Smurfit-Stone, LyondellBasell potential winners-Barron’s

July 25 (Reuters) – Shares of linerboard maker Smurfit-Stone, chemical company LyondellBasell Industries and ethanol producer Aventine Renewable are potential winners among companies emerging from bankruptcy, Barron’s reported in its July 26 edition.

The financial paper advised investors to avoid stocks of theme-park operator Six Flags, yellow-pages publisher Dex One, SuperMedia and cable-TV operator Charter Communications.

Shares of Lyondell, which cut its debt load to $7 billion from $25 billion in bankruptcy and emerged with $2 billion in cash, look appealing at current levels, down from when it came out of bankruptcy in April, the paper said.

“Smurfit-Stone offers an attractive play on the improving market for linerboard, used to make cardboard boxes. It also could benefit from industry consolidation,” the paper added. (Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan)

Seoul shares rise on earnings expectations

Foreign investors were sellers of a net 24 billion won worth
of stocks.

Advancers outnumbered decliners 437 to 342 and 93 issues
ended flat.

Trading volume was 302 million shares worth 4.8 trillion won,
compared with 277.7 million shares worth 4.5 trillion won in the
previous session.

The KOSPI 200 Sept futures index KSc1 ended up 0.90 points
at 226.50, and the KOSPI 200 spot index .KS200 rose 0.52 points
to 225.84.

The junior Kosdaq market .KQ11 ended 0.25 percent higher at
499.72.

Move on day +0.28 percent

12-month high 1,757.76 26 APRIL 2010

12-month low 1,447.11 20 JULY 2009

Change on yr +3.21 percent

All-time high 2,085.45 1 NOV 2007

All-time low 93.10 6 JAN 1981

Seoul shares post 25-mth closing high on techs

July 14 (Reuters) – Seoul shares posted an over two-year closing high on Wednesday as technology issues such as Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) soared on Intel’s positive earnings, but POSCO (005490.KS) retreated on outlook worries.

Foreign investors were buyers of a net 905 billion won ($746.4 million) worth of stocks, their biggest daily purchase since mid-September 2009.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) finished up 1.32 percent at 1,758.01 points, its highest close since mid-June 2008.

(Reporting by Jungyoun Park; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)

Japan June aluminium stocks down 1.6 pct m/m

July 12 (Reuters) – Aluminium stocks held at three major Japanese ports came to 201,500 tonnes at the end of June, down 3,300 tonnes, or 1.6 percent, from a month earlier, trading house Marubeni Corp (8002.T) said on Monday.

Marubeni collects data from the key ports of Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka. (Reporting by Chikako Mogi)

Seoul shares rise as investors welcome rate hike

Foreign investors were buyers of a net 314.5 billion won
($260.3 million) worth of stocks.

Institutions bought a net 118 billion won worth of shares and
retail investors sold a net 484 billion won worth.

Advancers outnumbered decliners 461 to 316 and 91 issues
ended flat.

Trading volume stood at 464 million shares worth 5.5 trillion
won, compared with 324.8 million shares worth 5 trillion won in
the previous session.

The KOSPI 200 Sept futures index KSc1 ended up 3.50 points
at 225.30, and the KOSPI 200 spot index .KS200 gained 3.66
points to 224.44.

The junior Kosdaq market .KQ11 ended 0.65 percent higher at
492.15.

Move on day +1.43 percent

12-month high 1,757.76 26 APRIL 2010

12-month low 1,377.60 14 JULY 2009

Change on yr -2.4 percent

All-time high 2,085.45 1 NOV 2007

All-time low 93.10 6 JAN 1981
(Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)

UPDATE 1-Sawai: to mull capital tie-up with bigger drugmaker

June 29 (Reuters) – Sawai Pharmaceutical (4555.T), Japan’s No.1 generic drug maker, said it will need to consider a capital tie-up with a bigger drugmaker in the future as it will need a larger budget for product development.

Stocks | Healthcare

“Our sales are strong now, but when it comes to several years from now, we will have to think about that,” Hiroyuki Sawai, Sawai Pharmaceutical’s chairman, told a news conference on Tuesday.

Sawai is faced with intensifying competition, especially from new foreign entrants to Japan’s generic drug market.

U.S. firm Pfizer Inc (PFE.N), the world’s biggest drugmaker, plans to enter Japan’s generic market, while France’s Sanofi Aventis (SASY.PA) is teaming up with Japan’s Nichi-iko Pharmaceutical (4541.OS) in the Japanese generic drug business.

Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA.TA), the world’s No.1 generic drug maker, began marketing in Japan earlier this year through a joint venture, targeting a 10 percent share of the Japanese generic drug market, which it expects to grow to 1 trillion yen ($11 billion) by 2015. (Reporting by Yumiko Nishitani)

REFILE-Taiwan’s Chimei sees TV panel shipments at 50 mln

(Refiles to correct company name, removes extraneous text)

Stocks

HSINCHU Taiwan, June 29 (Reuters) – Chimei Innolux Corp (3481.TW), Taiwan’s largest LCD maker, told shareholders on Tuesday it saw shipments of TV panels, notebook panels and LCD monitor panels this year at up to 50 million units each.

Chimei Innolux has said it sees capital spending this year for its 8.5 and 6th generation lines reaching at least T$40 billion ($1.25 billion). [ID:nTPU002261]. (US$1=T$32) (Reporting by Baker Li; Editing by Jonathan Standing and Jonathan Hopfner)

Nikkei falls to 3-week low as yen climbs

June 29 (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei average slipped to a three-week closing low on Tuesday as exporters fell on a stronger yen and charts remained grim, with the benchmark poised for its worst quarter since Lehman Brothers failed in 2008.

Stocks | Financials

Canon Inc (7751.T) shed 2.7 percent to 3,395 yen, Tokyo Electron (8035.T) lost 1.6 percent to 5,010 yen and Honda Motor Corp (7267.T) fell 1.3 percent to 2,647 yen.

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 shed 1.3 percent to 9,570.67, its lowest close since June 10. The broader Topix lost 1 percent to 852.19.

Europe stock index futures point to renewed losses

June 29 (Reuters) – European stock index futures pointed to a sharply lower open on Tuesday, hit by worries over funding in the euro zone ahead of bank repayments to the European Central Bank due later in the week.

Stocks | Global Markets | Financials

By 0602 GMT, futures for the STOXX Europe 50 STXEc1, for Germany’s DAX FDXc1 and for France’s CAC FCEc1 were down 1.7 to 1.9 percent.

(Reporting by Blaise Robinson)

Italian Stocks – Factors to watch on June 29

June 29 (Reuters) – The following factors could affect Italian markets on Tuesday.

Cyclical Consumer Goods | Energy

Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy. New items are marked with (*).

SAIPEM (SPMI.MI)

The oilfield services company said a fire had been reported at the Scarabeo 8 rig under construction with no injuries. [ID:nWEA7746]

SMALL AND MID CAPS

I GRANDI VIAGGI (IGV.MI)

The tour operator posted a first-half loss of 5.2 million euros, deeper than the 4.4 million euro loss in the same period of the year before. It cited a “crisis of consumption” for the deeper loss and said a turnaround in the second half was unlikely.

Italian Stocks – Factors to watch on June 29

June 29 (Reuters) – The following factors could affect Italian markets on Tuesday.

Cyclical Consumer Goods | Energy

Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy. New items are marked with (*).

SAIPEM (SPMI.MI)

The oilfield services company said a fire had been reported at the Scarabeo 8 rig under construction with no injuries. [ID:nWEA7746]

SMALL AND MID CAPS

I GRANDI VIAGGI (IGV.MI)

The tour operator posted a first-half loss of 5.2 million euros, deeper than the 4.4 million euro loss in the same period of the year before. It cited a “crisis of consumption” for the deeper loss and said a turnaround in the second half was unlikely.

Cyclical Consumer Goods
Energy

Mizuho to raise up to 857.6 bln yen via new shares

June 25 (Reuters) – Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group (8411.T) plans to raise up to 857.6 billion yen ($9.57 billion) through the issuance of a total of 6 billion in shares, including a greenshoe option, according to a filing with the country’s financial regulator.

Stocks | Global Markets | Financials

(Reporting by Yumiko Nishitani)

Seoul shares fall 0.6 pct on econ jitters

Institutions picked up a net 118.5 billion won worth of
stocks, and retail investors purchased a net 51.3 billion won.

Decliners outnumbered advancers 481 to 310 and 94 issues
ended flat.

Trading volume stood at 297 million shares worth 4.6 trillion
won, compared with 307 million shares worth 4.3 trillion won in
the previous session.

The KOSPI 200 Sept futures index KSc1 ended down 1.90
points at 226.50, and the KOSPI 200 spot index .KS200 retreated
1.82 points to 225.63.

The junior Kosdaq market .KQ11 ended 0.2 percent lower at
498.12.

Move on day -0.58 percent

12-month high 1,757.76 26 APRIL 2010

12-month low 1,366.78 25 JUNE 2009

Change on yr +2.80 percent

All-time high 2,085.45 1 NOV 2007

All-time low 93.10 6 JAN 1981
(Editing by Chris Lewis)

Toyota plans to restart halted China plant Monday

June 24 (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said it planned to resume production at a halted Chinese auto assembly plant on Monday, after workers at a factory owned by supplier Denso Corp (6902.T) returned to work. [ID:nHKU000032]

Stocks | Global Markets | Cyclical Consumer Goods

Work at the Toyota factory in Guangzhou, which has an annual production capacity of 360,000 vehicles, had been suspended since Tuesday morning due to the strike at Denso (Guangzhou Nansha) Co.

A Denso spokesman said production at its factory had returned to normal in the afternoon, but negotiations over compensation still continued. (Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim)

Mizuho shares hit 2010 low on share offering launch

June 25 (Reuters) – Shares of Mizuho Financial Group (8411.T) fell to a new 2010 low after sources told Reuters the bank would decide on Friday to sell up to 6 billion new shares in its planned global offering. [ID:nTKG006783]

Stocks | Global Markets | Financials

An issue of that size would increase the total number of shares outstanding by up to 38 percent.

Shares of Mizuho were down 1.94 percent at 152 yen as of 0434 GMT. Earlier the stock fell as low as 151 yen, the lowest point so far in 2010.

China Strategic says not pursuing MOU with Chinatrust

June 25 (Reuters) – China Strategic Holdings (0235.HK), a buyer of AIG’s (AIG.N) Taiwan Nan Shan Life unit, said on Friday that it will not pursue an MOU to sell a stake in Nan Shan to Chinatrust Financial (2891.TW).

Stocks | Mergers & Acquisitions | Global Markets

China Strategic and Primus Financial Holdings agreed to pay $2.2 billion for AIG’s (AIG.N) Taiwan Nan Shan Life unit and the deal is pending for Taiwanese regulatory approval.

“I believe this is not an appropriate time to talk with Chinatrust before we have successfully bought Nan Shan”, said Raymond Or, chief executive of China Strategic.

“Especially as when we signed the MOU (with Chinatrust), the regulators said this complicated the whole issue,” he added.

Chinatrust agreed to buy the Nan Shan stake last November for $660 million, but the memorandum of understanding expired on Friday. (Reporting by Alison Leung; Editing by Chris Lewis)

Italian Stocks – Factors to watch on June 25

June 25 (Reuters) – The following factors could affect Italian markets on Friday.

Financials

Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy. New items are marked with (*).

MONTE PASCHI DI SIENA (BMPS.MI)

The bank said it will make early pay back of 350-million euro floating rate notes on June, 30. [ID:nBIA242bb]

EURO GOVT-Bunds higher as periphery pressured, stocks fall

June 24 (Reuters) – Core German Bunds turned positive on Thursday as peripheral euro zone issuers remained under pressure and after cautious comments on the economy from the US Federal Reserve.

Bunds further extended gains as European equities .FTEU3 turned negative.

At 0727 GMT, September Bund futures FGBLc1 were 11 ticks higher at 128.73. Two-year German yields DE2YT=TWEB were 1.5 basis points lower at 0.582 percent, with ten-year yields DE10YT=TWEB down a similar amount at 2.632 percent.

European shares .FTEU3 reversed earlier gains to stand 0.24 percent lower on the day.

Peripheral yield spreads were steady in early trade, but held close to levels seen the previous session after a bout of widening.

European shares turn negative; miners fall

June 24 (Reuters) – European shares turned negative on Thursday morning, with miners giving up gains from early in the session, having risen on hopes Australia’s new Prime Minister would compromise on proposed taxes on resource firms.

Stocks | European Markets | Global Markets

At 0730 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares was down 0.4 percent at 1,035.76 points.

BHP Billiton (BLT.L), Kazakhmys (KAZ.L), Rio Tinto (RIO.L) and Xstrata (XTA.L) were between 1 and 2.7 percent lower. (Reporting by Brian Gorman)

Seoul shares climb to 8-week closing high

Institutions were the main buyers on the KOSPI, picking up
189 billion won ($159 million) worth of stocks. Individuals sold
a net 134 billion won, while foreigner investors were net sellers
of 4 billion won worth.

Gainers led decliners 515 to 283, with 85 counters unchanged.

Trading volume was 307 million shares worth 4.3 trillion won,
down from Wednesday’s 347 million shares worth 4.7 trillion won.

The KOSPI 200 September futures index KSc1 rose 2.00 points
to 228.40 and the KOSPI 200 spot index .KS200 added 1.86 points
to 227.45.

The junior Kosdaq market .KQ11 ended 0.85 percent higher at
499.14.

Move on day +0.81 percent

12-month high 1,757.76 26 APRIL 2010

12-month low 1,350.31 24 JUNE 2009

Change on yr +3.39 percent

All-time high 2,085.45 1 NOV 2007

All-time low 93.10 6 JAN 1981
($1=1187.0 Won)