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

U.K. Pound May Hold Near 26-Year High on Bets BOE Will Raise Interest Rate

(Bloomberg) -- The pound may hold near a 26-year high
against the dollar on speculation the Bank of England will lift
interest rates today and signal further increases are needed to
curb inflation.

The U.K. currency climbed to $2.0207 yesterday, the highest
since June 1981, and has held above $2 for the past five days.
BOE policy makers will increase their interest rate a quarter
percentage point to a six-year high of 5.75 percent today,
according to 53 of 60 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Oil hovers near 10-month high ahead of stock data

(Reuters) - Oil held steady around $73 a barrel after briefly marking a new 10-month high on Thursday, as dealers waited for weekly U.S. oil inventory data expected to show little change in crude or fuel stocks.

London Brent crude currently seen as more representative of global oil prices, eased 6 cents to $72.99 a barrel at 0604 GMT, after having traded as high as $73.32, the highest front-month price since late August.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Gold Little Changed in Asia Amid Dollar Slump, Oil Gains; Silver Declines

(Bloomberg) -- Gold was little changed in Asia amid
demand from investors for an alternative to the weakening dollar
and for a hedge against inflation as oil prices trade near a 10-
month high. Silver declined.

Gold has gained almost 2 percent in the past week as the
dollar-priced metal has become cheaper to investors holding
other currencies. The dollar traded near a record low against
the euro today and near the lowest in 26 years versus the
British pound on prospects for higher European interest rates.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

PRESS DIGEST - Wall Street Journal - July 5

(Reuters) - * General Motor's June sales dropped 21 percent as
Japanese car makers increased their share of the U.S. market,
helped in part by the weak yen.




* Coca-Cola Co. has approached several
private-equity firms involved in bidding for Cadbury
Schweppes's U.S. drinks business about buying
Cadbury's Snapple and Mott's brands.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Dreyfus Greater China Fund Shuns Mainland, Hang Seng, to Post Top Returns

(Bloomberg) -- Hugh Simon and Nina Wu are producing
the best returns from Asia for mutual-fund investors by buying
the smallest stocks in Hong Kong and shunning mainland China,
the region's most expensive market.

The $1 billion Dreyfus Premier Greater China Fund's
holdings are less than a 10th the size of those on Hong Kong's
Hang Seng Index. They trade at 16 times estimated earnings,
compared with the average multiple of 42 for stocks on the CSI
300 Index, China's benchmark.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

European Government Bonds May Decline on View ECB Will Signal Higher Rates

(Bloomberg) -- European government bonds may fall on
speculation European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet
will signal further interest-rate increases after policy makers
conclude their monthly meeting.

While all 42 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News forecast
the Frankfurt-based ECB will hold borrowing costs at 4 percent
today, futures trading shows investors are raising bets the key
rate will reach 4.5 percent by year-end. Yields on Europe's
benchmark bund have risen 10 basis points this week.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News