Financial News

Hochtief's Budapest Airport says passenger numbers up 4 pct in 2007 - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 02:42 PM
BUDAPEST (Thomson Financial) - Hochtief AG (Xetra: 607000 - news) 's Budapest Airport saw passenger numbers up an annualised 4 pct to 8.6 mln in 2007, BA said today.

Deutsche Bahn plans to build Indian rail cargo hub with Indian Railways - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 02:40 PM
NEW DELHI (Thomson Financial) - German railway operator Deutsche Bahn AG said it will together with Indian Railways look into building a rail cargo hub in India to benefit from growing demand for logistic services in the subcontinent.

Greek BVIC receives last permit necessary for building 3 luxury hotels in Sounio - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 02:39 PM
ATHENS (Thomson Financial) - Greek real estate company Babis Vovos International Construction (BVIC) said that it had received the final of three building permits for the construction of three five star hotels in Sounio.

ROUNDUP Infosys sees some 'uncertainty' due to delay in IT budget from clients - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 02:38 PM
BANGALORE (Thomson Financial) - India's Infosys Technologies Ltd said it faces some 'uncertainty' in the near future due to an almost one-month delay in the release of IT budgets from its clients, but emphasised it expects a positive trend in billing rates.

Oakley Capital frontrunner to buy Pipex businesses - source - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 02:32 PM
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Oakley Capital Private Equity LP is the frontrunner to buy the web-hosting and network services businesses of the UK's Pipex (LSE: PXC.L - news) , according to a person familiar with the auction process.

Alcatel-Lucent wins IP network contract from Romania's Teletrans - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 02:32 PM
PARIS (Thomson Financial) - Alcatel (Paris: FR0000130007 - news) -Lucent said it has won a contract to supply its IP/multi protocol label switching technology to Teletrans, the communications subsidiary of Romania's power transmission company Transelectrica.

First Data Corp, Allied Irish Banks payment card services JV cleared by EU - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 02:30 PM
BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - The European Commission said it has cleared Allied Irish Banks PLC's proposed payment card services joint venture with electronic commerce and payment solutions provider First Data Corp (NYSE: FDC - news) .

McCain mailer touts adopted daughter - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 02:26 PM
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain is using an image of his adopted daughter in a new campaign mailing in the state where push polling involving the girl helped derail his White House bid eight years ago.

Zambia president axes copper mine tax breaks - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 02:19 PM
LUSAKA, Zambia (Thomson Financial) - President Levy Mwanawasa on Friday announced the cancellation of all tax concessions for copper mining companies operating in Zambia, saying they were 'unfair and unbalanced'.

Bank of America being paid to take risk on Countrywide, Morgan Stanley says - AFX - Fri 11 Jan, 02:18 PM
BOSTON (Thomson Financial) - Shares of Bank of America Corp. got a slight lift early Friday following news of its planned $4 billion stock acquisition of troubled mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp.

Ingersoll-Rand to take asbestos charge 02:15 PM [ AFX ]
Canada Nov trade surplus expands to 3.7 bln cad vs revised 3.1 bln in Oct 02:13 PM [ AFX ]
China Dec M2 money supply growth slows to 16.72 pct year on year - UPDATE 02:08 PM [ AFX ]
Nissan Motor enters South American supply agreement with Chrysler 02:06 PM [ AFX ]
NCC signs 275 mln eur revolving credit facility with banks 02:06 PM [ AFX ]

Banesto's Botin sees financial markets situation 'normalising' in coming months 02:05 PM [ AFX ]
Xcite Energy says 9/3b-5 appraisal well testing on target for end-Jan completion 02:03 PM [ AFX ]
Trade deficit surged in November 02:01 PM [ AFX ]
IS Solutions sees FY pretax 'slightly' ahead of market expectations 02:00 PM [ AFX ]
Fortis offers first ABN Amro investment product to Belgian customers 01:59 PM [ AFX ]

Solarfun Power signs long-term supply agreement with Wacker Schott 01:50 PM [ AFX ]
US November trade deficit up 9.3 pct to 63.1 bln usd 01:49 PM [ AFX ]
US Dec import prices unchanged as expected, calendar 2007 hike highest in 20 yrs 01:46 PM [ AFX ]
Hungary bank votes 11-1 to hold base rate in Dec, debates growth - minutes 01:44 PM [ AFX ]
EU scrutinizing Greek law capping 20 pct private stake in sensitive companies 01:34 PM [ AFX ]

Restoration Hardware holiday sales fell 1%, shy of the company's expectations 01:29 PM [ AFX ]
Corus to raise prices of aluminised strip steels 01:29 PM [ AFX ]
Best Buy Dec. revs up 11%; co. still sees FY08 eps $3.10-$3.20 01:27 PM [ AFX ]
American Express 4Q charge, outlook prompts downgrades; shares slide 01:27 PM [ AFX ]
Acuity Brands lowers quarterly dividend after Zep spin-off 01:19 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 ]
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 ]
Canada Dec unemployment rate steady at 5.9 pct 12:44 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 ]