Financial News

US November trade deficit up 9.3 pct to 63.1 bln usd - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 01:49 PM
WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - The US trade deficit shot up unexpectedly in November (Frankfurt: A0S9N7 - news) , driven by record high oil prices and a slump in the aircraft exports which usually offset rising imports.

US Dec import prices unchanged as expected, calendar 2007 hike highest in 20 yrs - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 01:46 PM
WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - Oil and food prices moderated in December and allowed US import prices to remain unchanged for the month, although calendar year 2007 ended with the largest overall import price increase in 20 years, the Labor Department said today.

Hungary bank votes 11-1 to hold base rate in Dec, debates growth - minutes - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 01:44 PM
BUDAPEST (Thomson Financial) - Hungary's central bank voted overwhelmingly to hold the base rate unchanged at 7.50 pct in December, citing to risks to inflation and market instability, but debated the use of monetary policy to boost Hungary's flagging economy.

Gazprom sees taking 10-15 pct of Irish gas market in first 5 years of ops - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 01:43 PM
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Russia's Gazprom said it plans to take around 10-15 pct of Ireland's gas market in its first five years of operations in the country, the Irish Independent reported.

Metals - Gold steadies around 890 usd mark following fresh record high - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 01:39 PM
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Gold prices steadied around the 890 usd mark after rising to a fresh all-time high overnight, boosted by heightened expectations for aggressive rate cuts in the US to help counter a possible recession in the world's largest economy.

EU scrutinizing Greek law capping 20 pct private stake in sensitive companies - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 01:34 PM
ATHENS (Thomson Financial) - The EU Commission is 'not only aware, but is following closely and scrutinizing' the Greek law that caps private investment stakes in sensitive for the public interest companies to below 20 pct, Commission official Oliver Dewes exclusively told Thomson Financial News.

Restoration Hardware holiday sales fell 1%, shy of the company's expectations - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 01:29 PM
BOSTON (Thomson Financial) - Restoration Hardware Inc. said Friday that its holiday sales for the nine weeks ended Jan. 5 fell 1% to $171.5 million from $173.2 million in the same period a year earlier.

Corus to raise prices of aluminised strip steels - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 01:29 PM
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - UK steel group Corus, part of Indian industrial giant Tata, said it is to raise aluminised strip steel prices.

Best Buy Dec. revs up 11%; co. still sees FY08 eps $3.10-$3.20 - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 01:27 PM
NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Best Buy Co (NYSE: BBY - news) . Friday reported revenue of $7.3 billion for the fiscal month ended Jan. 5, an increase of 11% from last year and in line with company expectations.

American Express 4Q charge, outlook prompts downgrades; shares slide - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 01:27 PM
NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Shares of American Express (NYSE: AXP - news) were trading sharply lower in premarket trading Friday, after financial and travel-related services company's announcement that it would take a $440 million fourth-quarter charge because of slower spending by its credit card customers prompted a number of negative actions by Wall Street analysts.

Acuity Brands lowers quarterly dividend after Zep spin-off 01:19 PM [ AFX ]
India spot gold surges to record highs despite sluggish local demand 01:19 PM [ AFX ]
Russian gold, forex reserves soar 56.8 pct in 2007 to 475.391 bln usd 01:18 PM [ AFX ]
Paragon launches 287 mln stg rights issue UPDATE 01:16 PM [ AFX ]
Oil falls as supply threats ease, fears over possible US recession linger 01:16 PM [ AFX ]

Forward diary of events 01:15 PM [ AFX ]
Forward diary of events - 2 01:15 PM [ AFX ]
Cadence's Acetavance didn't meet primary endpoint in one phase III trial 01:12 PM [ AFX ]
Swiss shares lower in afternoon trade, dragged down by heavyweights 01:08 PM [ AFX ]
INTERVIEW Polish deputy finance minister says likely to cut 2008 borrowing needs 01:03 PM [ AFX ]

Internet Business says TMN's Tapps buy not to impact TMN's acquisition of co 12:58 PM [ AFX ]
Columbus McKinnon evaluates alternatives for Univeyor division; considers sale 12:56 PM [ AFX ]
Russia Jan-Nov trade surplus 118.388 bln usd, down 8.5 pct yr-on-yr 12:55 PM [ AFX ]
UPDATE: Bank of America agrees to acquire Countrywide Financial for $4B in stock 12:51 PM [ AFX ]
Cambrian Mining says Merim offers 70p/shr to buy 4.9 pct stake in co 12:49 PM [ AFX ]

Greggs says non-executive director Ian Gibson resigns 12:47 PM [ AFX ]
Paris shares down early afternoon; consumer stocks lead the way 12:47 PM [ AFX ]
Xtract Energy says to re-drill the Plover gas charged sands despite blockages 12:46 PM [ AFX ]
Precious Metals Summary - London AM Fixings 12:46 PM [ AFX ]
Canada Dec unemployment rate steady at 5.9 pct 12:44 PM [ AFX ]

Global Brands says Yair Hasson to be executive chairman post-Belvia buy 12:40 PM [ AFX ]
UK Libor interbank fixings rise following BoE decision to keep rates on hold 12:37 PM [ AFX ]
McCreevy says EU must engage with sovereign wealth funds for better transparency 12:35 PM [ AFX ]
P.F. Chang's increases 4Q adjusted earnings guidance 12:34 PM [ AFX ]
Lisbon shares sharply lower led by banks, builders; EDP outperforms 12:33 PM [ AFX ]

Colonial Properties Trust raises credit facility borrowing capacity to $675M 12:33 PM [ AFX ]
Regis 2Q revenue rises but misses forecasts; same-store sales decline 12:31 PM [ AFX ]
Afternoon Interbank Intercurrency 12:31 PM [ AFX ]
London shares lower; NY seen down; consumer staples fall on earnings concern 12:26 PM [ AFX ]
HydroDec ships first part of Turkey export order for Superfine transformer oil 12:26 PM [ AFX ]

London shares - midday features 12:26 PM [ AFX ]
Dollar Forward Rates 12:26 PM [ AFX ]
China forex reserves at 1.53 trln usd at end of 2007 - central bank UPDATE 12:25 PM [ AFX ]
Foreign Exchanges - Continental Forward Rates 12:25 PM [ AFX ]
Celoxica non-exec director David Cheesman buys initial 360,000 shares in company 12:24 PM [ AFX ]

Nepal sets April 10 date for key polls 12:24 PM [ AFX ]
Bank of America agrees to acquire Countrywide Financial for $4B in stock 12:24 PM [ AFX ]
Indonesian government sells 2 billion dollars in global bonds 12:22 PM [ AFX ]
Aker Floating Production wins 10-year contract worth 1.1 bln usd 12:21 PM [ AFX ]
Develica says fee to investment manager reduced to 0.475 pct from 0.5 pct 12:20 PM [ AFX ]