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May 18, 2012 12:41 PM EDT
Updated: Jun 21, 2010 6:29 AM EDT  

Morning @ Cantor

 

Morning @ Cantor 6/21

Today’s Stories From Cantor Fitzgerald

Sal Catrini (908) 517-5067

 

 

EARLY US LANDSCAPE****

·         US Stock Futures, SPs up 16

o   EU stocks up 1.7% - up  for 9 straight sessions today..

o   Asian Markets rock…. Nikkei +2.43%; Hang Seng +3.08%; Shanghai Composite +2.90%

o   Copper, Oil, corn, Gold Rise as Commodities Gain on China Yuan ShiftChina saw a more sustainable global economic recovery compared to their prior view of a 'fragile' global growth.. .. gold at a new record

o   Today's gains have also been supported by financials ahead of the  release of the EU bank stress tests

·         Month end trading starting to come into play…A lot of cash on portfolio mgrs hands on EU crisis fears (per BBG)…may help risk assets, as does performance anxiety

o   A third gain in four weeks lifted stocks to the middle of their 2010 range… DJIA Has Biggest 2-Week Gain Since Nov

·         China Commodity linked stocks up sharply..discretionary up huge (consumer linked around the world..) ..airlines up as purchasers of oil. Sinopec made a statement that they will benefit

·         BP dn 3% today on money raising concerns…

·         FX:    EUR at session lows at 7am et….hit 6 week high almost 1.25 overnight, but under 1.24 now…

o    EUR extends the biggest weekly rise for the common currency since May 2009.

o   Investor Bets Against Euro Plummet By 44% - DJ

·         FX:   dollar fell to a one-month low..recovers a bit but still down at 7am et

·         FX:  China keeps CNY rate unchanged against the USD in session surprising markets after announcing it was unhitching the peg.

·         FX:   Russia's Medvedev backs CNY, INR, and RUB as alternatives to USD as reserve currencies.  TTN

·         FX:  Renminbi surges in forward markets

o   Twelve-month forwards – the most liquid contract – rose 1.3 per cent to Rmb6.6235 against the dollar, implying that traders expected a 2.8 per cent appreciation over the coming year. Six-month forwards were implying a 1.6 per cent appreciation.

o   Hopes for an immediate revaluation of the currency were frustrated as the Chinese central bank on Monday morning fixed the daily mid-point for the renminbi’s level against the dollar at Rmb6.8275, the same as on Friday.

·         Oil jumped to a six-week high

·         Metals  are up…copper advanced for the first time in four days…. Zinc is up 4%, tin, lead and copper are up over 3%

·         Gold:   this morning, spot gold is up $2 to $1258.50…Spot gold was up $11.50 Fridayfor the week: spot gold was up 2.4%,

o   Spot Gold hits fresh all-time highs above $1,265/oz

o   Saudis Hoard Twice as Much Gold as Thought

§  Saudi Arabia, the fourth-largest holder of foreign exchange reserves, is sitting on more than twice as much gold as previously thought, according to new estimates quoted by the FT.

o    World Gold Council stated that 2010 Gold demand was expected to be strong driven by growing demand for jewelry in China and India and coupled continued with concerns of economic instability

o     Ambrose Evans-Pritchard noted that gold is reclaiming a historic role as safe haven and benchmark currency, citing recent demand in gold related to sovereign concerns. He goes on to comment how the World Gold Council recently stated that central banks in Russia, the Philippines, Kazakhstan and Venezuela have been buying gold, in addition to the Saudi Arabian central bank restating its reserves of gold higher from 143M tons to 323M tons - London Telegraph

·         Rates move sharply higher Monday : Auctions this week may weigh on T-bonds ..plus china moves a bigger issue Monday

o   History suggests that a freer-floating Chinese yuan could push Treasury yields higher at an inconvenient time for the U.S. government—although it also suggests that the effects should be short-lived.

o   http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704638504575319162195361920.html?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_markets

·         The big news over the weekend came from China…To allow some yuan adjustment (anncmt in front of G20)– DJ. BBG, WSJ, FT etc..

o   Officials in US, Europe, Japan and the International Monetary Fund had similar pos reactions.

o   China's Move On Yuan Bodes Well For Riskier Assets

§  Equities, commodities and growth-sensitive currencies such as the euro and Australian dollar are likely to gain, while the greenback and U.S. Treasuries retreat.

§  The European economy is likely to be the primary beneficiary

·         China will also enable the euro to slide against the yuan as well as the dollar, thus increasing the export competitiveness of European products.

§  "It is bullish for risky assets as the statement signaled China has become more optimistic about the growth outlook and didn't the see euro-zone [debt] crisis having material effects on exports," said Jim O'Neill, chief economist at Goldman Sachs (on DJ).

§  "I don't expect a major reaction, but the announcement could move Treasurys lower ahead of auctions," said chief financial economist at Jefferies

§  Yuan Move Likely To Boost Asia Currencies – WSJ

·         The South Korean won, Australian dollar, Thai baht and Malaysian ringgit look set to feel the biggest impact, as traders pile into currencies seen as proxies for China's growth

o   The recent surge in China's trade surplus for May made a change more likely, particularly ahead of the late June G-20 Summit in Toronto.

o   PBOC statement all but ruled out a large one-off revaluation of the Chinese currency and only indicated a return to the yuan's slow appreciation without being specific.

o   PBOC stressed that the float of the yuan will be "in both directions," meaning it may move down as well as up.

o   PBOC sd the move wouldn't hurt local exporters.

o   PBOC Adviser: Yuan Reform Aims To Help China Cope With Euro

§  Chinese exporters have faced pressures due to the yuan appreciation against the euro--since the start of this year the euro has fallen nearly 14% against the yuan amid the European debt crisis.

o   The statement came only one week before the Group of 20 meeting on June 26-27 in Canada. China wanted to avoid its currency policies from becoming a focus of international criticism at the summit.

o   US reaction mixed:

§  Obama Welcomes China's 'Constructive' Exchange Rate Move

§  Geithner welcomed the PBOC announcement in a press release, "Vigorous implementation would make a positive contribution to strong and balanced global growth."

§  Senator Charles Schumer (D, N.Y.) called China's announcement "vague and limited" in a statement issued Saturday.

§  Geithner:  After Saturday's announcement, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner cautioned that the impact of the move would depend on the next steps Beijing takes

§  China Forex Move Could Thwart US Hopes: Roubini – CNBC link

o   Yuan Move Heads Off G-20 Dispute – WSJ link

§  China's announcement puts it in a strong position going into a summit of the Group-of-20 countries, but does little to ease pressure from the U.S. Congress.

o   Euro Zone Welcomes China Pledge To Reform Renminbi Exchange Regime – Juncker

o   Japan Welcomes China Yuan Move, But Unlikely To See Benefits – WSJ

§  uniquely close and complex interdependence between Asia's two largest economies suggests the impact could hurt, as well as help,

o   Standard Chartered said that the dollar will show a knee-jerk fall against both emerging market and G-10 currencies, while particular beneficiaries should be those who export to China--whether in commodities or manufactured goods--such as the currencies of Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

o   In the statement in English and Chinese on the PBOC's Web site, the central bank said: "The global economy is gradually recovering. The recovery and upturn of the Chinese economy has become more solid with the enhanced economic stability."

·         Pragmatism Drove Beijing's Decision to Drop Peg

o   Chinese Government, Amid Domestic and International Pressure, Aimed for Maximum Diplomatic Reward

o   http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704638504575318671733450594.html?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLETopStories

·         Euro Creator Mundell Blasts CNY Depegging, Says May Erode Stability In Global And Chinese Economies – ZH link

o   Robert Mundell, the "intellectual" creator of the currently most despised monetary experiment in the history of the world, i.e., the euro, told reporters in Hong Kong, that "China’s pledge to return to a more flexible exchange-rate policy may erode stability in the global and Chinese economies." According to Bloomberg "keeping the yuan pegged to the dollar has been “a great source of stability” for China and the world, the Columbia University professor told reporters in Hong Kong today before giving a speech."

·         G-20 headlines will dominant this week

o   US vs EU :  Merkel Signals G-20 Clash With Obama On Financial Policy – DJ

·         Russia Backs Stronger Rivals To Dollar WSJ(6/19)

o   Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday said he hosted talks with Chinese leaders about turning the yuan into a convertible reserve currency, part of a broader goal to move international reserves assets into emerging-markets currencies and away from the dollar.

·         Russian Finance Minister: "There Are Doubts" On US Ability To Cut Deficit – DJ

·         Deutsche's Hooper: Crisis Needed In US To Focus Political Will – DJ

·         JAPAN: govt may raise FY10/11 GDP forecast to 2.6% from 1.4% this week because of strong Asia exports and stimulus measures boosting consumption of autos and electronics. The govt, also expected to announce its growth strategy plan at the G20 - TTN

·         EU/ UK headlines:

o   UK budget tomorrow in focus

§  Bloomberg) -- U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said he’ll raise taxes on banks and savers, while cutting welfare spending in a budget tomorrow that aims to close a record deficit without strangling an economic rebound

o   ECB Council Member: Should Sell Govt Bonds To Stabilization Fund – WSJ

§  The European Central Bank should consider selling billions of euros of government bonds to the euro zone's new stabilization fund, said George Provopoulos, a member of the bank's governing council, in an interview.

§   Mr. Provopoulos's proposal would unite two parallel props that the euro zone has put in place to prevent the debt crisis from worsening, while also ridding the ECB of some of the risks associated with the accumulation of government bonds.

o   ECB member Paramo said over the weekend the ECB will "absolutely not" provide banks with capital should stress tests show they need it – SA

o   The proposed publication of bank stress tests in Europe are fuelling fears over French and German banks’ exposure to weaker eurozone economies such as Greece, Portugal and Spain, reports the FT. Investors warn the tests could expose the European banking system’s interdependence and spread contagion

o   EU banks stress tests?  WSJ(6/19): No Good Answers From Euro Tests

§  European leaders may have hoped to draw a line under Europe's sovereign crisis by agreeing to publish individual bank stress-test results. But that may be easier said than done.

§  Which are being tested? What is being tested? And what will be done with the results? It isn't clear that what is being contemplated will provide convincing answers to any of them.

§  What the leaders appear to have agreed on -- and there are mixed messages across Europe over this -- is to publish bank-by-bank results of a stress test currently being conducted by the Committee of European Bank Supervisors. But if that is all they have to offer, it isn't going to convince anyone. This particular test covers about 25 of the largest European banks, excluding the majority of Spanish and German savings banks whose potential capital deficits most worry markets.

§   Nor is it likely to be particularly stressful.

o   US Officials Travel To Madrid As Spain Crisis Deepens-Embassy - DJ

§  A delegation of top U.S. Treasury officials visited Madrid on Thursday and Friday as Spain's financial and economic crisis deepened.

o   Talk of '2-Tier Euro Zone' Could Upset Euro: ING

§  Last week's rebound of Europe's single currency may be jeopardized by reports over the weekend that France and Germany are mulling a two-tier euro zone

§  A "super-euro" zone would initially include France, Germany, Holland, Austria, Denmark and Finland, a European official told UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph. Countries like Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Ireland would be left in a second-tier group

§  http://www.cnbc.com//id/37819702

o   ECB's Wellink commented that it was a positive phenomenon that the euro decline had been curbed. ECB to purchase Gov't bonds as long as monetary policy transmission needed - TTN

o   ECB steps up pressure for tougher budget rules

§  The core of the economic union is the surveillance of fiscal policies," he told television channel Russia Today, ahead of an address to European parliamentarians later on Monday.

§  http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/REFILE-WRAPUP-1-ECB-steps-up-pressure-for-tougher--6NBDF?opendocument&src=rss

o   An €11bn stress test scenario for Santander, BBVA FT Alphaville

§  While their initial “adverse scenario” assessment in March, concluded that both banks would need to raise €8bn to meet potential funding shortfalls, their latest findings now hike that figure to €11bn.

§  http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2010/06/21/266791/an-e11bn-stress-test-scenario-for-santander-bbva/

o   European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet blamed France and Germany for helping to pave the way to the current debt crisis in the euro zone by setting a poor fiscal example.   In remarks published Sunday in Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper

o   Medvedev: Russia Fears For Health Of Euro - AFP

§  Russia, which holds over 40% of its forex reserves in euros, fears for the health of the single currency after its dramatic plunge, President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday

§  Medvedev, giving the final speech of the Saint Petersburg economic forum, said Russia was also concerned about a second wave of the economic crisis.

o   Russia Fears For Greece:  markets are prepared to accept a default on Greek debt, Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said Saturday,  DJ

o   Moody's See Risk of Greek Default At 7% Over 5-Yrs – DJ

o   IMF Says Greek Program Looks On Track So Far – DJ

o   IMF's Lipsky: Not Negotiating With Spain – DJ

o   Goldman's O'Neill: Russian GDP May Grow 7% In 2010 – DJ

o   Investor Bets Against Euro Plummet By 44% - DJ

§  Investors dramatically scaled back their bets against the euro, according to data released Friday.  Bets against the euro plummeted by 44% compared to week-earlier levels

o   Former Bank of England member Blanchflower commented today that a UK double dip recession is 'absolutely certain', further reiterating that UK needs a sensible plan to reduce its deficit. – TTN

o   senior French official says new spending cuts are in the pipeline to help deliver the €100bn in savings needed to meet the country’s pledge of bringing its public deficit in line with European targets by 2013 - FT

§  http://link.ft.com/r/M2ZOXX/GKF8TB/007S7/8AQZVT/YHOXSD/T3/h

·         Data

o   UK June Rightmove house prices +5.0% y/y vs prior +4.3%

o   Japan April all-industry-activity index +1.8% m/m vs survey +2.0%

·         M&A: 

o   VRX Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Biovail (BVF) to merge

§  For Biovail stockholders, this transaction represents a 15% premium based on a calculation of the stock prices over the last 10 trading days.

§  call: 08:30 ET, 877-295-5743 (North America) or +1-973-200-3961, confirmation code 83365938.

o   JPMorgan Chase is proceeding with talks to buy a large Brazilian hedge fund and private equity group, despite impending US legislation aimed at limiting the involvement ...FT

o   LINTA Liberty Media Corp board authorizes management to split off Liberty Capital (LCAPA), Liberty Starz (LSTZA) tracking stock groups

§  call: 11:00 ET, 888-481-2877 or +1-719-457-2704

o   LZ Cognis owners choose lower offer from BASF (BAS.GR) over higher one from Lubrizol – Reuters

o   BASF Said to Announce Purchase of Cognis as Soon as Tomorrow - BBG

o   Corn Products International (CPO) to acquire National Starch (AKZA.NA) for $1.3B in cash

§  Conference call: 09:30 ET +1-719-325-4753

o   LNY:   Pershing Square Capital Management decides to support CEO's takeover of Landry's Seafood - WSJ

o   PTRY Barron's is positive on The Pantry, Barron's  says it could eventually become a takeover target

o   Time Warner (TWX) to acquire Shed Media for £75M, says Sunday Times

o   Acergy (ACY.NO) and Subsea 7 (SUB.NO) agree to merger.

o   Apollo to raise £770M offer for Brit Insurance Holdings this week, says Sunday Times

o   Aegon NV, the owner of U.S. insurer Transamerica Corp., rose in Amsterdam trading after a newspaper reported that the company is preparing to sell its U.K. life and pension business.  Bloomberg

o    

·         Hedge fund Magnetar Capital is a focus of an SEC investigation into mortgage deals that led to Wall Street losses. The fund had input into certain collateralized debt obligations.  WSJ

·         Hedge funds:  The rally in natural-gas prices has sparked losses for hedge funds that had been betting on a drop.  WSJ

·         Demand??:  Baltic Dry was down 3.2% on Friday, for the week, the Baltic Dry was down 18%...

·         Verizon Wireless could start a dividend in 2012, boosting Verizon Communications and Vodafone.  WSJ

·         DIS Toy Story 3 has largest opening ever for a Pixar (DIS) film -- LA Times

·         Google working on system to allow news providers to charge for content, says La Repubblica – NYT

o   http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/googles-newspass-is-the-king-of-free-about-to-help-news-providers-get-paid/

·         AFFY  Affymax and Takeda (4502.JP) announce Phase 3 trials meet primary endpoints for Hematide (peginesatide

o   AFFY Affymax to hold conference call and webcast at 08:00 ET 21-Jun

o   877-354-4057 (North America) or +1-224- 357-2391 (international), Conference ID 83101977.

·         Acer reveals rare price increase FT.com

o   The world’s second-largest PC company manages to raise the price of its products for the first time in five years as strong demand offsets the impact of rising cost pressures

·         Japan's prime minister is pushing to lower in stages the country's 40% corporate tax rate as part of a wider growth strategy. WSJ

·         BP stories:  BP dn 3% Monday on $ raising concerns (per BBG)

·         BP Says Oil Spill Up to 100,000 BPD; Cost $2 Billion – CNBC link

·         BP Managed to Blunt U.S. Demands – WSJ link

·         has succeeded in pushing back on two White House proposals it considered unreasonable even as it made large concessions

·         With $20 Billion Fund, BP Limiting Liability: Feinberg  – CNBC link

·         Cramer: A Hurricane Would 'Finish' BP  – CNBC link

·         BP and Anadarko turn on each other – FT link

·         The Obama administration “forced” BP Plc to take more aggressive steps to deal with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said when asked about the government’s response to the nation’s worst environmental disaster on ABC’s “This Week.”

·         BP To Raise $50 Bln To Cover Gulf Of Mexico Oil Spill Costs - The Sunday Times

o   Embattled oil company BP PLC (BP) plans to raise $50 billion to cover the cost of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, more than twice the amount previously disclosed

o   The board of directors approved the plan last week, the newspaper reports. The first wave of capital raising could come as soon as next week with a $10 billion bond sale. The company is also in talks with banks on arranging another $20 billion in loans. The final $20 billion is expected to come from asset sales over the next two years

·         BP $5B debt offering may yield between 8-10% -- CNBC

·         BP to sell North Sea interests, hold on to interest in TNK-BP (TNBP.RU) – Observer

·         BP CEO to head to Russia to tell President Dmitry Medvedev that company is not about to go under - FT

·         BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward on Saturday attended a prestigious yacht race in Britain, DJ reported, the day after it was confirmed he was handing over daily control of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

o   The story sparked fury from environmental groups in Britain, who said it was "yet another public relations disaster" for Hayward and BP, whose handling of the crisis has been slammed in the United States.

·         White House Calls Yacht Holiday By BP's Hayward 'Big Mistake' – DJ

·         Church of England may sell its BP shares on ethical rather than financial grounds - Daily Mail

·         BP Plans To Use Oil-Water Separators Made By Actor Costner's Co. (AFP)

o   Hollywood star Kevin Costner and BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles announced plans to begin using an invention that the actor says will accelerate clean-up of oily water from the gushing Gulf leak.  "I didn't come here to save the day," an emotional Costner told reporters here Friday, adding: "I have come to participate."

·         APC: BP: No Decision To Sue Anadarko Over Oil Spill Costs – DJ

o   BP said Sunday that it hasn't decided whether to sue Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC) for shirking

o   responsibility for its share of the liabilites resulting from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

o   The Sunday Telegraph reports that BP is planning to sue Anadarko for failing to take responsibility for its share of the cleanup costs and financial liabilities resulting from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill

·         APC::  BP planning to sue Anadarko Petroleum for its "fair share" of Gulf cleanup costs -- London Telegraph

o   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7840455/Oil-spill-BP-to-sue-partner-in-Gulf-oil-well.html

o   APC: Anadarko unleashed a broadside against BP.  WSJ

o   The minority partner of BP in the Gulf oil well accused the British company of "gross negligence or willful misconduct" that led to the spill.

o   APC: BP 'Strongly Disagrees' With Anadarko Pete Allegations - DJ

o   APC: Moody's downgrades Anadarko Petroleum to junk

·         Backlash Against Oil Could Backfire WSJ link

o   Troubling signals for the oil industry—not just BP—and its customers, have emerged.

·         Oil groups expect rethink on drill moratorium - FT

o   The big oil companies are keeping their rigs on standby in the Gulf of Mexico in expectation of at least a partial lifting of the moratorium on new deep-water drilling ahead of its scheduled ending in November

o   http://link.ft.com/r/M2ZOXX/GKF8TB/007S7/8AQZVT/BMK3G1/T3/h

·         Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama and Democratic lawmakers are trying to “seize on a crisis” to pass a “national energy tax,” Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said.

·         Obama administration to push to reinstate Superfund tax on oil, chemical companies - Washington Post

o   There is no question that the Superfund program, first established 30 years ago to clean up sites around the country contaminated with hazardous waste, is facing a budget crunch.

o   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/20/AR2010062001789.html

·         FRE, FNM:   NY Times notes that the bailouts of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could end up costing more than the rescue of the banking industry

o   http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/business/20foreclose.html?hp=&pagewanted=all

·         Volcker Rule under attack this week…NYT

o   Banking Lobbyists Make a Run at Reform Measures

o   To secure the support needed for their bill, Senate negotiators are leaning toward creating a series of exemptions to the Volcker Rule that would allow banks to continue to operate these businesses as investment funds that hold only client money

o   http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/21/business/21volcker.html?ref=business

·         GS:  SEC Approves Goldman Extension To Respond To Lawsuit

o   Goldman Sachs Group (GS) has been given extra time to respond to the government's civil-fraud lawsuit after obtaining approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an extension

o   has been filed with a New York federal court judge. It could allow Goldman's lawyers and the SEC to hold more face-to-face discussions about the case in the coming weeks.  DJ

·         Citi CEO Pandit: "Credit Story Is Getting Better" Worldwide--CNBC

·         Citi CEO Pandit: Concerned About Basel Capital Rules - DJ

o   Citigroup Inc. (C) Chief Executive Vikram Pandit said Friday he is concerned that the capital rules being hammered out by international bank regulators could hamper lending

o   Pandit, in Russia for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, said on CNBC that the new rules the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision is working on are of concern not for United States banks, which have mostly beefed up capital over the last 12 months. Rather, the economies around the world could suffer if too much capital is tied up at banks and not made available for loans, the CEO said.

·         JNJ:  Bribery Probe Of Top China Official Linked To J&J - AFP

o   A top official at China's food and drug safety watchdog who is under investigation has been linked to alleged bribery cases involving U.S. giant Johnson & Johnson

o    Zhang Jingli, one of four deputy heads of China's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), is being investigated for "suspected serious disciplinary violations," the official Xinhua news agency reported earlier this week.

·         Airlines:  UK, Unite Union is planning for a possible third strike tomorrow. According to the Guardian, Unite is expected to notify British Airways of a new ballot of 11,000 members. Unite are in preparation for vote that may be sent to British Airways as early as tomorrow, which would allow voting in a week. If strikes are to occur, actions may begin as soon as 3rd of August depending on voting results by flight attendants.  TTN

·         Miners:   POSCO GAINS 4.2% ON YUAN, POSSIBLE PRICE INCREASE   

·         Miners:  BHP Billiton (BLT.LN) and Rio Tinto (RIO.LN) confirm agreement with the government of Western Australia to amend royalties and State agreements

·         Miners:   Ernst & Young throws doubt on Australia's mining super tax Telegraph

o   The model the Australian government used to assess its proposed resources super-tax was "flawed" because it didn't take into account that investment can move elsewhere, according to research from Ernst & Young.

·         Aluminum Bottoms With Ghosn Outlook Helping Deripaska – BBG

o   Billionaire Oleg Deripaska’s forecast for a potential shortfall in aluminum supplies and record global car output predicted by Carlos Ghosn mean the world’s second most-used metal may be about to rebound.

·         Autos: 

o   Several European auto companies announce bond offerings - TTN

o   Toyota, Honda boost China pay as flexible yuan may erode profit Automotive News

§  Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. sacrificed earnings in China by raising wages to end strikes last week. The government's decision to let the yuan strengthen may further erode profits

§  http://www.autonews.com/article/20100620/GLOBAL03/100629999/1131

o   Honda  WSJ: Honda Hit By New Labor Dispute In Guangdong

o   Toyota said Sunday that it will resume operations at an auto assembly plant in China starting Monday as a strike at a local parts plant was settled Saturday amid labor disputes spreading at automobile factories in the world's biggest auto market – DJ

·         FX, Yuan impact on industry:  Air China (601111.CH) and other carriers in the country jumped 7-8% on the belief that a stronger yuan will cut the companies’ dollar costs and reduce their debt burdens

·         FX, Yuan impact on industry:   Luxury shares rally on the back of China's decision to abandon the US$ peg and allow more flexibility to the yuan exchange. The move has been seen as a show of confidence on China's prospects and the outlook for the global economy.  Cheuvreux says the announcement of a shift in Beijing's currency  policy should  boost China's earnings contribution to Western companies. SWATCH (+5.68%) and RICHEMONT (+4.88%) are among companies with notable mainland China  sales exposure – S&P

·         FX,  EUR impact on industry:  Germany's MTU Aero Engines May Raise Guidance

o   German equipment maker MTU Aero Engines Holding AG's (MTUAY) earnings could receive a boost from the euro's low external value, weekly Euro am Sonntag reports Sunday.

·         Geo – Politics: 

o   Russia Cuts Gas Deliveries to Belarus NYT

§  The decision to cut deliveries of natural gas to Belarus over unpaid debts could jeopardize supplies to Poland and other European countries.

§  ordered Gazprom to gradually reduce supplies sent through Belarus, whose pipelines carry roughly 20 percent of Russia’s experts to Europe.

§  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/world/europe/22belarus.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

o   LAGARDE WANTS EUROPE REGULATION OF COMMODITY DERIVATIVES: ECHOS

o   Obama Blasts Republicans For Blocking Vote On Jobless Bill - DJ

§  President Barack Obama on Saturday used his weekly radio address to blast Republicans for blocking attempts to allow votes on legislation that would extend jobless benefits and raise the liability for oil companies that harm the environment.

o   Obama To Sue To Strike Down Ariz Illegal Immigrant Law

§  The Obama administration will try to strike down the controversial Arizona law targeting illegal immigrants, the New York Times

o   US Mulls Unilateral Financial Sanctions On N. Korea—Kyodo

o   Iran bars two IAEA inspectors Financial Times

§  In a rare move, Iran has barred two UN nuclear inspectors from entering its territory for allegedly disclosing the “totally unreal” contents of a report before the International Atomic Energy Agency studied it, a senior official

o   Israel spells out plan to ease Gaza blockade - FT

§  Israel has moved to calm international disquiet over its Gaza policy by spelling out how it plans to ease the blockade of the territory ahead of a meeting between Benjamin Netanyahu and Barack Obama next month

§  http://link.ft.com/r/M2ZOXX/GKF8TB/007S7/8AQZVT/KER8ZV/T3/h

o   Medvedev’s U.S. Trip Aids Push to Reset Economic Ties – BBG

§  Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama will try to jumpstart economic links this week as Russia’s president travels to Silicon Valley and Washington, building on improved political ties after the U.S. “reset” relations.

o   Rahm Emanuel Expected to Quit White House

§  Telegraph) -- Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, is expected to leave his job later this year after growing tired of the "idealism" of Barack Obama's inner circle.  Washington insiders say he will quit within six to eight months in frustration at their unwillingness to "bang heads together" to get policy pushed through.

Upcoming this week:

 

  • Economics:
    • There are no major events scheduled this session
  • Earnings:
    • There are no major companies reporting this session

 

Busy week before street gets lazy for 4th of July:  Fed, Financials overhaul, some earnings and conferences to pay attention to, G20 next week,  and any word on EU bank stress tests

 

Eco data:

 

·         FOMC Meeting dominates:  Wednesday will also see the FOMC announcing its decision on    interest rates in the US, with analysts expecting the Fed to keep rates  unchanged and reiterate its message regarding health of the US economy. The final reading of US 1Q GDP is due on Friday, expected to be unchanged at+3.0%.

·         Durable Goods Orders (May)

·         6/22…Richmond Fed Mfg. Survey (Jun)

·         6/24  KC Fed Manufacturing Survey (Jun)

·         6/25  Gross Domestic Product (Q1)

·         Preliminary May U.S. steel imports are due at 10AM ET, June 22

·         Eurozone flash manufacturing and services PMI are the highlights of the European data    calendar, although they are seen showing little variation month-on-month

·         6/23 BoE release minutes of prior (9 & 10th June) MPC meeting

 

Housing data:

·         Reporting this week:  LEN 6/24 and KB Home 6/25,

·         6/22  Existing Home Sales (May)

·         6/22   FHFA House Prices (Apr)

·         6/23 Architecture Billings Index

·         6/23  New Home Sales (May)

 

Corporate news:

 

 

·         Tech, homebuilders, consumer busy with earnings…

 

·         Reporting 6/22:  WAG, ADBE, JBL, CMC, RHT, PRGS, JEF

·         Reporting 6/23:  KMX, RAD, BBBY, DRI, NKE, PAYX,

·         Reporting 6/24:   CAG, LEN PALM, ACN, ORCL, RIMM, HRB, DFS

·         Reporting 6/25:   KB Home

·         BBBY to report results after-market on June 23rd

·          CCL to report earnings before-market on June 22nd

·         6/23: KBR  Analyst and Investor Day

·         6/24:   DELL  Analyst Meeting – Austin

·         6/21:  JNJ:  FDA's Pediatric Advisory Committee will discuss pediatric safety of several drugs

 

·         financial reform bills:  Geithner echoed the claims of top lawmakers -- expressing confidence that the House and Senate's financial reform bills will be merged and signed by the Fourth of July.   – The Hill

·         Financial Reform: Schedule for Next Week…most likely the Big issues on the table now

o   Tuesday, June 22: Volcker Rule, Resolution Fund, Collins Rule

o   Wednesday, June 23: CFPA and Interchange.

o   Thursday, June 24: Derivatives and whatever else is left.

·         UK budget due:  investors will be keeping a firm eye on events in the UK on    Tuesday. Fewer than 50 days after the general election, the new coalition    government announces its emergency budget.

 

CONFERENCES busy, including:

 

o   Big conference for Shipping companies:   Marine Money Week (June 22-24, 2010)

o   Deutsche Bank Industrials Conference

o   Jefferies Consumer Conference

o   Wells Fargo Securities Healthcare Conference

o   Wells Fargo Financial Services Conf

 

 

·         BP bond sales this week?  BBG says possible

·         Fed watch, rates:  Next week, Fed Officials May Trim U.S. Growth Outlook on Europe Risks (BBG)

o   Federal Reserve officials may trim forecasts for U.S. economic growth when they meet next week to set interest rates as Europe’s debt crisis saps demand for American goods and roils financial markets

o    Central bankers may reduce their 2010 estimates by “several tenths” of a percentage point and as much as 0.75 point for 2011, said former Fed Governor Lyle Gramley. That would mark a reversal from April, when officials raised their projections for this year to a range of 3.2 percent to 3.7 percent and left 2011 and 2012 forecasts little changed

o    The new estimates are likely to reinforce the Fed’s pledge, in place since March 2009, that interest rates will stay very low for an “extended period,” said former Fed researcher John Ryding.

·         Obama to meet senators on energy bill next week- Reuters

o   President Barack Obama will meet key Republican and Democratic senators on June 23 to discuss a way forward for energy legislation that is currently stalled in the Senate

·         G20:  2010 G8/G20 Summit:  June 25-27 in Canada

·         G20 in focus next week:  Obama tells EU to Spend, spend spend!:  President Barack Obama urged the Group of 20 nations to “safeguard and strengthen” the global economic recovery with continued stimulus, setting up a possible split at next week’s leaders’ summit as European governments push to cut budget deficits.  his focus on growth is at odds with that of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s preference for budget cuts amid Europe’s debt crisis. Continued stimulus risks bondholder revolt - BBG

·         Big mkt trigger:  Europe Stress Tests: Expected over the next few weeks to impact countries and banks.  Focus on Spanish banks especially

o   Berlin, which had been skeptical about revealing details of tests on the financial health of its banks, dropped its objections after both France and Spain came out in favor of a move the Obama administration has pressed Europe to take.

o   Lagarde said the results should be made public ideally before the end of July- Reuters

 

TODAY’S BIG STORIES

·         Credit Markets:  Bond Sales Make Comeback as Swap Spreads Narrow - BBG

o   corporate bond sales are back to levels not seen since April as interest-rate swap spreads show investors are gaining confidence that Europe’s debt crisis is contained

o   $36.1 billion of global sales last week, the most since the period ended April 23

·         Credit Markets:   Corporate Defaults Slide to 1%, but Future Is Uncertain - Fitch

o   Corporate defaults have fallen to an annualized rate of barely 1% in 2010, but that drop belies a highly uncertain outlook for the remainder of the year and beyond, Fitch Ratings said.

o   High-yield defaults have slowed so sharply in 2010 that even the most optimistic forecasts don't reflect that defaults are running at a full-year rate of roughly 1%, Fitch noted. In the first five months of 2010, there have been nine issuer defaults affecting a combined $1.7 billion in bonds, for a year-to-date par default rate of less than half a percent, according to a report released by Fitch on Monday.

·         Central banks are the weak link in finance, IMF's Lipsky says

o   A big lesson that should have been learned from the financial crisis is that central banks and other monetary regulators need to do a better job, said John Lipsky, deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Before the crisis, central banks didn't understand risks presented by new financial products and weren't able to make sure financial firms under their supervision understood them either, he said. Emirates Business 24/7 (United Arab Emirates) (21 Jun.)

·         Is the Fed out of bullets?  CNN link

 

o   Economists are more nervous about the chances of another recession. And one of biggest fears is that the Federal Reserve may have run out of bullets to fight another downturn.

·         Earnings season is coming -  Barron's wrap

o   Mid - July, companies should report robust second-quarter profits, and analysts see a 27% rise from last year

o   Since mid-May, Wall Street analysts have quit nudging estimates higher, says Thomson Reuters analyst John Butters. But they haven't cut them, either – despite evidence of weakening global growth.

o   Particularly vulnerable are analysts' projections for Standard & Poor's 500 companies to earn $96.43 in 2011. That's a 17.5% increase from 2010 and would surpass the $88.18 earned in 2006 as the best year ever.

·         Demand …..and supply: Factories Grapple With How Fast to Ramp Up - WSJ

o   Everyone wants to ramp up," says Mike Arnold, executive vice president of the company's bearings and power-transmission group. "But nobody wants to overcapitalize," he says. "It's a very tough call."

o   Any mistakes could be costly. Bringing idled capacity back online too quickly can damp prices, as is beginning to happen in the steel industry

o   http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703302604575294604002361446.html?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTWhatsNews

·         Jobs good news:   WSJ(6/19) States See Growth In Jobs

o   The sluggish U.S. jobs recovery is inching beyond the industrial South and Midwest, and is spreading toward the service-heavy economies of the two coasts, in a sign of hope for a labor force hit by the worst recession in generations

o   New Labor Department data, released Friday, showed that the decline in unemployment was widespread: The jobless rate fell last month from April in 37 states, plus the District of Columbia

o   "The recovery has spread out," said Steven Cochrane, an economist at Moody's Analytics.

·         Jobs:  Employers in U.S. add hours but not workers

o   An overlooked bright spot in U.S. unemployment statistics is an increase in the average number of hours worked per week, which rose from 34.1 in April to 34.2 in May. Rather than adding employees, many companies are meeting customer demand by shifting part-time workers to full time and giving full-time employees more overtime. USA TODAY (20 Jun.)

·         Taxes:  barrons  says it pays to take a good look at exactly what is happening in Washington. 

o   With congressional elections approaching in November, many policy makers would be more comfortable sidestepping the politically charged issue of taxes.

o   But if Congress takes no action, the tax cuts enacted by President Bush in 2001 and 2003 will expire at year's end, and tax rates could go up significantly for almost all taxpayers.

o   The current 10% bracket will disappear. While income cutoffs haven't been specified, couples earning up to about $70,000 would probably pay a 15% rate. The 25%, 28%, 33% and 35% brackets would most likely pop up to 28%, 31%, 36% and 39.6%

o   Letting the Bush cuts lapse also would push the long-term capital-gains rate from 15% to 20%. Dividends, now taxed at  15%, would become subject to rates on ordinary income.

o   But the chance that Congress will allow all of that to happen is close to nil.

·         Stock Split Levels Still Are Low – may rise - Barron's cites S&P

o   Could stock splits make a comeback? Howard Silverblatt, Standard & Poor's senior index analyst, thinks so. The logic for splits is gone, he says, but there is something else to consider: the logic of psychology.

o   Ten years ago, Silverblatt notes, there were 83 stock splits by S&P 500 companies. Last year, there was just one, by AmerisourceBergen (ticker: ABC). Thus far in 2010, he has counted three, by Danaher (DHR), Express Scripts (ESRX) andGeneral Mills (GIS). All were 2-for-1 divisions.

·         Financially stressed U.S. states reduce pension, delay retirement

o   U.S. state governments are increasingly scaling back pension benefits and making employees work longer before retiring, as they face reduced tax revenue and a widening budget deficit. Despite these changes, some experts predicted that the pension funds of Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana and New Jersey will run out in less than 10 years  NYT (6/19)

·         Private-equity tax change may go on ice NY Post

o   The fate of the jobs bill that includes carried interest and extending unemployment benefits is up in the air, a Republican source said.

o   On Friday, Democrats voted to break into pieces the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 -- bringing to the floor a piece that extends current Medicare physician payments for six months but leaves more controversial pieces in committee.

o   Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/private_equity_tax_change_may_go_XTBK1QHRUBKdD0UCt1tWOO?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=#ixzz0rTh9rsng

·         No China inflation spiral ??  World Bank: Wages Can Rise In China WSJ(6/19)

o   The World Bank said Friday the recent round of wage increases in China is unlikely to set off an inflationary spiral, as Chinese companies can absorb pay increases by raising productivity.

o   In its latest quarterly update on China, the World Bank also said Beijing should raise interest rates, which would be more effective than the administrative and regulatory approaches undertaken so far to rein in overinvestment and real-estate speculation.

·         As China Aids Labor, Unrest Is Still Rising NYT

o   Laws enacted in 2008 to protect workers have raised worker consciousness and may be contributing to a rise in labor disputes.

o   http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=388127d7d0487a73f97e0b50cd6d3e33

·         China and Taiwan's airlines have agreed to cut airfares for flights across the strait by 10%-15%, the official Xinhua News Agency

o   Li Jiaxiang, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China made his comment at a forum discussing cross-strait relationships

o   two sides will each add 50 flights a week across the straits

·         Japan compensation:  Sony Corp. (6758.TO) said Friday Chief Executive Howard Stringer received about Y410 million ($4.5 million) in total compensation and stock options worth Y415 million during the fiscal year ended March. 

o   The announcement is the first closely-watched disclosure of the until-now largely confidential salary details of Japan's top executives.

o   Recently introduced corporate disclosure rules are expected to shed light on the long-suspected gap in compensation levels between non-Japanese executives and their Japanese counterparts.

·         Foreign Investors Reinforcing Presence In Japan Inc. -Nikkei

o   Foreign ownership of listed Japanese companies has risen in terms of market value, The Nikkei reports in its Sunday edition, citing Tokyo Stock Exchange data.  Foreign investors reinforced their presence in Japan Inc. in fiscal 2009, buying more than Y6 trillion more Japanese shares than they sold.

·         Russia   Goldman Far More Bullish On Russia Than IMF, World Bank - DJ

o   Russia's economy may surprise in 2010 with growth of 7%, Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O'Neill said Saturday, suggesting an expansion two percentage points ahead of official forecasts

o   "The big surprise is Russia is going to grow close to 7% for the next two years," O'Neill told Dow Jones Newswires on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Forum.

·         Russia may save up to 37 billion rubles (around $1.2 billion) annually over the next three years by cutting 20% of  government employees, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said Saturday.  DJ

·         Oliver Stone's  Pro-Chavez Documentary Bombs In Venezuela

o   Oliver Stone's latest documentary "South of the Border," which offers a mostly favorable view of Venezuela's anti-U.S. government President Hugo Chavez, has been a flop at theaters in Venezuela, according to the entertainment trade magazine Variety - DJ

o   In the 12 days after its June 4 debut, it grossed only $18,601 on 20 screens in Venezuela

·         An al Qaeda-linked insurgent shot and killed his own father for refusing to quit his job as an Iraqi interpreter for the U.S. military. according to authorities.  DJ

·         Caracas Asks Interpol To Arrest Anti-Chavez Media Mogul (AFP)--The Venezuela government on Friday asked Interpol to arrest opposition Globovision TV boss Guillermo Zuloaga, who ran afoul of President Hugo Chavez earlier this year for allegedly slandering him.

·         Polish presidential elections are to be extended as the leading candidate was unable to claim a majority thus continuing a second round of voting. Though various polling data indicate that interim president Komorowski was in the lead, he may still be below the 50% needed for outright victory. A runoff appears likely to continue on Sunday, the 4th of July - TTN

 

COMPANY NEWS WITH MACRO IMPLICATIONS

 

 

·         Changes in the latest IBD 100 List:

o   Added: AAPL, WRLD, CRUS, CYD, BIG, FFG, ANV, AIXG, CPLA, SAN, CRVL, WIT, BCPC, NFX.

o   Deleted: WX, JOSB, BGH, ARO, ESRX, ROVI, COH, UHS, PLCE, DSW, ABII, EZPW, WMS, BAP.

 

·         Barron's summary:

o   Cover: Suggestions on efforts taxpayers might take to reduce the impacts of likely coming tax increases.

o   Interview: Investment banker and author Robert Lawrence Kuhn discusses China and its reforms efforts.

o   MET Positive on MetLife with the addition of Alico.

o   SF Positive on Stifel Financial, Thomas Weisel merger should bolster its competitive position.

o   Positive on 4 U.S. steel stocks: X, NUE, STLD, AKS.

o   Positive on The Pantry (PTRY), it could eventually become a takeover target.

o   Economic Beat defends his use of the CPI, especially of Core CPI.

o   Other Voices argues in favor of investing in BP (BP). The company could earn its way out of trouble as the costs from the spill will likely be spread out over several years.

o   Editorial calls price-fixing the third greatest refuge of scoundrel governments as it discusses Greece's recently lowered prices for pharmaceuticals.

o   The Trader suggests it is time to take profits in Netflix (NFLX) and says any technical selling of America Movil (AMX) due to the rebalancing of the IPC could be cause for buying.

o   European Trader is positive on ArcelorMittal (MT) saying the recent drop appears overdone.

o   Asia Trader says the IPO of Agricultural Bank of China could provide a boost for other listed Chinese banks.

o   Current Yield says that investors who can handle volatility need to look at the bonds of BP (BP).

o   The Striking Price speculates on the idea of the NYSE Euronext (NYX) buying the Chicago Board of Options Exchange (CBOE) saying it would create a U.S. derivatives powerhouse.

o   Commodities Corner says platinum will rise into the end of the year and into 2011 even if the near term is choppy.

o   Follow Up says Exxon (XOM) could rise once it closes the XTO deal later this month and is still positive on Mela Sciences (MELA) saying the delay in FDA approval is likely the fault of the FDA's process and not the company's device.

o   Up and Down Wall Street discusses the negative impact the political sphere is having on the markets and considers future Fed policy moves.

o   Streetwise believes this earnings season will focus on margins and may lead to downward earnings revisions as companies once again spend some money on growth.

o   D.C. Current notes the continued problems at small banks citing the failure of 91 banks, many of them small, community banks, to pay dividends on their TARP investments.

o   Speaking of Dividends says share splits may come back in style for the psychological reason that investors like splits, in the opinion of one analyst.

o   Technology Trader says Nokia (NOK) needs to take drastic action because it is being crushed at the high end in this era of app-phones driven by consumer marketing, not carrier relationships. The shares are a value trap.

o   Plugged In notes the expected Supreme Court decision on business method patents and the potential to impact all sorts of companies that rely upon patented software.

 

·         Stocks mentioned on CNBC's Mad Money with Jim Cramer - TheStreet.com

o   + MWE, VRTX, SJM, CREE, CRUS, STD, S, SPW  

o   – GMCR

 

 

Energy

 

·         BP stories:  BP dn 3% Monday on $ raising concerns (per BBG)

·         BP Says Oil Spill Up to 100,000 BPD; Cost $2 Billion – CNBC link

·         BP Managed to Blunt U.S. Demands – WSJ link

·         has succeeded in pushing back on two White House proposals it considered unreasonable even as it made large concessions

·         With $20 Billion Fund, BP Limiting Liability: Feinberg  – CNBC link

·         Cramer: A Hurricane Would 'Finish' BP  – CNBC link

·         BP and Anadarko turn on each other – FT link

·         The Obama administration “forced” BP Plc to take more aggressive steps to deal with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said when asked about the government’s response to the nation’s worst environmental disaster on ABC’s “This Week.”

·         BP To Raise $50 Bln To Cover Gulf Of Mexico Oil Spill Costs - The Sunday Times

o   Embattled oil company BP PLC (BP) plans to raise $50 billion to cover the cost of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, more than twice the amount previously disclosed

o   The board of directors approved the plan last week, the newspaper reports. The first wave of capital raising could come as soon as next week with a $10 billion bond sale. The company is also in talks with banks on arranging another $20 billion in loans. The final $20 billion is expected to come from asset sales over the next two years

·         BP $5B debt offering may yield between 8-10% -- CNBC

·         BP to sell North Sea interests, hold on to interest in TNK-BP (TNBP.RU) – Observer

·         BP CEO to head to Russia to tell President Dmitry Medvedev that company is not about to go under - FT

·         BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward on Saturday attended a prestigious yacht race in Britain, DJ reported, the day after it was confirmed he was handing over daily control of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

o   The story sparked fury from environmental groups in Britain, who said it was "yet another public relations disaster" for Hayward and BP, whose handling of the crisis has been slammed in the United States.

·         White House Calls Yacht Holiday By BP's Hayward 'Big Mistake' – DJ

·         Church of England may sell its BP shares on ethical rather than financial grounds - Daily Mail

·         BP Plans To Use Oil-Water Separators Made By Actor Costner's Co. (AFP)

o   Hollywood star Kevin Costner and BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles announced plans to begin using an invention that the actor says will accelerate clean-up of oily water from the gushing Gulf leak.  "I didn't come here to save the day," an emotional Costner told reporters here Friday, adding: "I have come to participate."

·         APC: BP: No Decision To Sue Anadarko Over Oil Spill Costs – DJ

o   BP said Sunday that it hasn't decided whether to sue Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC) for shirking

o   responsibility for its share of the liabilites resulting from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

o   The Sunday Telegraph reports that BP is planning to sue Anadarko for failing to take responsibility for its share of the cleanup costs and financial liabilities resulting from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill

·         APC::  BP planning to sue Anadarko Petroleum for its "fair share" of Gulf cleanup costs -- London Telegraph

o   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7840455/Oil-spill-BP-to-sue-partner-in-Gulf-oil-well.html

o   APC: Anadarko unleashed a broadside against BP.  WSJ

o   The minority partner of BP in the Gulf oil well accused the British company of "gross negligence or willful misconduct" that led to the spill.

o   APC: BP 'Strongly Disagrees' With Anadarko Pete Allegations - DJ

o   APC: Moody's downgrades Anadarko Petroleum to junk

·         Backlash Against Oil Could Backfire WSJ link

o   Troubling signals for the oil industry—not just BP—and its customers, have emerged.

·         Oil groups expect rethink on drill moratorium - FT

o   The big oil companies are keeping their rigs on standby in the Gulf of Mexico in expectation of at least a partial lifting of the moratorium on new deep-water drilling ahead of its scheduled ending in November

o   http://link.ft.com/r/M2ZOXX/GKF8TB/007S7/8AQZVT/BMK3G1/T3/h

·         Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama and Democratic lawmakers are trying to “seize on a crisis” to pass a “national energy tax,” Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said.

·         Obama administration to push to reinstate Superfund tax on oil, chemical companies - Washington Post

o   There is no question that the Superfund program, first established 30 years ago to clean up sites around the country contaminated with hazardous waste, is facing a budget crunch.

o   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/20/AR2010062001789.html

 

 

 

·         WLT Walter Energy COO George Richemond to retire effective 31-Jul

·         XTEX Crosstex Energy adding new supply to North Texas gathering system

·         TAC Transalta appoints Brett Gellner CFO; succeeding Brian Burden

·         SRE Sempra LNG reports Mexican court order to provisionally suspend regulatory authorizations for operation of LNG terminal in Mexico

·         END Endeavour International reports positive results from US drilling initiative

·         BP Rosnfet willing to buy shares back if BP wants to sell them - Vedomosti

·         UK Windfarms Paid To Stop Generating Electricity

o   U.K. windfarm companies are paid not to produce electricity when the wind is blowing, the Sunday Telegraph reports

o    In the first successful test shutdown last month, Scottish Power, the U.K. arm of Spain's Iberdrola SA (IBE.CM), received GBP13,000 for stopping two farms for just over an hour

o    National Grid PLC (NGG), the U.K.'s power grid operator, fears that on breezy summer nights, wind farms could cause a surge in the electricity supply which isn't met by demand. Electricity, unlike other forms of energy, can't be stored in large quantities.

o   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/windpower/7840035/Firms-paid-to-shut-down-wind-farms-when-the-wind-is-blowing.html

 

·         UTILITIES

o   DPL DPL Inc. reaffirms f10 EPS guidance of a midpoint of $2.45

o   NRG NRG Energy names current EVP, COO John Ragan as EVP and Regional President, Texas, effective 1-Jul

 

Tech/media/ telecom sectors

 

o   DELL: in talks with GOOG over Chrome OS - Business Spectator

o   VZ : Verizon Wireless could start a dividend in 2012, boosting Verizon Communications and Vodafone- WSJ

o   Vodafone Outlook Revised to Stable From Negative by Fitch

o   Acer reveals rare price increase (first time in 5 years)- FT

o   Fujitsu Pushes for Overseas Growth- WSJ

o   AAPL, MOT : Apple Slip Gives Motorola a Break - TheStreet.com

o   AAPL:  iPhone 4 Starts Shipping, Some Pre-Orders Canceled

o   AMZN, AAPL : Amazon Sells More E-Books,For Less,Than Apple- All thing Digital

o   Telstra , Australia Reach Broadband Deal- WSJ

o   DTV : Malone Locks In Gains At DirecTV, Mr. Malone on Thursday hedged a portion of his billion-dollar stake with short- and long-term options contracts. - WSJ

o   SNE: Sony said Chief Executive Howard Stringer received about Y410m ($4.5m) in total compensation and stock options worth Y415 million during the fiscal year ended March

o   The announcement is the first closely-watched disclosure of the until-now largely confidential salary details of Japan's top executives

o   SEN, NTDOY: PlayStation Move Isn't Much More Than A Wii HD (SNE, NTDOY)- Silicon Valley Insider

o   China-based BOE adds 4 billion yuan for 8G LCD fab project- Digitimes

o   E-books: Global e-book reader shipments reach 740,000 units in April-May- Digitimes

o   Solar: China solar module makers raise quotes by 3%- Digitimes

o   Toshiba takes on Amazon and Apple with dual-screen PC- Reuters

 

Miners/ steel sectors  etc

·         Miners:   POSCO GAINS 4.2% ON YUAN, POSSIBLE PRICE INCREASE   

·         Positive on 4 U.S. steel stocks: X, NUE, STLD, AKS.  Barons

·         Miners:  BHP Billiton (BLT.LN) and Rio Tinto (RIO.LN) confirm agreement with the government of Western Australia to amend royalties and State agreements

·         Miners:   Ernst & Young throws doubt on Australia's mining super tax Telegraph

o   The model the Australian government used to assess its proposed resources super-tax was "flawed" because it didn't take into account that investment can move elsewhere, according to research from Ernst & Young.

·         Aluminum Bottoms With Ghosn Outlook Helping Deripaska – BBG

o   Billionaire Oleg Deripaska’s forecast for a potential shortfall in aluminum supplies and record global car output predicted by Carlos Ghosn mean the world’s second most-used metal may be about to rebound.

·         Ernst & Young throws doubt on Australia's mining super tax Telegraph

o   The model the Australian government used to assess its proposed resources super-tax was "flawed" because it didn't take into account that investment can move elsewhere, according to research from Ernst & Young.

·         Australia Mine Execs Aboard Missing Africa Plane – CNBC link

·         Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton   Reuters) - Iron ore miners Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have agreed to pay higher royalty rates to the Western Australian state government in return for approval for their $116 billion joint venture

 

·         LZ Cognis owners choose lower offer from BASF over higher one from Lubrizol - Reuters

 

INDUSTRIALS

·         TPC Tutor Perini Corporation enters 10b5-1 plan to facilitate share repurchases between 2-Jul and 4-Aug

·         TBUS DRI Corp appoints Kathleen Oher VP, CFO, Secretary, and Treasurer

·         RADA Rada Electronic Industries signs $6.5M aircraft upgrade contract with customer in Latin America

·         ESLT Elbit Systems awarded $130M C4I contract with a Latin American army

·         BA WSJ discusses concerns over Boeing cock-it-oxygen systems

 

 

TRANSPORTS

o   UK to start auction of High Speed One as soon as today - FT 

 

Autos sector: 

·         Honda  WSJ: Honda Hit By New Labor Dispute In Guangdong

·         Toyota said Sunday that it will resume operations at an auto assembly plant in China starting Monday as a strike at a local parts plant was settled Saturday amid labor disputes spreading at automobile factories in the world's biggest auto market – DJ

·         Chrysler   WSJ(6/19) Most Chrysler Dealers Had Profit In Quarter

o   Auto dealers for Chrysler Group LLC are still contending with sluggish sales but are starting to see some signs of a recovery, according to company officials who work with its franchisees.

·         Renault's Ghosn Open To Collaboration With US Carmaker-Report

o   Renault SA (RNO.FR) is open to collaborating with a U.S. carmaker, Chairman and Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn told Il Sole 24 Ore

o   Fiat SpA (F.MI) has a 20% stake in Chrysler Group LLC (C.XX) that it plans to increase, implying that any Renault plans in the U.S. would involve Ford Motor Co. (F) or General Motors Corp. (GM).

 

Financials:

 

 

·         FRE, FNM:   NY Times notes that the bailouts of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could end up costing more than the rescue of the banking industry

o    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/business/20foreclose.html?hp=&pagewanted=all

·         Volcker Rule under attack this week…NYT

o    Banking Lobbyists Make a Run at Reform Measures

o    To secure the support needed for their bill, Senate negotiators are leaning toward creating a series of exemptions to the Volcker Rule that would allow banks to continue to operate these businesses as investment funds that hold only client money

o    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/21/business/21volcker.html?ref=business

·         Basel Committee agrees to delay capital rules by one year

o    The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision agreed to postpone new capital rules for banks by a year. "The Committee agreed to a coordinated start-date of not later than Dec. 31, 2011 for all elements of the July 2009 trading book package," the panel said in a statement. The banking industry had argued that more time is needed to implement the requirements and lauded the Basel Committee's decision. Reuters (18 Jun.)

·         GS:  SEC Approves Goldman Extension To Respond To Lawsuit

o    Goldman Sachs Group (GS) has been given extra time to respond to the government's civil-fraud lawsuit after obtaining approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an extension

o    has been filed with a New York federal court judge. It could allow Goldman's lawyers and the SEC to hold more face-to-face discussions about the case in the coming weeks.  DJ

·         Citi CEO Pandit: "Credit Story Is Getting Better" Worldwide--CNBC

·         Citi CEO Pandit: Concerned About Basel Capital Rules - DJ

o    Citigroup Inc. (C) Chief Executive Vikram Pandit said Friday he is concerned that the capital rules being hammered out by international bank regulators could hamper lending

o    Pandit, in Russia for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, said on CNBC that the new rules the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision is working on are of concern not for United States banks, which have mostly beefed up capital over the last 12 months. Rather, the economies around the world could suffer if too much capital is tied up at banks and not made available for loans, the CEO said.

·         RBS Royal Bank of Scotland in sale talks with HSBC concerning Indian commercial and retail unit -- Bloomberg  

·         C Banco Santander among the leading bidders for Citi's CitiFinancial Auto -- NY Post  

·         UMPQ Umpqua Bank acquires Nevada Security Bank in FDIC-assisted transaction - PR

·         GS SEC has agreed to give Goldman Sachs additional time to respond to 16-Apr fraud lawsuit -- Bloomberg, citing 2 people with direct knowledge

·         LTS Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services completed the sale of 13.325M shares at $1 per share on 15-Jun

·         Banks try to elude Volcker Rule snare - NYT 

·         JPM JPMorgan Chase continues moves to buy Gávea Investimentos - FT

·         Smid-Cap Brokers and Boutique Investment Banks

§  Lazard (LAZ) downgraded to neutral from buy at Goldman Sachs; sector downgraded The Smid-Cap Brokers and Boutique Investment Banks sector is downgraded to neutral from attractive.

·         Business Aims to Shape Finance Endgame – WSJ link

§  As Congress moves toward the final version of a financial-regulation overhaul, the issue of whether certain companies will be subject to new rules on derivatives has exploded into one of the biggest battles.

·         Bank-closure workload leads FDIC to open 3rd satellite office

§  from Wash Post Business

·         Bank of New York Mellon is expanding its wealth management arm into Canada with the acquisition of I(3) Advisors, a firm in Toronto with $3.43 billion in assets, Reuters

·         Star witnesses take stand at Lehman trial

o   John Varley and Bob Diamond, the two top executives at Barclays, are set to take the stand in Lehman's lawsuit against the UK bank. Already, Harvey Miller, New York's best-known bankruptcy attorney, and Bart McDade, former Lehman chief executive, have testified

o   http://link.ft.com/r/M2ZOXX/GKF8TB/007S7/8AQZVT/8A4RTT/T3/h

 

Real Estate:

·         FNM NY Times notes that the bailouts of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could end up costing more than the rescue of the banking industry

 

o   REITS

o   HCP HCP guides f10 FFO,

o   PSB PS Business Parks acquires Parklawn Business Park for ~$23.4M in cash  PR

o   EPR Entertainment Properties Trust and Louis Cappelli announced that they have closed a series of transactions that settles all outstanding claims

o   WRE Washington REIT the sale of three office properties and one industrial property for $23.4M

o   ROIC Retail Opportunity Inv enters into agreement to purchase Gramor Portfolio of four shopping centers for $89.6M

 

 

·         HEALTHCARE

o   NY Times discusses the market for artificial joints 

o   CYPB Cypress Bioscience enters into exclusive North American license for BioLineRx's antipsychotic, BL-1020

o   EXEL, BMY Exelixis to provide update on development collaboration with Bristol-Myers on XL184 pre-open 21-Jun

o   UAHC United American Healthcare purchases privately-held Pulse Systems - PR

o   Merck and GlaxoSmithKline announce that the FDA approved Staxyn (vardenafil HCI) for erectile dysfunction 

o   ENZN Enzon changes title of Ralph del Campo to COO and Principal Executive Officer

o   TCM Tongjitang Chinese Medicines reports Q1 non-GAAP EPS

o   GSK GlaxoSmithKline and Labtec finalize license agreement

o   VRX, BVF Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Biovail to merge; conference call: 08:30 ET, 877-295-5743 or +1-973-200-3961, confirmation code 83365938.

o   EXEL Exelixis regains full rights to develop, commercialize XL184

o   AFFY Affymax to hold conference call and webcast at 08:00 ET 21-Jun 877-354-4057 or +1-224- 357-2391 (international), Conference ID 83101977.

o   AFFY Affymax and Takeda announce Phase 3 trials meet primary endpoints for Hematide (peginesatide)

o   EVVV ev3 announces acceptance of pipeline embolization device

o   OGXI OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals announces initiation of phase 3 trial of OGX-011/TV-1011 (custirsen sodium) in men with metastatic prostate cancer

o   U.S. presses drugmakers on neglected disorders

§  from Wash Post Business

§  Drugmakers, including Roche, Johnson & Johnson and Biogen, are being urged by U.S. regulators to see whether existing medicines may help neglected disorders, after an incentive program did not spark research of new therapies.

 

Consumer sector: 

·         Tobacco: New regulations from Family Smoking and Prevention Act go into effect

·         JOSB JoS. A. Bank Clothiers declares 50% stock dividend

·         LYV NY Post looks at problems Live Nation Entertainment is facing

·         AMZN to focus on high fashion  - BBG

·         Obama administration proposes new rules for the meatpacking industry -- NY Times 

·         KR Michigan union employees ratify new 3-yr contract with Kroger   

·         ZLC Zale pays Citibank $5.36M as compensation for a previously acknowledged shortfall to the minimum volume of credit sales set forth in their agreement

·         KGJI Kingold Jewelry files $25M IPO through Rodman & Renshaw

·         MDP Meredith enters credit revolver of up to $150M, with option to request up to another $150M

·         GPN Global Payment says CIBC will not renew the Visa sponsorship agreement

·         CPO Corn Products International to acquire National Starch for $1.3B in cash; conference call: 09:30 ET +1-719-325-4753

·         LNY Pershing Square Capital Management decides to support CEO's takeover of Landry's Seafood - WSJ

·         PEP  PepsiCo Cozies Up With Retailers  WSJ link

o    As they compete for shelf space with private-label goods and other cheaper alternatives, PepsiCo and other brand-name food and beverage makers are looking for new ways to work more closely with retailers.

 

·         GAMING LODGING & LEISURE

o    CVW Clearview Hotel Trust files amneded S1; increases size of IPO to $380M from $375M through BofA, Citi, Deutsche and UBS  

 

From our EU/London desk

·         BP (-3.6%). BP say Gulf response spending so far tops $2bn.

·          Acergy (+13%) & Subsea (+12.5%). The two companies announce they will merge into one entity called Subsea 7 with the deal estimated to create synergies of $100m.

·         Utilities

·         Enel Spa (+1%). Enel have requested approval to list its Green Power renewable energy unit in Milan in what could be the largest IPO so far these year.

·         Chemicals

·         Akzo Nobel (+2%). They have sold their National Starch division to Corn Products for $1.3bn.

·         Miners

·         Miners outperform the market following the positive comments from Beijing regarding currency stabilisation measures. (Rio (+5.5%), BLT (4.3%), Kazakhmys (+4.1%))

·          

·         DAIMLER expects modest growth in European truck market – S&P

·         INFINEON well placed for acquisitions, says CFO – S&P

·         THYSSEN KRUPP laments rising iron ore price – S&P

·         AEGON to sell UK assets – S&P

·         SWISS LIFE says does not need extra capital – S&P

·         BALFOUR BEATTY: Preferred bidder in GBP231m contract – S&P

·         BRIT INSURANCE: Apollo to up bid – S&P

·         BSKYB: Investor calls for rethink NewsCorp move – S&P

 

TODAY’S EVENTS

 

INVESTMENT BANKING WRAP

M&A

 

Drugmakers BVF Biovail, VRX Valeant Pharma to merge- Reuters

Biovail Corp (BVF.TO) (BVF.N), Canada's biggest publicly traded drugmaker, said it had agreed to merge with U.S.-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (VRX.N), in a deal that would expand the new company's presence in North America.

The deal is intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganization for Valeant stockholders, the companies said in a statement early on Monday

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE65K07S20100621

BskyB demands editorial assurance from NWSA News Corp- Telegraph

The sources said price will be the main consideration for the deal, but independence of BSkyB's news channel will be an important factor

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bskyb-demands-editorial-assurance-from-news-corp-2010-06-20

Australia & China sign deals worth over $8.8 billion- Reuters

Australia and China inked commercial deals worth more than $8.8 billion on Monday, largely in mining, in another sign that a new Australian mining tax has failed to dampen inward Chinese investment

The signings, witnessed by visiting Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping, included deals for state-owned China Development Bank to provide financing for several major mining projects, including a $1.2 billion loan for an iron ore development.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65K09920100621?type=innovationNews

Santander mulls C Citi unit buy- NYP

Sources tell The Post that Santander is among the leading bidders for Citi's car-lending franchise, which is part of a basket of hundreds of billions in assets the bank has earmarked for sale

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/santander_mulls_citi_unit_buy_Mi4EFyO6IqanOaXHW73HUK#ixzz0rTO5ufsk

CMCSA/NBC NBC Affiliates Set Terms for Supporting Network's Sale to Comcast

Independently owned NBC television stations expect to support Comcast Corp.'s proposed takeover of General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal unit, after the cable giant agreed to three measures intended to protect stations' interests in the wake of the mammoth deal.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704122904575315401537054156.html

In NBC-CMCSA Comcast Deal, Quiet Concerns- Sunday Times

But one group has been noticeably silent while others have displayed fears: local television broadcasters

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/21/business/media/21comcast.html?ref=business

Reliance Broadcast in JV with U.S.-based CBS- Reuters

Reliance Broadcast Network (RELW.BO), part of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group, said on Sunday it had signed an initial agreement for an equal joint venture with U.S.-based CBS Corp (CBS.N) to launch television channels in India

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE65J01I20100620

Aegon to quit Britain with £1.5bn sale- ThisisMOney

Aegon, the Dutch insurance group, is preparing to sell its British life and pensions business, best known for Scottish Equitable, for £1.5bn

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/markets/article.html?in_article_id=506575&in_page_id=3&ito=1565#ixzz0rTVfQFEE

RBS Is Said to Negotiate Indian Unit Sale to HSBC, as Disposals Accelerate- BBG

The sides may agree a deal as early as next month, said one of the people, who declined to be identified because the talks are private. The unit has about 1.3 million customers, 1,800 employees and 28 branches,

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-18/rbs-is-said-to-negotiate-indian-unit-sale-to-hsbc-as-disposals-accelerate.html

Brit urged to deal with Apollo- the Independent

Top shareholders in Brit Insurance, the Lloyd's insurer, have urged the firm's management to negotiate with Apollo, the US private equity firm, which earlier this month tabled a £770m bid, for an improved offer.

Although senior shareholders largely gave their backing to the Brit board's rebuttal of Apollo's initial offer, a growing number of investors are believed to be frustrated at the company's stance

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/brit-urged-to-deal-with-apollo-2005207.html

JPM JPMorgan eyes Brazilian hedge fund- Reuters

No agreement has been reached between JPMorgan and Gavea, founded by Arminio Fraga, a former president of Brazil's central bank, but a purchase could be announced as soon as next month if talks are successful

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65J3AH20100621?type=innovationNews

Cognis owners spurn higher Lubrizol offer- Reuters

The private-equity owners of chemicals group Cognis have cold-shouldered a takeover offer from Lubrizol even though it was higher than that of favored bidder BASF

"The sellers were told (Lubrizol's) price is firm. Some work would need to be done to complete the offer but that could be done in a matter of days,"

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65J0W620100620?type=innovationNews

MBK Partners sole bidder for S.Korea KEB - Reuters

Other potential bidders, including Australia's ANZ Banking Group (ANZ.AX) and Asia-focused British bank Standard Chartered (STAN.L)(2888.HK), did not submit proposals as they had failed to make progress after offering less than 4 trillion won ($3.3 billion),

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE65K08F20100621Fexco is close to deal with AIB to buy Goodbody Stockbrokers- thepost

It is understood that discussions are still taking place between the s ides and the financial regulator about the make-up of any deal.

The financial regulator is considering introducing higher regulatory capital requirements for all stockbroking firms, while the sale of Goodbody will reduce AIB’s risk weighting when potential exposures are removed from its balance sheet.

http://www.thepost.ie/story/text/ojauaucwmh/

Novelis may bid for Rio Tinto Alcan unit

Novelis, the international subsidiary of Hindalco Industries, could bid for the rolled products division of global metals major Rio Tinto Alcan as the Aditya Birla Group seeks to buy high value manufacturing products in Europe and the US

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/metals--mining/Novelis-may-bid-for-Rio-Tinto-Alcan-unit/articleshow/6072753.cms

BP 'to divest all North Sea assets' in dramatic attempt to reduce its costs- Guardian

Embattled BP is to cut costs by $14bn (£9.5bn) in six months as part of a radical plan to sustain profitability in the wake of the explosion at its Deepwater Horizon oil rig that has led to the worst spill in US history

there is no question of BP selling out of its Russian joint venture with TNK, as that operation accounts for 25% of its worldwide resources and around 10% of profits

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jun/20/bp-north-sea-assets-sale

BP chief plans to tell Russian President 'BP will not collapse' - FT

BP chief executive Tony Hayward is planning a trip to Russia to reassure President Dmitry Medvedev the oil giant is not on the verge of collapse

The timing of the trip has not been finalised, it added.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/breaking-news/bp-chief-plans-to-tell-russian-president-bp-will-not-collapse/story-e6frg133-1225882215192

KIC, CIC, Temasek to invest in Chesapeake stake- Reuters

Korea Investment Corp (KIC) said on Monday it would invest $200 million in Chesapeake Energy Co (CHK.N) as the U.S. No.2 natural gas company was set to issue $900 million worth of convertible preferred stock.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE65K06920100621

ICICI, BoR shareholders to meet tomorrow to approve merger; employees announce strike- Economic Times

France Télécom Moves Closer to Le Monde Bid- WSJ

France Télécom has formed a consortium with two other companies to try to buy a majority stake in Le Monde SA, the struggling newspaper's publishing company. The other two are Groupe SFA PAR, which controls titles including left-wing weekly Le Nouvel Observateur, and Spanish media group Promotora deInformaciones SA, or Prisa

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704638504575318981081107388.html?mod=WSJ_business_whatsNews

NY Landry’s: Tilman Fertitta will raise his offer from $24/share to $24.50/share- WSJ

The long-running and controversial buyout plan for Landry's Restaurants Inc. won support of a crucial shareholder Sunday, which could pave the way for the final $1.4 billion takeover of the seafood restaurant chain by its chief executive

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704050804575319721213999494.html?mod=WSJ_Markets_section_Deals

Infineon well placed for acquisitions- Reuters

German chipmaker Infineon (IFXGn.DE) is well equipped financially for future acquisitions, but has no concrete plans for takeovers at the moment, a German newspaper quoted its chief financial officer as saying

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE65K04D20100621

CPO Corn Products International to Acquire National Starch for $1.3 Billion in Cash- (PR)

"The acquisition aligns with our strategic priorities to grow our ingredient portfolio, increase our presence in priority food processing segments, enter new markets, and develop innovative solutions that better serve our customers."  said CPO

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/corn-products-international-to-acquire-national-starch-for-13-billion-in-cash-to-create-a-nearly-5-billion-global-ingredient-solutions-leader-2010-06-21?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Energy Services Companies Acergy, Subsea 7 Agree To Merge- DJ

Shares in energy services companies Acergy S.A. (ACY) and Subsea 7 Inc (SUB.OS) surged more than 10% Monday after the two companies announced they will merge into one entity called Subsea 7

http://www.cmemarkets.com/v3/2010/06/21/dj-energy-services-companies-acergy-subsea-7-agree-to-merge/

BASF Set to Land Chemical Company- WSJ

Chemical giant BASF SE is poised to buy German specialty chemicals company Cognis GmbH for at least €3.3 billion ($4.1 billion), said people familiar with the matter, as deal-making in Europe begins to recover from one of its worst slumps.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704638504575319220544596144.html?mod=WSJ_business_whatsNews

TWX Warner Bros in '£75m talks' for Shed Media takeover- London Standard

Time Warner is reportedly planning to acquire Shed Media, which makes shows such as Supernanny and Footballers' Wives, for about £75 million

Shed Media shares, which have gained about 12% in the past six months, jumped 6.4% to 83p.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23847098-warner-bros-in-pound-75m-talks-for-shed-media-takeover.do

Renault could work with U.S. partner- Reuters

French car maker Renault (RENA.PA) could work closely with a U.S. partner if the occasion arose, but it is not crucial, Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn was on Saturday quoted as saying. published on Saturday

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE65I03520100619

Brazil to help phone firm Oi avoid buyout- Reuters

Brazilian phone group Oi has won the support of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to prevent a possible buyout attempt by Portugal Telecom

A representative for Oi said the company had no comment.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1918361820100619

Barron's sees XOM Exxon shares rising after XTO deal- Reuters

The expected closing of Exxon Mobil Corp's (XOM.N) purchase of XTO Energy Inc (XTO.N) later this month could end a year-long slump for Exxon shares, Barron's reported on Sunday

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2020371720100620

LSTZA Liberty Media to split off Capital, Starz units- Reuters

Liberty Media Corp, the media conglomerate controlled by mogul John Malone, said on Sunday it plans to spin-off two of its units -- investment arm Liberty Capital (LCAPA.O) and pay TV and Hollywood studio unit Liberty Starz

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2021117120100621

Funds Invest in Privacy Start-Ups-

As privacy snafus mount across companies such as Facebook Inc. and AT&T Inc., venture capitalists have spotted a new market opening and are pumping millions of dollars into privacy-related start-ups

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703438604575315182025721578.html?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTWhatsNews

Calpers acquires 12.7 percent stake in Gatwick Airport- Reuters

The commitment marks the first direct infrastructure investment foray by Calpers, the $200 billion California Public Employees' Retirement System

It covers the equity purchase price and provisions for bridge costs and future administrative expenses

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65H4Z420100618?type=innovationNews

Australia watchdog BHP-Rio joint venture finding due July 22- Reuters

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which began its probe in December, had been due to rule on the joint venture on May 27 but postponed its decision to seek more information from the miners without giving a timeframe for a ruling

The commission's website said on Monday that July 22 was now a "proposed date" for an announcement on its findings

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65K05V20100621?type=innovationNews

CVC looks to buy 30 percent stake in Merlin- Reuters

Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners is close to agreeing a deal to buy a 30 percent stake in theme park operator Merlin Entertainments

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65J33U20100620?type=innovationNews

LUB Luby's to Buy Fuddruckers, Magic Brands- WSJ

Luby's Inc. said Friday it will buy most of the assets of burger chain Fuddruckers Inc., its parent Magic Brands LLC and their affiliates for about $61 million in cash

The Houston-based cafeteria chain also will assume some of Fuddruckers' obligations, real-estate leases and contracts. It will pay $2.45 million more in cash if it doesn't assume some contracts

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704122904575315181036960628.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

 

 

$ Raising

 

IPOs

 

Kuwait to invest $800 million in AgBank IPO- Reuters

Agricultural Bank of China ABC.UL has received an $800 million investment from the Kuwait Investment Authority, sources said on Monday, in a deal that means Middle East funds will take up more than half of Hong Kong's cornerstone portion of AgBank's $23 billion IPO.

The sources confirmed a report issued late on Sunday that the Qatar Investment Authority had agreed to invest $2.8 billion in AgBank, a greater-than-expected amount that gets underwriters closer to its goal of raising around $6 billion through cornerstone investors

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65K1D020100621?type=innovationNews

AgBank picks banks to lead $23 billion IPO- Reuters

AgBank's selection of its top banks came as key investors swooped in on the offering while its underwriters market the dual listing to institutional investors. Qatar has agreed to invest $2.8 billion into AgBank's IPO

AgBank, China's third largest lender, has selected its internal securities unit, as well as CICC, Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) as joint global coordinators for the offering, granting these banks top status for the IPO's handling among the 11 banks picked to underwrite the Shanghai-Hong Kong deal

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65J1UE20100620?type=innovationNews

ReSearch Pharma Registers For $100M IPO- DJ

MOT Motorola to pump cash into phone unit after spin-off- Reuters

The story, which cited unnamed sources, also said that the company would buy back most of its debt, which stands at about $3.9 billion. It said the company would give the mobile phone unit $3 billion to $4 billion of its cash.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65H0RF20100618?type=innovationNews

Motricity Declines Post-IPO After Pricing Low - WSJ

Mobile-phone data services provider Motricity Inc.'s (MOTR) stock closed out the week for U.S. IPOs on a negative note, declining on its first day of trading Friday.

The company's initial public offering wraps up a week in which three of the five deals priced within their ranges, and three ended their first day of trading with gains

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100618-710557.html

KGJI Kingold Jewelry files $25M IPO through Rodman & Renshaw

ReSearch Pharma Registers For $100M IPO - WSJ

The market for debuts has been choppy in recent weeks as higher stock-market volatility and a decline in stocks from a long rally knocked the wind out of many companies' plans to go public. However, IPO filings have popped up here and there, and debuts themselves are marked by pockets of strength, such as the highly anticipated offering from CBOE Holdings

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100618-710583.html

Santander Weighs Float Of UK Business- DJ

Spanish bank Banco Santander SA (STD) is looking to float part of its U.K. business, meaning British investors could once again own a share of the historic banking franchises Abbey or Alliance & Leicester

http://www.tdwaterhouse.co.uk/news/newsitem.cfm?newsid=439472

CVW Clearview Hotel Trust files amneded S1; increases size of IPO to $380M from $375M through BofA, Citi, Deutsche and UBS

IntraLinks Picks NYSE For Second Shot At IPO- WSJ

IntraLinks Holdings Inc., which in April filed for its second attempt at an initial public offering, has applied to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange, the company said Friday in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100618-711862.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines

 

Calendar of Equity Issues expected to Price This Week

 

Initial Offerings

HPP Hudsson Pacific 12.8m share IPO expected to price wk of 6/21 via BoA, Barclays, Morgan Stanley: Price talk $17-19

FN Fabrinet 8.5M share IPO expected to price wk of 6/21 via MS and DB: Price Talk $12-14

Secondary Offerings

BANR Banner Corp 8.5M share secondary expected to price wk of 5/21 via DA Davidson

GGOX GigOptix 4.5M share secondary expected to price wk of 5/21

RSOX Resaca Exploitation 20M share secondary expected to price wk of 5/21 via RBC

URRE Uranium Resources 25M share secondary expected to price wk of 5/21

 

 

News

 

BP to raise $50 bln for oil spill costs- Reuters

BP is planning to raise $50 billion to cover the cost of the largest oil spill in U.S. history, London's Sunday Times reported without citing sources. The paper said BP planned to raise $10 billion from a bond sale, $20 billion from banks and $20 billion from asset sales over the next two years

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE65J09W20100620

BP $5 Billion Debt Offering May Yield Up to 10%- CNBC

BP executives met in London Friday with investment bankers to discuss a likely bond offering as early as Tuesday

The people involved in the discussions say it's likely the offering will consist of unsecured bonds with a combination of 5- and 10-year maturities that will yield 8 to 10 percent. That's significantly more than the current yield on 10-year US Treasury bonds.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/37780627

Cost Of Insuring MIR Mirant Debt Tumbles On Naked CDS Sales- WSJ

The cost of protecting debt issued by Mirant North America LLC has been falling because speculators are selling protection in the belief that there could be no debt left once the company has merged with RRI Energy Inc. (RRI).

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100618-711192.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines

 

 

 

***All eco data from Bloomberg and DJ

 

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