U.S. online help-wanted ads down in June, report says

(Reuters) - "Online job demand has been virtually unchanged over the last few months but continues to show a better than 20 percent gain over last year," said Gad Levanon, economist at the Conference Board.




"Tight labor markets in many areas of the country and in specific occupations and industries like IT and healthcare are forcing companies to advertise more aggressively than last year in order to find the employees they need. We do not expect economic growth to accelerate until the end of the year, but finding the right employee is already a challenge in many areas of the country," he added.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

UPDATE 2-Dominion selling gas assets to Linn Energy

(Reuters) - Shares of Linn Energy were 12.6 percent higher, up $4.16
to $37.07 in afternoon trading on Nasdaq. Dominion stock rose
modestly, up 45 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $86.76 on the New
York Stock Exchange.




Analysts had expected Dominion's Mid-Continent assets,
which are located primarily in Oklahoma, to fetch a purchase
price between $1.7 billion to $2 billion.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Coffee Falls in New York on Rising Stockpiles, Favorable Weather in Brazil

(Bloomberg) -- Coffee in New York fell as U.S.
inventories increased and favorable weather spread over growing
regions in Brazil, the world's largest producer.

Stockpiles in warehouses monitored by the New York Board of
Trade rose to 4.17 million bags as of June 28, a gain of almost
8,800 bags from the previous day. There were 4.06 million bags
stored at the exchange's delivery points in New York, New
Orleans, Antwerp, Hamburg and Miami at the end of May.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Kansas town hit with oil spill, flooding

(Reuters) - More than 1,000 barrels of oil were estimated to have spilled from the 108,000 barrel-per-day refinery in Coffeyville, Kansas, according to refinery operator Coffeyville Resources. The oil could not be contained on site and made its way into the Verdigris River.




The spill also contaminated the floodwaters, which had risen more than 30 feet, sweeping into homes and businesses and turning roads into rushing streams.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Rural wireless shares up after AT&T-Dobson deal

(Reuters) - Shares of U.S. Cellular rose 2 percent on the American Stock Exchange as investors bet it too could be part of the current wave of telecommunications mergers and acquisitions.




"They're certainly up because of M&A speculation ... Rural Cellular and SunCom are the ones that are up the most on acquisition speculation," said Stanford Group analyst Michael Nelson.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

GLOBAL ECONOMY-U.S. factories hum in June; Germany paces Europe

(Reuters) - WASHINGTON/PARIS, July 2 - The U.S.
manufacturing sector picked up more than expected in June,
overcoming a housing market slump, while strength in Germany
drove European factory growth, according to data released on
Monday.




Surveys of purchasing managers at thousands of companies
around the globe showed broad-based expansion -- with notable
accelerations in the United States, Germany and Spain but
eye-catching slowdowns in growth rates in Britain and Japan.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

Germany's DAX Index Drops, Led by Allianz on Removal From Merrill List

(Bloomberg) -- Germany's benchmark DAX index fell for
the first time in three days, led by Allianz SE after Merrill
Lynch & Co. removed the stock from its ``most preferred'' list.

The DAX Index lost 49.08, or 0.6 percent, to 7958.24. DAX
futures expiring in September fell 0.6 percent to 8029 at 5:50
p.m. in Frankfurt. The HDAX Index of the country's 110 biggest
companies retreated 0.4 percent. The TecDAX Index of 30
technology companies jumped 2.8 percent to a five-year high at
958.58, led by a surge in Solarworld AG after the company said it
expects to double its annual production capacity.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Walgreen sees Option Care adding to earnings

(Reuters) - Speaking during a conference call, CFO William Rudolphsen said Walgreen anticipates pretax synergies of about $15 million in the first year. Walgreen expects the acquisition to close in a few months and add more to earnings in future years after adding "slightly" to earnings in the first year, he said.



Walgreen, one of the largest U.S. drugstore chains, agreed to buy Option Care on Monday $19.50 per share, or about $850 million including the assumption of some debt.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Rand firms to 6-week high vs dollar

(Reuters) - South Africa's rand gained over one percent against the dollar on Monday to touch six-week highs as worries about the U.S. housing sector reinforced views that U.S. interest rates would likely stay steady but rise elsewhere.

At 1520 GMT the rand was at 6.9750 to the dollar compared to Friday's New York close of 7.04, having earlier risen more than 1.1 percent to 6.9580, its highest level since May 17 when it reached 6.945/dollar.


Read more at Reuters Africa

European Auto-Parts Makers May Be Damaged by Buyouts, Moody's Report Says

(Bloomberg) -- European bonds advanced, pushing 10-
year yields to the lowest in more than three weeks, as investors
sought the safety of government debt after terrorists targeted
central London and Glasgow.

Benchmark two-year yields fell the most in more than a week
after London police found two cars packed with explosive
materials on June 29 and suspected terrorists crashed a Jeep into
the terminal entrance of Glasgow International Airport the next
day. Five people have been arrested and the Home Office raised
its threat assessment to ``critical,'' the highest level, meaning
further attacks are expected imminently.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

UPDATE 1-Benchmark subprime ABX indexes plunge to new lows

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 2 - Benchmark subprime mortgage
ABX indexes fell to fresh record lows in nervous trading on
Monday, as concerns mounted over rapidly deteriorating subprime
loans made last year, traders said.




"It's another big selling wave. There's really no new
information. The repricing in the index is more sentiment
driven," said one ABX trader.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-MOVES-UBS, GE, Societe Generale, MPC Investors

(Reuters) - UBS AG said Lorraine George Harik will join UBS
Wealth Management U.S. as a senior client adviser in the
private bank.




GENERAL ELECTRIC


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Corn Falls as Biggest U.S. Plantings Since World War II to Boost Supplies

(Bloomberg) -- Corn in Chicago fell for the seventh
time in eight sessions after a report showed U.S. farmers, the
biggest producers, planted the most acres since 1944.

Farmers planted 92.888 million acres this year, 19 percent
more than last year, the Department of Agriculture said June 29.
The highest prices in a decade made corn as much as $200 an acre
more profitable than other crops. Prices have dropped 23 percent
since February as plantings rose.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Templeton's Mobius Says Stock Valuations Better Outside Central Europe

(Bloomberg) -- Mark Mobius, who oversees $30 billion
in emerging-market equities at Templeton Asset Management Ltd.,
said stock valuations are better outside central and eastern
Europe.

``Valuations have moved up to levels which make it more
interesting to look beyond central and eastern Europe,'' Mobius
said in an interview at an investor conference in Warsaw today.
``I prefer South Africa, Turkey, Brazil and China H shares. It's
cheaper and growth is good there.''


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Treasury 10-Year Note Yield Touches Three-Week Low on Concern Over Housing

(Bloomberg) -- Treasuries were little changed after
the 10-year note yield touched the lowest in three weeks on
speculation over weakness in the subprime mortgage market and
concern over potential terror threats.

``It's a combination of the fear the housing sector will
continue to be a drag on the economy and a flight to quality
from global tensions,'' Gary Pollack, who helps oversee $12
billion as head of fixed-income trading in New York at Deutsche
Bank AG's Private Wealth Management unit.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

UPDATE 1-Hedge fund Och-Ziff Capital files for IPO

(Reuters) - New York-based Och-Ziff said it would offer up to $2
billion worth of Class A shares representing limited liability
company interests on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol OZM .




Och-Ziff was founded in 1994 by former Goldman Sachs
investor Daniel Och and the Ziff family. It is well regarded in
the secretive, $1.5 trillion hedge fund world, particularly for
its acumen in distressed debt and restructuring strategies.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Walgreen to buy Option Care for $19.50/shr

(Reuters) - Shares of the company fell over 4 percent to $17.28 in pre-market electronic trade after closing at $18.06 Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange.






Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Virgin Media receives bid approach

(Reuters) - Virgin Media said the proposal, which carries a number of conditions, also stated that it would be withdrawn if its terms were publicly disclosed.




"The proposal is based on public information and is subject to various conditions, including a due diligence examination and a period of exclusivity," the company said in a statement.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Bald Eagles, Back From Brink, Hang Out at Gates's Old Seattle Swim Club

(Bloomberg) -- Seattle cafe manager Joey Perlmutter
was clearing plates one day when he spotted a thief. It had
piercing eyes, talons and distinctive white feathers on its head.

With a flap of its wings, the bald eagle was gone --carrying
with it the remains of someone's lunch.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News

Dobson, Linn, North Pittsburgh Systems, Trump, Virgin: U.S. Equity Movers

(Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies
whose shares are having unusual price changes in U.S. exchanges
today. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names.
Share prices are as of 10:20 a.m. New York time.

BCE Inc. (BCE US) rose $1.40, or 3.7 percent, to $39.19.
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, which manages C$106 billion ($100
billion) for teachers in Canada's most populous province, agreed
June 30 to buy the country's biggest phone company for C$34.2
billion with investors including Providence Equity Partners Inc.
The value of the transaction with debt, preferred shares and
minority interests is C$51.7 billion.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Copper Rises to Six-Week High in New York as Inventories, Dollar Decline

(Bloomberg) -- Copper rose in New York to the
highest in six weeks on speculation a decline in the value of
the dollar will boost demand for the metal used in wiring and
plumbing as inventories dwindle.

Copper stockpiles monitored by the London Metal Exchange
fell 1.8 percent to an eight-month low of 112,600 metric tons,
the exchange said today. Copper, sold in dollars, has risen
22 percent this year as inventories fell 38 percent and the U.S.
currency fell 2.6 percent against a basket of six major world
currencies. The dollar today touched the lowest level in more
than a month against the euro.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Northern Trust to oversee $29.3 bln for Tennessee

(Reuters) - Northern Trust has $3.8 trillion in assets under custody
and $756 billion in assets under management and competes
against companies like State Street Corp. and Bank of
New York Mellon Corp. for business from pension funds
and other investors.




Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 2-Carlyle to buy Manor Care for $4.9 billion

(Reuters) - Manor Care shareholders will receive $67 per share, a 20
percent premium to the stock's closing price on April 10, the
day before the company said it was putting itself up for sale,
and a 2.6 percent premium to Friday's close.




The total value of the deal, including assumed debt, is
$6.3 billion, the company said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Dollar Falls to Two-Month Low Versus Euro on Outlook for Interest Rates

(Bloomberg) -- The dollar fell to the lowest level in
almost two months against the euro and dropped against the yen on
speculation the Federal Reserve will keep borrowing costs
unchanged while other central banks extend their increases.

Investors also sold the dollar against the Japanese currency
and Swiss franc after terrorists targeted central London and
Glasgow, Scotland, prompting them to pare holdings of riskier
assets such as equities and emerging-market assets funded by
loans in yen, a practice known as the carry trade.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

U.S. airlines' latest fare increase holds

(Reuters) - Major carriers, including AMR Corp's American
Airlines and Delta Air Lines Inc. , matched the increase
over the weekend systemwide. In select markets, some carriers
rolled back the increases as part of a typical pattern of
competitive jockeying, according to air fare tracker
FareCompare.com.




The latest fare increase comes just a week after Delta
initiated a $5 increase each way in domestic U.S. fares,
meaning some customers could be paying as much as $20 more for
a round-trip ticket than they did two weeks ago.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Apple, AT&T lower after iPhone's first weekend

(Reuters) - "We believe initial demand may have been disappointing, but it's still early," Bill Shope, analyst at JP Morgan, said in a note to clients. "We don't believe supply was much better than expected, so demand could be a bit light."



Shope estimates that Apple sold about 312,000 iPhones on Friday and Saturday. The combined cell phone, music player and Web browser went on sale Friday evening.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

Gold, Silver Prices Climb in New York After Dollar Weakens Against Euro

(Bloomberg) -- Gold and silver rose in New York as a
decline in the value of the dollar against the euro boosted the
appeal of precious metals as alternative investments.

Gold generally moves in the opposite direction of the
dollar, which today dropped to a six-week low against the euro
on speculation the European Central Bank may raise interest
rates faster than the U.S. Federal Reserve. Before today, gold
had gained 2 percent this year and the euro was up 2.6 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Bally in credit facilities commitment with Morgan Stanley

(Reuters) - These provide for a $50 million revolving credit facility
and a $242 million term loan, the fitness center operator
said.




The DIP facility will refinance the existing senior credit
facility and provide working capital during the pendency of its
planned Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, Bally said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

U.S. manufacturing picks up pace in June - ISM

(Reuters) - The June reading was the survey's highest since April of 2006 and the report reinforced the view that economic growth was recovering after nearly stalling in the first quarter.




"We continue to see a rebound in growth in the second half," said Don Kowalchik, debt strategist at A.G. Edwards & Sons in St Louis, Missouri.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Israel's ECI Telecom to be bought by investor group for $1.2 bln

(Reuters) - Swarth is an investment vehicle controlled by telecom
businessman Shaul Shani.





Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Valeo, PAI fail to agree deal in takeover talks

(Reuters) - A spokeswoman for Valeo had no immediate comment and company
offials said the group was likely to make a statement after
market close. PAI declined to comment.




Valeo has been trying to fend off pressure by its biggest
shareholder, U.S. investment fund Pardus, to review its
strategy.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Trump Entertainment buyout fizzles, shares plunge

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 2 - Casino operator Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. said on Monday it did not reach a deal with potential acquirers and has ended discussions to sell itself, sending its shares down 14 percent.



Trump Entertainment, which runs three casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and emerged from bankruptcy about two years ago, said none of the indications of interest was likely to lead to a transaction that was in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

UPDATE 1-Virgin Media shares jump over 15 pct on bid hopes

(Reuters) - Sources familiar with the situation told Reuters on Sunday
that the group had appointed Goldman Sachs to seek a possible
buyer.




The sources said Carlyle Group [CYL.UL] had approached the
company over a possible bid but declined to disclose the price
put forward. They said the search was in the early stages.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Dollar Pares Losses as Factory Growth Is More Than Forecast During June

(Bloomberg) -- The dollar pared its losses versus the
euro and yen after a report showed U.S. manufacturing growth
exceeded economists' forecasts last month.

The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index
increased to 56 during June. The gauge was forecast to touch 55
for a second month, according to the median of 77 forecasts in a
Bloomberg News survey. Readings greater than 50 signal expansion.
The gauge hasn't been below 50 since January.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

U.S. Stocks Advance After Strategist Boosts S&P 500 Forecast; Costco Rises

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks rose after a private
report showed manufacturing growth accelerated in June to the
highest in 14 months.

Archer Daniels Midland Co., the biggest grain processor,
gained after Bank of America upgraded the stock to ``buy.''
Costco Wholesale Corp., the largest U.S. warehouse club,
climbed after Goldman, Sachs & Co. advised buying the shares.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Unions says workers strike at S.Africa's Vodacom

(Reuters) - About 1,000 workers at South African mobile phone operator Vodacom have gone on strike after talks on union recognition, pay and conditions broke down, a union for communication workers said on Monday.

The Communication Workers Union said its members in South Africa's main urban areas had stopped work on Monday and would continue to strike on Tuesday and Wednesday unless Vodacom management agreed to restart talks.


Read more at Reuters Africa

GE Money to offer Gap customers a Visa credit card

(Reuters) - CHICAGO, July 2 - General Electric Co.'s GE Money consumer lending unit said on Monday that it would start to offer a Visa credit card to Gap Inc. customers, broadening its reach in the apparel chain's stores.



The new Visa cards will be offered to customers of Gap's namesake chain, Banana Republic and Old Navy. GE will also continue to provide private-label credit card programs for Gap Inc. through 2013. It has provided credit programs to Gap since 1998.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-Abraxis BioScience to split into two companies

(Reuters) - The split, expected to occur in the fourth quarter, calls
for each Abraxis shareholder to own one share of the hospital
products unit, Abraxis Pharmaceutical Products, and one share
of the new Abraxis BioScience for each share previously held.




Abraxis Pharmaceutical Products would be one of the largest
stand-alone public companies focused on injectable products,
according to the company.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

NetSuite files for $75 mln IPO

(Reuters) - The filing did not reveal how many shares the vendor of
on-demand, integrated business management application suites
planned to sell or the expected price.





Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

Morocco Q1 GDP growth slows to 1.9 pct year-on-year

(Reuters) - A slump in agriculture meant Morocco's gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed to 1.9 percent in the first quarter from 6.7 percent a year earlier, the country's High Planning Commission said on Monday.

Farm production fell by 18 percent in the first three months of 2007 compared to the same period a year earlier, the HCP said in a statement on its Web site, while non-agricultural growth was 4.7 percent.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Kirchner's Popularity, Argentina's Economy Are Chilled by Energy Shortages

(Bloomberg) -- Argentina's energy rationing may
chill South America's second-largest economy -- along with
President Nestor Kirchner's political popularity.

As the southern hemisphere's winter sets in, cutbacks in
electricity and natural gas are leaving potatoes to rot at
McCain Foods Ltd.'s French fry plant in Buenos Aires province
and workers idled at Fiat SpA's car factory in Cordoba. Energy
supplies in Argentina have failed to keep up with surging
demand, exacerbating shortages to the point where there's no
quick solution, analysts say.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Cemig, Grupo Imsa, Petrobras, Positivo, TV Azteca: Latin Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may make
significant gains or losses in Brazil 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. Markets in Chile are closed today for a holiday.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

U.S. Stock-Index Futures Advance; Costco, Archer Daniels Shares Climb

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stock-index futures rose after
a Bank of America Corp. strategist raised his forecast for the
Standard & Poor's 500 Index and investors speculated factory
orders held near a 13-month high.

Costco Wholesale Corp., the largest U.S. warehouse club,
climbed after Goldman, Sachs & Co. recommended buying the
stock. Archer Daniels Midland Co., the world's biggest grain
processor, gained after Bank of America upgraded the stock to
``buy.''


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Biogen signs deal to develop electrolyte drug

(Reuters) - Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Biogen said the drug, lixivaptan, is an oral compound expected to enter a late-stage, or Phase III, clinical trial this year in heart patients with hyponatremia, a condition that occurs when the level of sodium in the blood is too low.



Biogen will pay Philadelphia-based Cardiokine $50 million up front and would make up to $170 million in additional payments if and when certain development milestones were met, as well as royalties on sales.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Consolidated to buy North Pittsburgh for about $375 mln

(Reuters) - July 2 - Rural telephone services provider Consolidated Communications Holdings Inc. said it agreed to acquire North Pittsburgh Systems Inc. for about $375 million in cash and stock.



The $25 a share offer represents an 18 percent premium over North Pittsburgh's closing share price on June 29.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Carlyle to buy Manor Care for $4.9 billion

(Reuters) - Manor Care shareholders would receive $67 per share, a 20 percent premium to its closing stock price on April 10, the day before the company announced it was putting itself up for sale. The total value of the deal, including debt, is $6.3 billion, the company said.




Read more at Reuters.com Business News

GLOBAL MARKETS-Security concerns weigh on shares, aid bonds

(Reuters) - Credit markets softened as worries lingered about the U.S.
high-risk mortgage sector. Concerns about rising borrowing costs
ahead of an expected interest rate hike in Britain this week also
weighed on investor risk appetite.




Britain has raised its security rating to its highest level
after failed car bombing attempts in London and an attack on a
Scottish airport over the weekend.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

RPT-TREASURIES-Narrowly mixed early, safety bid cited

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 2 - U.S. Treasury debt prices were
narrowly mixed in early dealings on Monday after rallying late
last week on friendly inflation news and a safety bid linked to
attempted car-bomb attacks in London.




Saturday's attack on Glasgow's airport in Scotland using a
fuel-filled vehicle kept that safety bid from unwinding on
Monday morning, traders said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-LeCroy cuts FY07 revenue outlook

(Reuters) - Fiscal-year 2007 revenue is now expected to be about $152
million, compared with a prior revenue outlook of $155 million
to $160 million, the serial data test technology provider said
in a statement.




Analysts on average were expecting the company to report
revenue of $157.1 million for the year, according to Reuters
Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Dominion to sell gas assets to Linn Energy

(Reuters) - Last November, the Richmond, Virginia-based company said it would pursue the sale of most of its exploration and production assets as part of a restructuring. Prior to the Mid-Continent deal, Dominion had agreed to sell $11.84 billion of those assets.




The sale of the Mid-Continent operations, which are primarily in Oklahoma, is expected to close by the end of the third quarter. The rest of Dominion's asset sales have closed or are scheduled to close by that time, the company said.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Adaro May Seek $600 Million in Record Indonesian Share Sale, People Say

(Bloomberg) -- PT Adaro Indonesia, the nation's
second-largest coal producer, plans to sell shares in what may be
the biggest initial public offering in the Southeast Asian
country.

Adaro may raise as much as $600 million selling between 20
percent and 30 percent of existing and new shares this year, said
three people with knowledge of the plan. The proceeds will be
used to repay debt, said the people, who declined to be
identified because an announcement on the sale is pending.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Commercial real estate refuses to cool in New York

(Reuters) - The Woolworth Building, a 1913 Gothic masterpiece in downtown Manhattan, was set for conversion to luxury condominiums, but the price of commercial office space has risen so much that the owners changed course.




Instead of becoming one of the coolest places to live in New York City, the building will house luxury office space. In a city where people pay $500,000 for a studio apartment, the owners -- led by the developers Steven Witkoff and Ruben Schron -- scrapped a 7-year-old residential plan in May in favor of the commercial project.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News