More Breaking News
Pink Floyd Contract Applies to Digital Sales, U.K. Court Rules EMI Group Ltd. should only sell the
music of Pink Floyd, the band that recorded the best-selling
album “The Dark Side of the Moon,” in full album format and
can’t sell single songs online, a London judge ruled today.
Alrosa to Sign $490 Million Diamond Deals on Putin India Trip ZAO Alrosa, the world’s largest
diamond company, will sign contracts to supply $490 million of
the stones to India in the next three years as it seeks to
double sales to the country.
HSBC Private Bank Reports Theft of 15,000 Accounts (Update1) HSBC Holdings Plc’s Swiss private
bank said a former employee stole details on 15,000 existing
accounts, as banking secrecy comes under growing pressure from
nations keen to crack down on tax evasion.
Greeks Strike Over Budget Cuts, Bonds, Stocks Decline (Update1) Greek hospitals, airports and
schools were shut and police scuffled with protesters as unions
staged the second general strike this year against government
budget cuts to curb the European Union’s biggest deficit.
British Airways Closer to Strike as Union Talks Fail (Update1) British Airways Plc’s 12,000 flight
attendants moved closer to a strike after talks with Europe’s
third-largest airline over pay cuts broke down.
Solar Prospectors Chase Italian, Israeli ‘Gold Mines’ (Update2) Olivier de Vergnies quit managing
family fortunes at Dexia Private Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. in 2008
to run a New York start-up at 100 Wall St. that’s trying to tap
riches in solar energy.
Brown Tries to Turn Double-Dip U.K. Threat to Benefit (Update2) Gordon Brown is trying to turn the
threat of a double-dip U.K. recession into an advantage.
Yanukovych Gets Old Ally Azarov as Premier in New Coalition Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych
secured a Cabinet led by an old ally who’ll seek to use a new
majority in parliament to pass this year’s budget and unfreeze a
$16.4 billion rescue loan.
Shun Spain on ‘Death by 1,000 Cuts,’ Merrill Says (Update1) Investors should avoid Spain’s
bonds as the euro region’s highest levels of joblessness stifle
the country’s ability to cut its budget deficit, according to
Invesco Ltd. and Bank of America Corp.’s Merrill Lynch unit.
Israel Plans First Bond Sale in Euros in Five Years (Update2) Israel is selling its first bonds
in euros in almost five years as the country seeks to diversify
its sources of funding.
Feldstein Says Euro’s Fall Due to ‘Panic’ Over Greece (Update1) Harvard University Professor Martin
Feldstein said the euro’s 4.6 percent decline against the dollar
this year has been “panic selling” stemming from the financial
crisis in Greece.
Bond Spreads at Narrowest This Year Lure GMAC: Credit Markets Corporate bond yields fell to the
lowest this year relative to benchmark government securities,
luring GMAC Inc. to sell its longest-maturity notes since 2004.
BP Pays $7 Billion for Devon Assets in Brazil, Gulf (Update3) BP Plc will pay Devon Energy Corp.
$7 billion for assets in Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico and
Azerbaijan, adding fields that may extend its production lead
over Exxon Mobil Corp.
Biden Said Delay in East Jerusalem Building to Give Talks Time Vice President Joe Biden welcomed
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement that
building plans for east Jerusalem would take years and said the
time lag gave diplomats the opportunity to address the issue.
Treasury Yield Curve Near Record Before $13 Billion Bond Sale Treasury 30-year yields were near
the highest on record compared with two-year rates as the U.S.
prepared to sell $13 billion of long bonds amid signs the global
recovery is gaining momentum.
Pulp Price Surges on Chilean Quake, Finnish Strike (Update1) Chile’s earthquake and a Finnish
port strike may propel pulp prices to a record, hastening a
tightening of inventories after papermakers cut output.
Hold Cash as ‘General Correction’ Looms, HSBC Says (Update1) Global financial markets are yet to
bottom and investors should hold cash, investment-grade debt or
defensive stocks to ride out a coming “general correction,”
according to HSBC Holdings Plc.
Romania Offers Yield Above Croatia’s in Biggest Bond (Update1) Romania will offer bond yields
higher than similarly rated Croatian debt to lure investors to
its biggest sale of Eurobonds.
Commodities Decline, Yen Gains as China’s Inflation Accelerates Commodities fell and the yen
strengthened on increasing speculation that China, the world’s
fastest-growing economy, will slow its expansion to control
inflation. Stocks swung between gains and losses.
Solar Prospectors Chase Italian, Israeli ‘Gold Mines’ (Update1) Olivier de Vergnies quit managing
family fortunes at Dexia Private Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. in 2008
to run a New York start-up at 100 Wall St. that’s trying to tap
riches in solar energy.
Lufthansa Targets Earnings Growth on Traffic Increase (Update1) Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Europe’s
second-biggest airline, forecast operating profit will rise this
year as the company reduces spending and travel increases.
European Stocks Fluctuate; BHP Billiton Slips, Volkswagen Gains European stocks fluctuated as
basic-resource producers fell on speculation rising inflation
will prompt China to pare back stimulus measures, offsetting a
rally by auto shares. Asian equities gained.
BMW Reports Full-Year Net Income That Beats Analyst Estimate Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the
world's largest maker of luxury cars, reported full-year net
income of 210 million euros ($287 million), a drop from 330
million euros in 2008. The 2009 net income result beat an
analyst estimate of 167 million euros.
Volkswagen Aims to Repeat Record Sales in 2010; Shares Rise Volkswagen AG, Europe’s largest
automaker, is targeting a second consecutive record in global
deliveries this year after two-month sales surged 27 percent,
helped by growing demand in emerging markets.
Fiat May Need to Convince on Chrysler Before Auto IPO (Update1) Fiat SpA, the Italian carmaker that
helped Chrysler Group LLC emerge from bankruptcy, may wait to
turn around the U.S. business before deciding on a share sale or
spinoff for its automotive division.
Airline Loss Estimate Halved to $2.8 Billion on Traffic Rebound Airlines worldwide will lose a
collective $2.8 billion this year, half the previous forecast,
as emerging markets lead a rebound in traffic, the International
Air Transport Association said today.
Palestinians Condition Talks on Israel Revoking Building Plans Palestinian Authority President
Mahmoud Abbas told the U.S. that holding indirect talks with
Israel “will be difficult” unless Israeli plans to construct
new homes in east Jerusalem are revoked.
Nomura Departures Rise as Former Lehman Bankers Leave (Update2) Nomura Holdings Inc.’s vice
chairman of China investment banking and head of equity capital
markets for Asia outside Japan left the Tokyo-based company,
according to people with knowledge of the departures.
Iran Oil Fund to Expand If Crude Stays Above $65 (Update1) Iran will increase the balance of
its oil stabilization fund if crude prices remain over $65 in
the new Iranian year starting in late March, the country’s
deputy central bank governor said.
Metals, Oil Fall on Surge in China Inflation; Asia Stocks Rise Metals and oil dropped, while
the yen and dollar strengthened, after reports on Chinese
inflation, factories and loans raised concerns the government
would take steps to brake growth. Asian stocks advanced, led
by Japanese shares, on speculation the economy is recovering.
Slim Overtakes Gates, Buffett to Become Forbes Richest Person Mexico’s Carlos Slim beat Bill
Gates and Warren Buffett for the top spot on Forbes magazine’s
annual list of billionaires, becoming the first person from
outside the U.S. to lead the rankings in 16 years.
Devon Energy Agrees to Sell Assets to BP for $7 Billion Devon Energy Corp. said it agreed
to sell assets in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and Azerbaijan to
BP Plc for $7 billion.
SNB May Keep Main Rate Near Zero as Economy Recovers (Update1) The Swiss central bank may leave
its benchmark interest rate near zero today to bolster a
recovery from the worst recession in more than three decades.
Copper May Gain to Record on Chinese Demand, Sucden Forecasts Copper may rise to a record this
year, possibly surpassing $9,000 a metric ton, driven by larger-
than-expected imports by China and a revival of demand in Europe
and the U.S., according to Sucden Financial Ltd.
China’s Inflation Quickens as Industrial Production Climbs China’s inflation reached a 16-
month high, industrial output climbed and new loans exceeded
forecasts, adding to the case for the government to pare back
stimulus measures.
Union Favors Lebanon, South Africa Bonds on Local Bank Support Union Investment Privatfonds,
Germany’s third-largest money manager, favors bonds sold by
developing nations with active local investors in foreign debt
on concern the global new-issues market will be “overcrowded.”
China Tightens Land Purchase Rules, Bans Villas (Update2) China is requiring a down payment
for land purchases equal to 50 percent of a plot’s price and
prohibited the supply of land for villas as the government
sought to increase affordable housing.
Korean Air, Asiana Fined for Blocking Budget Carriers (Update1) Korean Air Lines Co. and Asiana
Airlines Inc., the nation’s two biggest carriers, were fined a
combined 11 billion won ($9.7 million) for anticompetitive
actions against start-up budget carriers.
Putin Visits India in Race With U.S. for Arms, Nuclear Deals Russian Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin arrives in New Delhi tonight to fend off competition from
the U.S. and Europe to supply arms and nuclear energy to India.
Senate Talks Said to Advance on Consumer Unit Powers, Oversight Senate negotiators closed in on a
deal for strengthening consumer financial protections, giving
bank regulators a role in rule-making and enforcement, two
Democratic Senate aides briefed on the talks said.