Gazprom eyes more partners for Shtokman - Medvedev

(Reuters) - "There could be two models for this -- it could be where our
partners join the project as fully fledged participants in the
equity of the joint company, or as ... contractors which in my
view ... could create a little less stability in relations."




France's Total recently agreed to take a 25
percent stake in a special purpose entity that will develop the
first phase of Shtokman, a vast field in the Barents Sea that
has enough reserves to supply the world for a year.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

National Oilwell 2nd-qtr profit more than doubles

(Reuters) - Analysts on average had expected the Houston-based company
to report a profit of $1.54 a share, according to Reuters
Estimates.




Total revenue in the quarter rose to $2.38 billion, up 44
percent from the 2006 second quarter.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-U.S. June industrial production up 0.5 pct

(Reuters) - WASHINGTON, July 17 - U.S. industrial output rose
by a slightly more-than-expected 0.5 percent in June as
production for automobiles surged 2.5 percent during the month,
a Federal Reserve report on Tuesday showed.




Analysts polled by Reuters were expecting to see a 0.4
percent rise in June. Total output at the nation's factories,
mines and utilities fell by a revised 0.1 percent in May
compared with a flat reading initially.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

Schwab quarterly profit increases 16 percent

(Reuters) - Net revenue was $1.2 billion, up from $1.1 billion a year earlier and slightly higher than analysts had expected.




Total client assets reached $1.38 trillion at the end of June.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

UPDATE 1-Cheesecake Factory says Q2 revenue rises 15.7 pct

(Reuters) - Shares of the restaurant chain operator rose more than 4
percent to $26.43 in late electronic trade, after closing at
$25.36 on the Nasdaq.




Total revenue rose to $373.2 million from $322.6 million a
year ago, the company said in a statement. Analysts were
expecting $370.9 million, according to Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Crude Oil Trades Near 10-Month High on Nigeria Risks, U.S. Gasoline Demand

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil was little changed in New
York near a 10-month high on concern unrest in Nigeria may
disrupt shipments and U.S. gasoline supplies may be insufficient
during the peak summer demand period.

Crude output from Nigeria, Africa's biggest producer, is
threatened by insecurity, Total SA Chief Executive Officer
Christophe de Margerie said July 7. U.S. gasoline stockpiles are
3.5 percent below their five-year average, the Energy Department
said July 5.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

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.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 2-India's ONGC Q4 net falls 13 pct, lags f'cast

(Reuters) - NEW DELHI, June 25 - India's state-run Oil and
Natural Gas Corp. Ltd. said its fourth-quarter
net profit fell 13 percent, lagging forecasts, due to higher
mandatory discounts to refiners and one-off staff costs.




ONGC, India's second most valuable listed company with a
market cap of $48 billion, also said it was in talks with oil
majors Chevron , Total and Royal Dutch Shell
to swap stakes in oil blocks and planned to spend $10.3
billion in acquiring and developing overseas assets by 2012.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Electricite de France Shares Rise for Third Day on Outlook for Power Rates

(Bloomberg) -- Shares in Electricite de France SA,
Europe's biggest power generator, rose for a third day on
speculation the state-controlled utility may benefit from higher
power rates and demand for nuclear plants.

Shares of EDF, whose 58 nuclear plants generate almost half
of Europe's nuclear power, rose as much as 2.83 euros, or 3.7
percent, and were trading up 2.3 percent to 78.40 euros at 10:45
a.m. in Paris. The stock has gained 10 percent in three days,
making EDF France's biggest company by value ahead of Total SA.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Total says still plans to sell Sanofi stake soon

(Reuters) - Its comment came after Sanofi and its U.S. partner Bristol-Myers Squibb on Tuesday won a U.S. trial upholding a patent on Sanofi's blockbuster bloodthinner Plavix.



"Our position on Sanofi has not changed since our annual general meeting last month," a spokeswoman at Total said, giving no further details on the timing of a sale.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

European Stocks Rebound Amid Signs U.S. Economy Growing Without Inflation

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks rebounded this week
after the U.S. Federal Reserve said the world's biggest economy is
growing without causing inflation, consumer prices rose less than
forecast and several companies became the subject of takeover talk.

J Sainsbury Plc jumped after a Qatar fund bought shares in the
U.K. supermarket chain, while Wolseley Plc, Imperial Chemical
Industries Plc and BHP Billiton Ltd. rallied on renewed takeover
speculation. Total SA and Royal Dutch Shell Plc paced gains among
oil producers as crude prices touched a nine-month high.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News