest since June 2006.
Higher readings in the so-called VIX, derived from prices paid
for options on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, indicate traders
expect bigger stock-market swings in the next 30 days.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News