Thailand Court's Ruling Creates `Buying Opportunity' Ahead of Election

(Bloomberg) -- Thailand's stocks, Southeast Asia's
worst performers this year, staged their biggest two-day rally
this year after a court ruling on May 30 paved the way for a
national election. More gains are likely, history shows.

``All of these worries about politics are a great buying
opportunity,'' said Doug Barnett, a 51-year-old fund manager
who's been investing in Thailand since 1990. His Thai Focused
Equity Fund Ltd., a $300 million hedge fund, includes Banpu Pcl,
the nation's largest coal miner, and Bank of Ayudhya Pcl, the
sixth-largest bank by assets.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Deutsche Beteiligungs, Fraport and Q-Cells: German Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or fall
in German markets. Stock symbols are in parentheses after the
company names and prices are from the Xetra close unless
otherwise stated.

DAX futures expiring in June climbed 75.50, or 1 percent, to
7757.50 at 8:17 a.m. in Frankfurt. The DAX advanced 2.5 points to
7680.76 on the Xetra electronic-trading system.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

British Energy, Cadbury Schweppes, Dobbies: U.K., Irish Equity 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 rose 39.20, or 0.6 percent, to
6559.60 in London. The FTSE All-Share Index rose 17.32, or 0.5
percent, to 3388.08.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Computer Sciences, Select Comfort Shares Decline: U.S. After-Hours Trading

(Bloomberg) -- Computer Sciences Corp. fell in
extended U.S. trading after the fifth-largest computer service
provider reported fourth-quarter sales that missed some
analysts' estimates.

Shares of the El Segundo, California-based company dropped
$1.21, or 2.2 percent, to $54.82 as of 5:39 p.m. in New York.
Computer Sciences posted sales of $4.05 billion, falling short
of the $4.08 billion average analyst estimate compiled by
Bloomberg.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Copec, Gerdau, Grupo Mexico, Masisa, Mexichem, Vale: Latin Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may make
significant gains or losses in Brazil, Chile and Mexico
today. Symbols are in parentheses after the company name, and
stock prices are from the last session.

In Brazil, preferred shares are the most commonly traded
class of stock.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.S. Stocks Surge After Jump in Retail Sales, Bond Rally; Freeport Gains

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks surged, pushing the Dow
Jones Industrial Average to its biggest gain in almost 11
months, after the bond market rallied and a government report on
retail sales exceeded economists' estimates.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., the biggest copper
producer, climbed to a record $81.75, enabling the Standard &
Poor's 500 Materials Index to post the steepest advance since
July. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Home Depot Inc. helped push the
Dow average to an increase of 1.4 percent, or 187 points.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Bear Stearns fund facing mortgage losses: WSJ

(Reuters) - Bear Stearns was not immediately available for comment.




Bids for the bonds, many of which are backed by risky subprime mortgages, are due on Thursday, shortly after Bear reports quarterly results. The fund could be shut down if the sale is not a success, the Journal reported.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Marriott, Schrager plan boutique hotels: report

(Reuters) - Neither Marriott not the Ian Schrager Company were immediately available to comment.




Read more at Reuters.com Business News

South Korea's Won Rises After Overseas Investors Buy Nation's Equities

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's won strengthened after
overseas investors turned net buyers of the nation's stocks for
the first time in seven days.

Fund managers bought won to purchase $47 million of Korean
shares in early trading, according to stock exchange figures. The
benchmark Kospi index climbed as much as 1.6 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

London Luxury-Home Price Gains May Slow to 20 Percent, Knight Frank Says

(Bloomberg) -- Luxury home prices in London, the
world's most expensive city, may increase at a slower pace this
year as more properties come onto a market with fewer buyers,
real estate broker Knight Frank LLC said.

The average price of London's costliest houses and
apartments probably will climb about 20 percent this year after
an almost 29 percent gain in 2006, Knight Frank estimates. That
would be the smallest gain since the 8.2 percent advance in 2005.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Currency Volatility to Rise, Eroding Carry Trade Profits, Goldman Predicts

(Bloomberg) -- Greater fluctuations in the prices
of stocks, bonds and currencies will likely erode profits from
one of the most popular investment strategies in the foreign
exchange market, according to Goldman, Sachs & Co.

A Goldman index that tracks three-month implied volatility
on options on eight major currency pairs is at 6.03 percent,
after reaching 5.78 percent last week. The record low, set in
November, was 5.54 percent. Implied volatility, which traders
quote as part of setting options prices, indicates expectations
for future price swings.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Canadian Dollar Rebounds From Two-Week Low on Commodities, Dodge Comments

(Bloomberg) -- The Canadian dollar rose from a two-
week low as prices of the nation's main commodity exports
advanced and the central bank governor said the currency's
recent appreciation was due to an improving economy.

``The fundamental story for Canada hasn't changed,'' said
Jack Spitz, director of foreign exchange trading at National
Bank Financial in Toronto. ``We got an economy which is
strengthening and inflation is exceeding the Bank of Canada's
target.''


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Yuan Climbs as China May Allow Gain After Avoiding U.S. Treasury Censure

(Bloomberg) -- The yuan climbed for a third day on
speculation China will be more willing to let the currency
strengthen after the U.S. Treasury declined to brand it an
exchange rate manipulator.

``China is averse toward a more aggressive approach by the
U.S.,'' said Nizam Idris, a foreign-exchange strategist at UBS
AG in Singapore. Chinese policy makers ``have enough reasons to
allow them to say it's domestic factors pushing them to allow
yuan appreciation.''


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News