Wednesday, August 31, 2016

BRIEF-Hulic Reit completes buy real estate at 8.6 bln yen

* Says it completed buying two real estate at 8.6 billion

yen in total

Read more

BRIEF-EQT places 15.6 mln Scandic Hotels shares at SEK 69.50/shr

* Sunstorm Holding AB, controlled by EQT V Ltd and Accent

Equity 2003, in each case through companies, ("Sunstorm"), has

sold in total 15.6 million shares in Scandic Hotels Group AB

("Scandic") through an accelerated bookbuilding process to

Swedish and international institutional investors at a price of

SEK 69.5 per share (the "Placement").

For the original story click here: http://mb.cision.com/Main/87/2069433/556108.pdf

Further company coverage:

(Stockholm Newsroom)

Read more

BRIEF-Blackhawk Network to acquire Grass Roots Group

* Blackhawk Network - Buying Grass Roots Group for about £90

million (U.S. $118 million assuming current pound to dollar

exchange rate) in cash

Read more

Fitch Affirms Hysan Development Company at 'BBB+'; Outlook Stable

(The following statement was released by the rating agency)

HONG KONG, September 01 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings has affirmed Hong

Kong-based Hysan

Development Company Limited's (Hysan) Long-Term Issuer Default

Rating (IDR) at

'BBB+'. The Outlook is Stable. Fitch has also affirmed Hysan's

senior unsecured

rating and the rating on senior unsecured notes issued by Hysan

(MTN) Limited at

'BBB+'.

The rating affirmation is based on the stable performance of

Hysan's Hong Kong

investment property portfo

Read more

Canada to apply to join China-backed AIIB - president of AIIB



Read more

Morning News Call - India, September 1

To access the newsletter, click on the link:



http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Indiamorning/MNC_IN_09012016.pdf





FACTORS TO WATCH

10:00 am: National Institution for Transforming India Aayog Chief Executive

Amitabh Kant and Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan at FICCI organized annual

convention on retail in New Delhi.

10:00 am: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at an event organized by Indian

Banks Association in Mumbai.

4:00 pm: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

Read more

BRIEF-Daiwa House Residential Investment Corp and Nomura Real Estate Master Fund Inc completes merger and change name

Sept 1 (Reuters) - Daiwa House Residential Investment Corp

:

Read more

Standard Chartered soft sounds dual-tranche Samurai bond

HONG KONG, Sept 1 (IFR) - Standard Chartered has

begun soft sounding investors for a dual-tranche Samurai

offering.

Read more

BRIEF-GNCO to raise 6 bln won via private placement

* Says it raise 6 billion won in private placement of 2.1

million shares

Read more

UPDATE 1-China factory activity unexpectedly expands in August-official PMI

BEIJING, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Activity in China's

manufacturing sector picked up unexpectedly in August but gains

were modest, an official survey showed on Thursday, suggesting

the world's second-largest economy is steadying but still

sluggish.

Read more

BRIEF-SFC to raise 16.52 billion won via private placement

* Says it will raise 16.52 billion won in private placement

of 3.3 million shares

Read more

Australia's Future Fund misses target returns on reduced exposure to risk

Sept 1 (Reuters) - Australia's sovereign wealth manager, the

Future Fund, on Thursday posted a below-target return of 4.8

percent for the latest financial year as it lowered its exposure

to risk assets due to prevailing uncertainty around the global

economy.

Read more

BRIEF-Rise appoints John Anderson as director

* Rise appoints john anderson as director

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

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BRIEF-Nova Leap Health to buy outstanding shares of Northern Family Home Care

* Nova leap health says entered into arm's length term

sheet to purchase all of outstanding shares of northern family

home care

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

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Peru government to propose higher corporate taxes

LIMA, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Peru's government will present a

bill to raise taxes on corporate profits in order to lower sales

taxes and boost the economy, Finance Minister Alfredo Thorne

said on Wednesday.

Read more

Australian stocks seen under pressure, NZ falls

Sept 1 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set to extend

losses on Thursday, as a slump in crude prices overnight could

batter energy stocks, while retail sales data, due later in the

day, may determine the course of consumer staples.

Oil prices fell 3 percent or more on Wednesday after a

surprise surge in U.S. crude and distillate inventory.

Investors will be watching out for Australia's July retail

sales numbers, expected to be announced on Thursday, for cues on

economic growth.

Me

Read more

UPDATE 1-Paralympics-Brazil's Petrobras to pay $3.25 mln to aid troubled Games

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Brazilian oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA said on Wednesday it will spend 10.5 million reais ($3.25 million) to buy marketing rights to the financially troubled Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games.

Read more

BRIEF-Select Bancorp announces stock repurchase plan

* Authorized a share repurchase plan under which company may

repurchase up to 581,518 shares of common stock

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

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BRIEF-Investors Real Estate announces planned dispositions of senior housing properties for $236 mln

* Announces planned dispositions of senior housing

properties for $236.0 million

Read more

BRIEF-Christine Hurtsellers named CEO of Voya Investment Management

* Christine Hurtsellers named CEO of VOYA INVESTMENT

MANAGEMENT

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

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CORRECTED-Alere lawsuit accuses Abbott of 'buyer's remorse' in proposed merger

Aug 31 (Reuters) - Alere Inc alleges Abbott

Laboratories is trying to stymie its planned $5.8

billion takeover of the diagnostics company by purposefully

delaying key submissions to anti-trust regulators, according to

a lawsuit made public on Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Puerto Rico oversight board appointed

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, Aug 31 (Reuters) - President Barack

Obama on Wednesday appointed a seven-member board to oversee a

financial restructuring for Puerto Rico, a majority Republican

panel that some market analysts saw as favorable for bondholders

of the U.S. territory, which has been crippled by a $70 billion

debt crisis.

Read more

MOVES: BTG Pactual rehires LatAm syndicate head

NEW YORK, Aug 31 (IFR) - Cynthia Powell is returning to BTG

Pactual in her former role as LatAm syndicate head in New York

just eight months after the Brazilian bank let her go, a source

told IFR on Wednesday.

Read more

Fitch: Low Yields Cut Sov. Investor Income by $500b Versus 2011

(The following statement was released by the rating agency)

NEW YORK/CHICAGO, August 31 (Fitch) Steep declines in global

sovereign bond

yields over the past few years have drastically reduced

investors' ability to

generate interest income from new securities purchases, says

Fitch Ratings.

Relative to yields available in 2011, global investors are

foregoing over $500

billion in annual income on $38 trillion in currently

outstanding bonds as a

result of the collapse in sovereign yields.

Cash

Read more

UPDATE 1-Cooperman on CNBC says U.S. equities 'fairly but fully valued'

NEW YORK, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Hedge fund investor Leon

Cooperman, the chief executive of Omega Advisors, said Wednesday

on CNBC that equity markets are "fairly but fully valued."

Read more

BRIEF-IBSM Q2 net loss lowers to 896,000 zlotys YoY

* Q2 net loss of 896,000 zlotys ($228,950) versus loss of

5.7 million zlotys year ago

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

($1 = 3.9135 zlotys)

(Gdynia Newsroom)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Greece's Eurobank profitable for second straight quarter, rival NBG swings to loss

* Eurobank posts 46 mln euro profit, provisions up 27 pct

q/q

Read more

UPDATE 1-EU policymakers clash over valuing insurers' liabilities

* Industry body says too soon to tweak benchmark

(Adds industry comment)

Read more

BRIEF-PWC Capital reports Q3 earnings C$0.09/shr

* Net interest income for three months ended July 31, 2016

increased to $9.8 million from $8.7 million for same period a

year ago

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

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BRIEF-Versabank Q3 earnings per share C$0.09

* Q3 net interest income C$9.8 million versus C$8.7 million

Source text for Eikon:

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UPDATE 1-S.Africa's rand slumps as lender halts loans to state firms, stocks down

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 31 (Reuters) - South Africa's rand

weakened more than one percent on Wednesday after reports that a

large debt manager was halting loans to state-owned firms raised

investor concerns over the management of the economy.

Read more

MOVES-Demica, Tilney Bestinvest

Aug 31 (Reuters) - The following financial services industry

appointments were announced on Wednesday. To inform us of other

job changes, email moves@thomsonreuters.com.

Read more

ECB at risk of being overburdened - Villeroy

FRANKFURT, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank must

not be overburdened and others, particularly governments, need

to start playing their part to make growth sustainable, French

central bank chief Francois Villeroy de Galhau said on

Wednesday.

Read more

PwC fined over botched audit of UK lender Cattles

LONDON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - British accountant PwC

has been ordered to pay more than 3 million pounds ($4 million),

and one of its partners has been fined 75,600 pounds, over a

2007 audit that failed to spot a deep hole in the books of

defunct subprime lender Cattles.

Read more

Sri Lankan rupee ends steady after cbank head allays fears

COLOMBO, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The Sri Lankan rupee ended

steady on Wednesday as importer dollar demand was offset by

greenback sales, a day after central bank governor Indrajith

Coomaraswamy said the currency was not under upward pressure as

capital inflows had not been of sufficient magnitude to exert

such pressure.

Read more

Sri Lankan stocks post over 2-wk closing low on profit-taking

COLOMBO, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan shares edged down on

Wednesday to post over two-week closing lows as investors sold

large caps to book profits while retail investor participation

rose a day after the central bank held its key policy rates

steady.

Read more

Dubai's Emaar Properties mandates banks for possible USD sukuk

DUBAI, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Dubai's Emaar Properties

has mandated banks for a possible U.S. dollar-denominated

Regulation S senior sukuk, it said on Wednesday.

Read more

Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot H1 sales growth buck fashion trends

PARIS, Aug 31 (Reuters) - SMCP, the group behind French

fashion brands Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot, bucked the

global fashion industry's sluggish sales growth trends with a

9.3 percent increase in like-for-like revenue in the first half,

helped by resilient demand in France.

Read more

BRIEF-Credit Suisse chairman says merger with Deutsche Bank not possible

* Merger with Deutsche Bank is not possible, would not be

constructive

Read more

BRIEF-National Bank of Canada Q3 earnings per share C$1.33 excluding items

* Q3 earnings per share view C$1.20, revenue view C$1.56

billion -- Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S

Read more

REFILE-GLOBAL MARKETS-US 10-yr yield on course for biggest monthly rise in over a year

LONDON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Bond yields rose on Wednesday,

with 10-year U.S. Treasury yields on course for their biggest

monthly rise in over a year as investors continued to build up

bets that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates before

the year is out.

Read more

Russia's B&N Bank says loan book shrank by quarter over H1

MOSCOW, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The loan book of Russia's B&N

Bank shrank by a quarter over the first half of the

year, its financial results showed.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Canada applies to join China-backed AIIB, latest U.S. ally to apply

BEIJING, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Canada will apply to join the

China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the

bank's president Jin Liqun said on Wednesday, making it the

latest ally of the United States to join the new international

development bank.

Read more

Fitch Rates DBSH's Perpetual Capital Securities Final 'BBB'

(The following statement was released by the rating agency)

SINGAPORE, August 31 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings has assigned

Singapore-based DBS

Group Holdings Ltd's (DBSH) USD750m 3.60% perpetual capital

securities a final

rating of 'BBB'. This follows the completion of the securities

issue, as well as

the receipt of final documents conforming to information

previously received.

The final rating is the same as the expected rating assigned on

29 August 2016.

The securities are intended to qualify as

Read more

ECB is flexible about time horizon of inflation target: Praet

FRANKFURT, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is

flexible about the time horizon of its inflation objective as a

rigid interpretation of the target could lead to financial

instability, ECB chief economist Peter Praet said on Wednesday.

Read more

BRIEF-MBB SE H1 group earnings after minorities up at EUR 7.185 mln

* H1 revenue 159.355 million euros ($177.39 million)versus

124.426 million euros year ago

Read more

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Nikkei rises to over 2-wk closing high on weak yen; Topix hits 6-wk high

TOKYO, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks rose on Wednesday

in heavy trade, led by exporters and financials as the dollar

stood tall against the yen and upbeat U.S. consumer confidence

data lifted expectations of a near-term U.S. interest rate hike.

Read more

Cyprus signs deal with Egypt for gas transfers via pipeline

NICOSIA, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Cyprus signed a deal on

Wednesday for the transfer of natural gas via pipeline to Egypt,

once extraction starts of discoveries made off the Mediterranean

island.

Read more

BRIEF-COFCO Property Group sees 2016 Q1~Q3 net profit to decrease by 50 pct to 100 pct

* sees 2016 Q1~Q3 net profit to decrease by 50 percent to

100 percent, compared to net profit of Q1~Q3 of 2015(513.7

million yuan)

Read more

BRIEF-China Union Holdings sees 2016 Q1~Q3 net profit to be 450-550 million yuan

* sees 2016 Q1~Q3 net profit to be 450 million yuan to 550

million yuan, compared to net loss of Q1~Q3 of 2015(2.0 million

yuan)

Read more

Fitch Rates UOB's Basel III Tier 2 Subordinated Notes 'A+(EXP)'

(The following statement was released by the rating agency)

SINGAPORE, August 30 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings has assigned

Singapore-based United

Overseas Bank Limited's (UOB) proposed US dollar-denominated

Basel III-compliant

Tier 2 subordinated notes an expected rating of 'A+(EXP)'.

The notes will be issued under the bank's SGD15bn Euro

medium-term note

programme. The final rating on the securities is subjected to

the receipt of

final documentation conforming to information already received.

KEY

Read more

BRIEF-India's RBL Bank up 21.87 pct in early trade on listing day

* Up 21.87 percent in early trade on listing day after $182

million IPO

Further company coverage:

(Reporting By Swati Bhat)

Read more

Singapore bank lending rises in July

SINGAPORE, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Singapore' total bank lending

rose in July from the previous month, helped by increases in

general commerce loans and lending to financial institutions,

central bank data showed on Wednesday.

Read more

Nikkei rises to more than 2-week high; exporters and financials gain

TOKYO, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks rose on Wednesday

to highs not seen in two weeks, led by exporters and financial

stocks as the dollar stood tall against the yen and upbeat U.S.

consumer confidence data lifted expectations of a near-term U.S.

interest rate hike.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Australia's opposition moves motion for Royal Commission into banks

SYDNEY, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Australia's opposition leader on

Wednesday moved a motion for a sweeping public inquiry into the

banking system following a series of allegations of misconduct

including financial planning scams and insurance fraud.

Read more

Goldman interested in financing Colombia's Magdalena project -govt

BOGOTA, Aug 30 (Reuters) - - U.S. investment bank Goldman

Sachs has expressed interest in financing a project to

make Colombia's Magdalena River more navigable, the government

said on Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-S.Korea July factory output rebounds, beats forecasts

* July gain largely due to temporary factors -finmin

official

Read more

U.S. senators press Mylan on 'exorbitantly expensive' EpiPen

WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Democrat Elizabeth Warren and

19 other U.S. senators voiced concern to the chief executive of

Mylan NV about the high cost of its EpiPen on Tuesday,

calling the device used in the case of life-threatening

allergies "exorbitantly expensive."

Read more

Brazil bank unions to discuss strike as pay proposal rejected

SAO PAULO, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Brazilian bank workers will

discuss this week whether to go on strike for an indefinite

period after rejecting a pay proposal for the upcoming year.

Read more

Turkish gold trader seeks U.S. judge's recusal in Iran sanctions case

NEW YORK, Aug 30 (Reuters) - A Turkish gold trader accused

of conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions against Iran on Tuesday

asked a federal judge to recuse himself, citing remarks he made

about a series of earlier Turkish prosecutions targeting him and

others.

Read more

Argentina cenbank cuts key interest rate, expects lower inflation

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Argentina's central bank

cut its 35-day reference rate by 50 basis points on Tuesday, the

fifth cut in as many weeks as policymakers sought to pull the

economy out of recession amid signs of lower inflation.

Read more

BRIEF-Carl Icahn in WSJ says had no plans to sell Herbalife stock that would have required SEC disclosure

* Carl Icahn in WSJ opinion piece - had no "plans or

proposals" to sell Herbalife stock that would have required SEC

disclosure and have none now

Read more

CANADA STOCKS-TSX edges higher, led by banks and fertilizer stocks

TORONTO, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index edged

slightly higher on Tuesday as bank and fertilizer stocks

rallied, but gains for the index were mostly pared as lower gold

prices weighed on mining stocks.

Read more

BRIEF-Sterling National Bank announces pricing of subordinated notes offering

* Priced a private offering of $65 million aggregate

principal amount of its 5.25 percent fixed-to-floating rate

subordinated notes due 2026

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

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BRIEF-Camden National announces three-for-two stock split

* Three-For-Two stock split is payable September 30, 2016,

to its common shareholders of record at close of business on

September 15, 2016

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

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Fund L Catterton in talks for Brazil St Marché stake, sources say

SAO PAULO, Aug 30 (Reuters) - L Catterton, the world's

biggest consumer-focused buyout firm, is in talks to buy a

controlling stake in Brazilian high-end supermarket chain St

Marché, which took on too much debt following an aggressive

expansion, three people with direct knowledge of the talks said.

Read more

BRIEF-Google to partner with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial to launch Android Pay inside Japan - Nikkei

* Google will partner with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group to

launch its digital wallet platform inside Japan as soon as

autumn - Nikkei

Read more

Credit Suisse chairman calls for time to complete turnaround

ZURICH, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Credit Suisse Chairman

Urs Rohner aims to stay in office beyond 2018, he told German

newspaper Handelsblatt, confident that his and Chief Executive

Tidjane Thiam's strategy will revive the struggling Swiss bank.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Caesars wins lawsuit shield to pursue 'uphill' appeal

CHICAGO, Aug 30 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Tuesday gave

Caesars Entertainment Corp a five-week shield from $13

billion in lawsuits, capping a week of frantic court hearings as

the casino group struggles to salvage a high-stakes debt-cutting

plan for its bankrupt subsidiary.

Read more

Gamesa, Siemens reject GE's offer for Adwen JV - sources

MADRID/FRANKFURT, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Siemens and

Gamesa have rejected a non-binding offer from General

Electric for assets belonging to a wind power venture

between Gamesa and Areva, sources close to the talks

told Reuters on Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Italy's Monte Paschi may swap bonds for shares to ease cash call -sources

* Also looking for anchor investors -source

(Adds source comments, background, bank comment)

Read more

CORRECTED-UPDATE 3-Scotiabank reins in mortgage lending, stays vigilant

TORONTO, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Bank of Nova Scotia,

Canada's third-biggest lender, has pulled back on mortgage

lending in its domestic market, potentially insulating itself if

house prices fall in Vancouver and Toronto.

Read more

BRIEF-Santander Holdings provides update on form 10-Q filing

* Santander holdings USA, inc. Provides update on form 10-Q

filing

Read more

BRIEF-Orco Property Group announces disposal of CPI Property Group shares

* Announces that on Aug. 29 it disposed of 65,957,446 pieces

of ordinary shares of CPI Property Group for an aggregate

consideration of EUR 34.59 million ($38.55 million)

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

($1 = 0.8973 euros)

(Gdynia Newsroom)

Read more

BRIEF-IQ Partners H1 net loss remains flat at 2.8 million zlotys YoY

* H1 revenue 88,000 zlotys ($22,493) versus 11.2 million

zlotys year ago

Read more

French Economy Minister Macron resigns - official

PARIS, Aug 30 (Reuters) - French Economy Minister Emmanuel

Macron has resigned from government, the French president's

office said on Tuesday, adding that Finance Minister Michel

Sapin would take over the portfolio together with his current

finance role.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau; Writing by Bate Felix; Editing

by Ingrid Melander)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Greece's Piraeus Bank turns profitable in Q2, rival Alpha in the red

* Alpha Bank widens loss q/q to 16.8 mln euros, provisions

rise

(Adds Piraeus CEO comment, details, background)

Read more

Swiss central bank steps up stock buying spree

ZURICH, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Switzerland's central bank now

owns more publicly-traded shares in Facebook than Mark

Zuckerberg, part of a mushrooming stock portfolio that is likely

to grow yet further.

Read more

Saudi Arabia's Bank Al Bilad prices 2 bln riyal sukuk issue

DUBAI, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Bank Al Bilad

priced an Islamic bond issue worth 2 billion riyals

($533 million) at 200 basis points above the three-month Saudi

interbank offered rate, the lender said in a bourse

statement on Tuesday.

Read more

ECB balance sheet expands to 3.33 trillion euros

FRANKFURT, Aug 30 (Reuters) - The combined balance sheet of

the European Central Bank and the euro zone's 19 national

central banks expanded by 17.16 billion euros ($19.15 billion)

to 3.33 trillion euros in the week to Aug 26, the ECB said on

Tuesday.

Read more

BRIEF-Shyft Analytics raised $12.5 million in Series B funding

* Raised $12.5 million in Series B funding led by Mckesson

Ventures and Medidata Solutions

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

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Saudi Arabia signs initial deals with China on prince's visit

DUBAI, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia signed 15 preliminary

agreements with China on Tuesday in sectors from energy to

housing on a trip headed by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin

Salman aimed at bolstering relations with a top energy customer

and trade partner.

Read more

China's Big 4 banks to be included in debt to equity pilot scheme - ICBC Chairman

BEIJING, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Industrial & Commercial Bank of

China Chairman Yi Huiman said the country's

Big Four state-owned commercial banks and Big Four asset

management companies would be included in the country's

debt-to-equity pilot scheme.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Cooler lending, company doubts point to Brexit "slow burn" for economy

* Figures point to economic "slow burn" rather than sudden

dip

Read more

Warsaw looks to win more finance business in wake of Brexit

WARSAW, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Poland's deputy prime minister is

due to meet a string of banks in London this week as the country

tries to boost its status as one of Europe's fastest growing

financial centres and benefit from Britain's decision to leave

the European Union.

Read more

BRIEF-Zillion secures $28 million in SERIES C financing

* Company has raised $28 million in its Series C round of

fundraising; round was led by twinfocus capital partners

Source text for Eikon:

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BRIEF-KKR to acquire Calabrio

* KKR to acquire Calabrio, a global leader in customer

engagement and analytics software

Read more

BRIEF-JSW's potential share issue worth 500-800 mln zlotys - deputy CEO

* The coal miner's potential share issue to be considered at

the start of 2017 will likely be worth between 500 million

zlotys ($128.71 million) and 800 million zlotys, the company's

deputy chief executive Robert Ostrowski said.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Japan's ANA says 787 engine repairs could take 3 years

* Rolls-Royce CEO say its a "manageable issue"

(Adds Rolls-Royce comment, share price)

Read more

BRIEF-Hasen-Immobilien H1 revenues down at 1.72 mln euros

* H1 net result -1.83 million euros versus 6.50 million

euros year ago

Read more

BRIEF-ICBC posts H1 financial results

Aug 30 (Reuters) - Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

Ltd

Read more

BRIEF-Fukuoka Reit to buy Oita-based property for 1.47 bln yen

* Says it plans to buy Oita-based property for 1.47 bln yen,

on Sep. 1

Read more

BRIEF-Fukuoka Reit Plans sale of properties for 8.02 bln yen

* Says it plans to sell trust beneficial rights of two

properties for totaling 8.02 billion yen, on Sep. 30 and Nov. 29

respectively

Read more

BRIEF-Aeon Financial Service plans new shares and corporate bonds issue

* Says it plans to issue 7.8 million new shares via public

offerings

Read more

BRIEF-Lventure Group H1 net loss widens to 1.2 million euros

* H1 revenue 0.53 million euros versus 0.47 million euros

year ago

Read more

Monday, August 29, 2016

SE Asia Stocks-Sluggish as investors continue to digest Fed comments

By Geo Tharappel

Aug 30 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets were flat

to lower in lacklustre trading on Tuesday, with the Philippines

leading the losses, as investors continued to digest U.S.

Federal Reserve officials' hawkish comments.

Investors are less sure when the U.S. policy might change

after Fed Chair Janet Yellen said on Friday the case for a rate

hike was strengthening, but provided little detail on when it

would next move.

While the initial market reaction was to p

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf shares may consolidate in thin volumes

DUBAI, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Gulf stock markets may consolidate

on Tuesday with thin trading volumes preventing any extended

rebound despite modest recoveries in oil prices and Asian

bourses.

Read more

COLUMN-Kiss it goodbye, the great buyback boom is on the wane: James Saft

Aug 30 (Reuters) - The great stock buyback boom may be on

the wane, undermined by falling company earnings.

Read more

S.Korea Hanjin Shipping shares plunge 26 pct after creditor banks decide to pull funding

SEOUL, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Shares in Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd

fell more than 26 percent on Tuesday after its

creditor banks decided to stop funding support for the troubled

shipper.

Read more

Creditor banks to end support for S.Korea's Hanjin Shipping -Yonhap

SEOUL, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Creditor banks of Hanjin Shipping

Co Ltd have decided to stop supporting the South

Korean shipper, news agency Yonhap reported on Tuesday,

increasing the likelihood of court receivership, two people at

the creditor banks told Reuters.

Read more

BRIEF-Shanghai Industrial Development to pay div payment for 2016 H1

* Says it will distribute three new shares for every 10

shares to shareholders for 2016 H1

Read more

BRIEF-Greattown Holdings sets coupon rate for 2016 1st tranche public corporate bonds at 5.99 percent

* Says Sets coupon rate for 2016 public corporate bonds

(first tranche) at 5.99 percent

Read more

Taiwan stocks up with overseas markets; tech shares drag

TAIPEI, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Taiwan stocks rose on Tuesday

boosted by a bounce in overseas markets but the gains were

limited on profit-taking in key heavyweight tech stocks.

Asian shares were higher on doubts the Federal Reserve

really would hike rates as soon as September as investors

continued to count on more policy stimulus elsewhere in the

world.

As of 0133 GMT, the main TAIEX index rose 0.1

percent to 9,119.56, after closing down 0.2 percent in

the previous session.

The electro

Read more

BRIEF-Agility health reports Q2 2016 financial results

* Agility health reports second quarter 2016 financial

results

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

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BRIEF-Hound partners llc reports 5.63 pct passive stake in Media General as of Aug 18

* Hound Partners LLC reports 5.63 percent passive stake in

Media General Inc as of August 18 - Sec filing

Source text (http://bit.ly/2bvC33C)

Further company coverage:

Read more

BRIEF-Mangrove Partners Master Fund Ltd cuts stake in in fifth street asset management to 7.9 pct

* Mangrove Partners Master Fund Ltd Reports 7.9 Pct Stake In

Fifth Street Asset Management Inc As Of August 25 - Sec filing

Read more

Advent hires banks to sell control of Brazil port -sources

SAO PAULO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Buyout firm Advent

International Corp has hired Morgan Stanley & Co and Grupo BTG

Pactual SA to advise on the sale of a controlling stake in TCP

Terminal de Contêineres de Paranaguá SA, Brazil's second-busiest

container port, according to two people with direct knowledge of

the plans.

Read more

Bankrupt Samson Resources, creditors reach restructuring deal

Aug 29 (Reuters) - Samson Resources Corp, one of the largest

energy companies to seek bankruptcy in the current commodities

slump, reached a new agreement with creditors that aims to bring

the company out of Chapter 11 under the ownership of its

second-lien lenders.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Mexico says 2017 oil hedge guarantees $42 per barrel

MEXICO CITY, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Mexico's Finance Ministry on

Monday said it had wrapped up what traders consider the world's

biggest sovereign derivatives trade, guaranteeing an average

price of $42 per barrel for crude oil exports in 2017.

Read more

BRIEF-Toronto-Dominion bank's size of preferred share offering increased to 40 mln Series 14 shares

* Size of preferred share offering increased to 40 million

Series 14 shares

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. immigration agency to review private prison deals; shares slide

WASHINGTON, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Department of Homeland

Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced on Monday that he

directed his advisory council to evaluate whether the agency

should continue to contract with private prisons, news that hit

shares of private prison operators.

Read more

BRIEF-AK Bars Bank Q2 net profit down at RUB 1.37 billion

* Q2 net interest loss 1.85 billion roubles ($28.44 million) versus profit of 903.5 million

roubles year ago

Read more

European shares lower on U.S. rate hike expectations, Alstom up

* Fingerprint Cards gains on client China launch

(Recasts, adds detail and updated prices at close)

Read more

BRIEF-AKB Avangard H1 net profit up at RUB 2.1 billion

* H1 net interest income 2.94 billion roubles ($45.19 million) versus 3.43 billion roubles

year ago

Read more

UPDATE 2-Egyptian parliament approves value-added tax at 13 percent

CAIRO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Egypt's parliament approved on

Monday a long-awaited law introducing a value-added tax of 13

percent, rising to 14 percent in the next fiscal year, a key

part of the government's plan to reform the economy and cut its

deficit.

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Qatar outperforms, rest of region sluggish

DUBAI, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Qatar's stock market outperformed

the Gulf on Monday as large-caps carried the index higher, but

other bourses were little changed as a fresh slide in oil prices

and a retreat in Asian share markets kept buyers away.

Read more

BRIEF-Lifco buys Norwegian supplier of LED-lighting

* Has signed agreement for acquisition of majority of Norwegian company Nordesign AS

Read more

South Africa's Eskom denies blocking coal contract investigation

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 29 (Reuters) - South Africa's Eskom denied

on Monday that it was blocking a Treasury investigation into

coal contracts with Tegeta Exploration & Resources Ltd., a firm

controlled by the Gupta family.

Read more

Shareholder calls for strategic review at Ambac Financial

Aug 29 (Reuters) - Activist shareholder Joseph Pirinea said

on Monday bond insurer Ambac Financial Group should

hire an investment bank to review strategic alternatives.

Read more

Sri Lankan rupee ends firmer on exporter dollar sales

COLOMBO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The Sri Lankan rupee ended

firmer on Monday as exporter dollar sales surpassed importer

demand for the greenback, dealers said.

Read more

BRIEF-Dealnet reports continued growth in consumer finance receivables

* Dealnet reports continued growth in consumer finance

receivables driven by strong origination volumes in the second

quarter of 2016

Read more

BRIEF-Concord Securities to pay 2015 dividend on Oct. 21

* Says it will pay cash dividend of T$0.21 per share for

2015

Read more

BRIEF-Poly Real Estate's H1 net profit up 0.2 pct

Further company coverage:

(Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Thai Siam Commercial Bank targets 4 pct loan growth this year

BANGKOK, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Siam Commercial Bank Pcl

, Thailand's third-largest lender by assets, expects a 4

percent growth in its lending this year, which should help boost

revenue and profit to be slightly higher than last year, its

chief executive said on Monday.

Read more

Statoil sees more Aker-BP type-deals in Norway oil sector

STAVANGER, Norway, Aug 29 (Reuters) - John Knight, Statoil's

executive vice-president for global strategy and

business development, told the ONS oil conference in Stavanger

on Monday:

Read more

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Morning News Call - India, August 29

To access the newsletter, click on the link:



http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Indiamorning/MNC_IN_08292016.pdf



INDIA TOP NEWS

 Dirty laundry: Welspun tangle highlights India's quality challenge

Questions over the exact provenance of bedsheets sold by Welspun India to

America's middle classes have not only wiped $740 million off the firm's market

value, but also revived one of Indian manufacturing's enduring headaches:

quality.

 Paris prosecutor opens i

Read more

BRIEF-Jinyuan Cement unit plans financial leasing for 154.3 mln yuan

* Says its Qinghai-based wholly owned cement unit signed a

financial leasing to sell partial equipments and facilities to

finance 154.3 million yuan

Read more

Australia shares at 1-month low on U.S rate rise concerns

By Rushil Dutta and and Anusha Ravindranath

Australian stocks fell for a third straight session on Monday

to their lowest in over a month as sentiment was dampened by

comments from top U.S. Fed officials raising the possibility of

an interest rate hike this year.

Read more

RPT--Taiwan stocks fall on weaker overseas markets, technical selling in TSMC

TAIPEI, Aug 29 (Reuters) - TAIPEI, Aug 29 (Reuters) -

Taiwan stocks fell on Monday tracking weakness in overseas

markets and on technical selling in heavyweight chipmaker TSMC

.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Uber, Careem suspend services in UAE capital

ABU DHABI, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Ride-hailing companies Uber

and Careem have suspended services in Abu Dhabi, the

capital of the United Arab Emirates, since Saturday and do not

know when they can resume operations, they said on Sunday.

Read more

Herbalife may have misled investors, SEC on impact of FTC deal, one short-seller says

BOSTON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - After U.S. multi-level marketing

company Herbalife settled a probe of its sales practices

with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission last month, top

executives assured investors that the company would be able to

thrive under the new rules.

Read more

Box Office: 'Don't Breathe' Scares Up $26.1 Million As Hot Summer for Horror Continues

LOS ANGELES, Aug 28 (Variety.com) - "Don't Breathe," a

twisty story of a group of teenage delinquents who pick the

wrong house to burglarize, dominated the late summer box office,

debuting to a potent $26.1 million and topping charts. It joins

a long list of recent horror films such as "The Purge: Election

Year," "The Conjuring 2," "Lights Out," and "The Shallows" that

have all found success with audiences. It's a genre that's

particularly attractive to studios, because these films don't

require

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi and Qatar rebound, rest of region weak

DUBAI, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Stock markets in Saudi Arabia and

Qatar partially recovered on Sunday from last week's losses,

while other Gulf markets dropped in quiet trade and Egypt sank

as the government was hit by a corruption scandal in the wheat

industry.

Read more

Allianz can weather long-lasting low interest rates -life insurance chief

FRANKFURT, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Europe's biggest insurer

Allianz has positioned its business to weather rock-bottom

interest rates that could last a "very long time", the head of

the German group's life insurance division told German media.

Read more

Qatar National Bank gets go-ahead to open branch in India

DOHA, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Qatar National Bank (QNB)

has been given approval to open a branch in India offering

banking services, the Gulf region's largest lender said on

Sunday.

Read more

Iraq asks Saudi Arabia to replace Saudi ambassador -Iraqi state TV

BAGHDAD, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Iraq's foreign ministry has

asked Saudi Arabia to replace its ambassador in Baghdad, Thamer

al-Sabhan, Iraqi state TV said on Sunday.

Read more

Spanish economic recovery helps boost El Corte Ingles profit

MADRID, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Core earnings for Spanish

department store chain El Corte Ingles were up 10 percent in

2015, it said on Sunday, buoyed by a consumer-driven economic

recovery, a strong tourism season and a lower debt burden.

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi and Qatar rebound, rest of Gulf mixed

DUBAI, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Stock markets in Saudi Arabia and

Qatar made a partial recovery on Sunday from last week's losses,

with other Gulf markets mixed in quiet trade.

Read more

Saudi builder Khodari renews 132 mln riyal Islamic facility

DUBAI, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian construction firm

Abdullah Abdul Mohsin al-Khodari and Sons said on

Sunday that it had renewed an existing 132 million riyal ($35.2

million) Islamic credit facility with Samba Financial Group

.

Read more

Saturday, August 27, 2016

SNB's Maechler currently sees no scope to lift negative rates - interview

ZURICH, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The Swiss National Bank remains

committed to negative interest rates and currently sees no

opportunity to lift the policy, governing board member Andrea

Maechler told Swiss newspaper Sonntagsblick.

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf may consolidate, few positives

DUBAI, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Gulf stock markets may consolidate

in quiet trade on Sunday with few positive factors to push them

up.

Read more

Global central bankers, stuck at zero, unite in plea for help from govts

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo., Aug 27 (Reuters) - Central bankers in

charge of the vast bulk of the world's economy delved deep into

the weeds of money markets and interest rates over a three-day

conference here, and emerged with a common plea to their

colleagues in the rest of government: please help.

Read more

ECB rates could stay low unless other policy areas contribute: Coeure

FRANKFURT, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank's

ultra-loose monetary policies were enacted on the assumption

they would be temporary, but unless other policy areas started

contributing, rates could remain low, Executive Board member

Benoit Coeure said on Saturday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-ECB rates could stay low if other policy areas don't contribute: Coeure

FRANKFURT, Aug 27 (Reuters) - European Central Bank rates

could remain low unless other policy areas start contributing,

raising the risk that they could increasingly hit their

effective lower limit, a top policymaker said on Saturday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Scandal-hit Gupta family says plans to sell South African holdings

* Gupta businesses range from media to mining

(Adds Oakbay CEO, background)

Read more

German finmin says ECB's low interest rates "harmful"

BERLIN, Aug 27 (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Wolfgang

Schaeuble on Saturday renewed his criticism of the European

Central Bank's low interest rates, saying they were particularly

damaging for people saving up for their retirement.

Read more

Fed should keep trillions in bonds to provide stability - paper

Aug 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve should scrap a

plan to shrink its massive bond holdings and instead keep them

"indefinitely" as a new and little-recognized tool to protect

against financial shocks, according to research presented on

Saturday to some of the world's top central bankers.

Read more

Pacific Tropical Storm Lester now a hurricane - NHC

Aug 26 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Lester has developed an

eye and is now a hurricane as it moved west in the Pacific Ocean

away from the mainland of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center

(NHC) said in an advisory on Friday.

Read more

China to rein in aggressive acquisitions by insurers - Caixin

BEIJING, Aug 27 (Reuters) - China's insurance regulator will

limit the funding avenues for insurers to take stakes in other

companies, in an effort to crack down on aggressive

acquisitions, financial news outlet Caixin reported on Saturday,

citing anonymous industry sources.

Read more

Friday, August 26, 2016

Nigerian interbank rate trades flat on budget cash expectations

LAGOS, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Nigeria's overnight naira

interbank lending rate closed around the 20 percent level on

Friday, a range it has traded all week because of low liquidity

and the central bank's cash withdrawal through treasury bills

sales, traders said.

Read more

BRIEF-Nobel REIT Qtrly AFFO $954,823 versus $613,855

* Qtrly AFFO $954,823 versus $613,855

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

Read more

BRIEF-Rackspace enters into a $4.3 bln transaction to become a private company through an acquisition

* Rackspace enters into a $4.3 billion transaction to become

a private company through an acquisition led by certain funds

managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management

Read more

Sri Lankan stocks end at 2-wk low;, diesel duty hike hurts

COLOMBO, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan shares ended at a

two-week low on Friday in moderate volume as investors booked

profits, while an increase in excise duty on diesel dragged on

Lanka OIC, pulling down the overall index.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Hong Kong tribunal finds short seller Citron culpable of misconduct

* Tribunal finds Left published "false and/or misleading"

information

Read more

UPDATE 2-China's AgBank profit up slightly; lending margins squeezed

* NPL ratio at 2.4 pct at end-June, flat on quarter

(Adds comments from chairman)

Read more

Takata shortlists Daicel, KKR, Ningbo, others in rescue search -sources

TOKYO, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Takata Corp has

shortlisted six or seven companies, including a competitor and

private-equity funds, as potential financial investors to bail

out the Japanese car-parts maker, people involved in the process

said.

Read more

Greek bank deposits drop in July after two-month rise

ATHENS, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Greek bank deposits dropped

slightly in July after a rise in the previous two months, data

released by the country's central bank showed on Friday.

Read more

Thursday, August 25, 2016

BRIEF-Technopolis Q2 EBITDA falls to EUR 23.5 million

* Q2 net sales 43.2 million euros ($48.8 million) versus

47.9 million euros year ago

Read more

BRIEF-SABMiller publishes scheme documents in relation to AB InBev offer

* Today publishing scheme document, which is being sent, or

made available, to SABMiller shareholders

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

(Bengaluru Newsroom: +91 806 749 1136)

Read more

China Life to raise overseas investments to 15 pct of assets

HONG KONG, Aug 26 (Reuters) - China Life Insurance Co

, the country's biggest insurer by market

value, plans to boost its overseas investments to 15 percent of

total assets in coming years from about 2 percent now, its

vice-president said on Friday.

Read more

BRIEF-Zug Estates Holding H1 net result down 37.3 pct at CHF 24.7 mln

* H1 net result 24.7 million Swiss francs ($25.56 million), down 37.3 percent; EBIT 32.8

million francs, down 33.7 percent

Read more

UPDATE 1-Taiwan's CTBC Financial, China's CITIC Bank cancel deals

* Both say it has taken more than a year since contracts

signed

Read more

Morning News Call - India, August 26

To access the newsletter, click on the link:



http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Indiamorning/MNC_IN_08262016.pdf



FACTORS TO WATCH

5:00 pm: RBI to release weekly foreign exchange data in Mumbai.

7:00 pm: RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan to speak at Foreign Exchange Dealers

Association of India annual day in Mumbai.



GMF-ASIA LIVECHAT-GLOBAL MACROS with Megan Greene, MD and Chief Economist,

Manulife Asset Management

World equity markets are in a dizzying

Read more

RPT-Energy company problems expose cracks in Singapore bond market

SINGAPORE, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The collapse of an oil

services company and the deterioration in the finances of some

other energy firms have exposed structural cracks in the

Singapore dollar corporate bond market.

Read more

DEALTALK-Anbang's Hong Kong IPO to lift veil on Chinese group's backers

HONG KONG, Aug 26 (Reuters) - For investors and bankers

wanting to know more about who's behind Anbang Insurance Group,

China's second-largest life insurer, plans for a Hong Kong IPO

next year should provide some answers.

Read more

BRIEF-D. E. Shaw Composite Holdings LLC reports 5 pct stake in Terraform Power - SEC filing

* David Shaw reports 6.7 pct stake in Terraform Power Inc as

of August 15

Read more

U.S. bank group to launch Zelle instant payments brand in 2017

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - A consortium of banks holding

the majority of U.S. consumer accounts plans to launch its

instant, person-to-person payments brand Zelle in the first half

of 2017, a spokesman said on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Judge lets ex-NY assembly speaker Silver stay free during appeal

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Sheldon Silver, former speaker

of the New York State Assembly, can stay free on bail while he

appeals his corruption conviction, a Manhattan federal judge

ruled on Thursday.

Read more

BRIEF-Target Capital signs conditional sale of real estate asset for $3.2 mln

* Target Capital announces signing of conditional sale of

real estate asset

Read more

CORRECTED-U.S. agency rolls out refinance program for homeowners

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The regulator of Fannie Mae and

Freddie Mac unveiled on Thursday a program aimed at homeowners

who are paying their mortgages on time but whose loan-to-value

(LTV) ratios are too high to qualify for traditional refinance

programs.

Read more

MOVES-Citadel hires ex BlueCrest portfolio manager for London office

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Former BlueCrest Capital

Management portfolio manager Ashish Goyal is set to join hedge

fund manager Citadel, a Citadel spokesman said on Thursday.

Read more

BRIEF-Tokyo Tatemono plans to raise 10 bln yen by issuing 15-yr bonds - Nikkei

* Tokyo Tatemono plans to raise 10 billion yen ($99.4 million) by issuing

15-year straight bonds - Nikkei

Read more

UPDATE 5-Zuma says backs finance minister but can't stop investigation

* Opposition calls for debate on Gordhan "witch-hunt"

(Adds Gordhan at funeral service in Eastern Cape province)

Read more

U.S. fines big Nebraska bank over credit card, ID theft marketing

Aug 25 (Reuters) - First National Bank of Omaha will pay

$35.25 million of fines and refunds to settle charges by two

U.S. regulators that it duped hundreds of thousands of customers

into buying credit card and identity theft services they did not

want, understand or receive. It also apologized to customers.

Read more

UPDATE 1-France's Nord Cereales suspends wheat deliveries - Euronext

PARIS, Aug 25 (Reuters) - French silo operator Nord Cereales

will stop taking deliveries in its silo in the northern port of

Dunkirk as of Aug 29, Euronext said in a statement.

Read more

DBRS cautious over Portugal's CGD recapitalisation plans

Aug 25 (Reuters) - Credit rating agency DBRS said on

Thursday it was difficult to assess the impact on Portugal's

government rating from the plan to recapitalise state-owned bank

CGD until it was clear whether investors would buy new debt the

plan hinges on.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Investor group rebukes Sports Direct, wants review of management

* Shares down 48 pct so far this year

(Adds stance of shareholder Legal & General)

Read more

MONEY MARKETS-Three-month dollar Libor resumes rise

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - A closely watched measure of

the cost for banks to borrow three-month dollars rose on

Thursday to its highest level in more than seven years, with

tentative signs that its rise may be losing steam.

Read more

BRIEF-Viking Therapeutics enters into $12.5 million common stock purchase agreement with Aspire Capital

* Viking Therapeutics enters into $12.5 million common stock

purchase agreement with Aspire Capital

Read more

UPDATE 3-Italy quake death toll nears 250 as rescuers search demolished towns

* Many buried under rubble in their sleep

(adds details of victims in hotel, foreigners, food festival)

Read more

Deutsche Boerse, LSE submit merger to EU regulators for approval

LONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Deutsche Boerse and

the London Stock Exchange Group said they have submitted

their $29 billion merger deal to European Union competition

regulators for approval.

Read more

BRIEF-Clean&Carbon Energy H1 net result turns to loss of 1.4 mln zlotys YoY

* H1 revenue 539,000 zlotys ($141,274) versus 545,000 zlotys

year on year

Read more

Deals of the day- Mergers and acquisitions

Aug 25 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions

and disposals were reported by 1000 GMT on Thursday:

Read more

UPDATE 1-China's big P2P platforms shrug off crackdown

HONG KONG/BEIJING, Aug 25 (Reuters) - China's bid to tame

its peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector could cost smaller

platforms some business, but the impact on larger players will

be limited, and some of the new restrictions will be hard to

enforce, analysts and industry players said.

Read more

BRIEF-Cinnober Financial Technology Q2 EBITDA turns to loss SEK 7.9 million

* Q2 net sales 72.9 million Swedish crowns ($8.67 million) versus 71.8 million crowns year

ago

Read more

BRIEF-Anxin Trust's H1 net profit up 67.5 pct

Further company coverage:

(Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)

Read more

Sri Lankan rupee down on importer dollar demand

COLOMBO, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The Sri Lankan rupee traded

weaker on Thursday led by importer dollar demand while the

central bank appeared to have stopped giving a reference level

for the spot currency, dealers said.

Read more

TABLE-Foreign trading in South Korean stocks

SEOUL, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Daily net trading in shares on

South Korea's main stock exchange by three major

categories of investors as of 0720 GMT, in billions of South

Korean won (a negative figure indicates net selling):

FOREIGNERS INSTITUTIONS RETAIL

August 25 -318.8 253.1 -1.6

^August 24 -41.5 -39.0 -17.8

August 23 45.9 -216.3 79.1

August 22 -11.9 -

Read more

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

BRIEF-Leasinvest Real Estate H1 net result rises 13% to 15.2 million euros

* H1 net result up to  15.2 million ($17.14 million) from

 13.4 million (+13%)

Read more

BRIEF-Handelsbanken says sold all A-shares in Industrivarden

Aug 25 (Reuters) - Handelsbanken sells stake in

Industrivarden :

Read more

U.S. weather service reports 'extremely dangerous' tornado near Indianapolis

WASHINGTON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The National Weather Service

said on Wednesday a "confirmed large and extremely dangerous

tornado" was located near Indianapolis, Indiana and was moving

east at 20 miles per hour (32 kmh).

Read more

BRIEF-Monster issues open letter to stockholders

* Issued an open letter to stockholders in response to

Medianews Group, Inc.'s letter dated Friday, August 19, 2016

Read more

BRIEF-Novan files for IPO of up to $60 mln

* Have applied to list common stock on the nasdaq global

market under the symbol "novn"

Read more

UPDATE 5-RBC keeps close eye on Vancouver and Toronto housing markets

* Earnings per share of C$1.72 edge past expectations

(Adds comment from CFO interview)

Read more

UPDATE 2-EU, Portugal agree on 5 bln euro recapitalisation for ailing bank CGD

LISBON/BRUSSELS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The European Commission

and Portugal have agreed in principle on the recapitalisation,

on market terms, of ailing state-owned bank CGD, envisaging an

injection of up to 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion) in state funds

and nearly as much in debt and equity.

Read more

GLOBAL MARKETS-European stocks rebound as euro slips; oil tumbles

* Earlier equity gloom lifts as Brexit fallout fears

dissipate

Read more

BRIEF-Iberiabank Corp - Board amended bylaws to change number of authorized directors to 11

* Effective Aug 19, 2016, board amended section 3.1 of the

bylaws to change number of authorized directors of from twelve

to eleven

Source - http://bit.ly/2bfQGrx

Further company coverage:

Read more

BRIEF-kWh Analytics, Inc. says it has sold $5.6 million in equity financing

* kWh Analytics, Inc. says it has sold $5.6 mln in equity

financing - SEC Filing

Read more

Fitch: U.S. Cyber Insurance Premiums Total $1B Per New Supplemental Filing

(The following statement was released by the rating agency)

CHICAGO, August 24 (Fitch) Aggregating the cybersecurity

statutory supplement

data for the U.S. property/casualty (P/C) insurance industry

finds that

approximately 120 insurance groups reported writing cyber

coverage in 2015

totaling approximately $1 billion in direct written premiums

volume. Fitch

analyzed cyber insurance market share and performance in a new

special report,

'U.S. Cyber Insurance Market Share and Performance' that

Read more

Euro area banks see net profit fall 20 pct in first quarter - ECB

FRANKFURT, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Euro area banks saw their

profits fall by a fifth in the first three months of this year

as they made less money from trading and most other business

areas, European Central Bank data showed on Wednesday.

Read more

BRIEF-Moody's says Latin America's weak credit conditions to improve only gradually amid muted growth

* Moody's: Latin America's weak credit conditions to improve

only gradually amid muted growth

Read more

Firing S.Africa's Gordhan would "destroy economy" - Manuel

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - South Africa's economy, the

most developed on the continent, will be destroyed if President

Jacob Zuma fires Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, ex-finance

minister Trevor Manuel said on Wednesday.

Read more

BRIEF-Luzerner Kantonalbank issues 0.100% bond for the period 2016-2031

* 0.100% bond of Luzerner Kantonalbank AG for the period

2016-2031

Read more

Victims of attacks in Israel lose U.S. appeal vs Lebanese bank

NEW YORK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. court on Wednesday

rejected an appeal by victims of Hezbollah rocket attacks in

Israel who sought to hold Lebanese Canadian Bank SAL liable for

financing Hezbollah through its New York account with American

Express Bank.

Read more

MOVES- BNP Paribas, Old Mutual

Aug 24 (Reuters) - The following financial services industry

appointments were announced on Wednesday. To inform us of other

job changes, email moves@thomsonreuters.com.

Read more

BRIEF-Epiq systems receives early termination of Hart-Scott-Rodino

* Epiq Systems receives early termination of

Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period for acquisition by omers

private equity and harvest partners

Read more

BRIEF-Concent Holding to develop apartments in Norrtälje Hamn

* Construction is planned for spring 2020 and apartments are expected to be ready for

move-in in 2022

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

(Gdynia Newsroom)

Read more

BRIEF-Board of Oslo Børs imposes violation charge on Sandnes Sparebank

* Oslo Børs says resolved to impose a violation charge on Sandnes Sparebank of 658,400

Norwegian crowns ($80,262.34) for a breach of the duty to disclose inside information to the

market

Read more

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

China state asset manager: We'll closely monitor bonds to avoid defaults

SHANGHAI, Aug 24 (Reuters) - China's state asset manager

sought to ease market worries about possible defaults, pledging

on Wednesday to scrutinize bonds maturing in three months and

saying a state-owned railway firm has managed to avoid default.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Strong quake hits central Italy, brings down buildings

ROME, Aug 24 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake struck central

Italy in the early hours of Wednesday, causing buildings to

collapse "with reports of victims" and sending panicked

residents fleeing into the streets of numerous towns and cities.

Read more

Fitch Rates Xinyuan's Proposed USD Notes 'B(EXP)'

(The following statement was released by the rating agency)

HONG KONG, August 23 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings has assigned Xinyuan

Real Estate Co.,

Ltd.'s (Xinyuan: B/Stable) proposed US dollar senior notes a

'B(EXP)' expected

rating and Recovery Rating of 'RR4'.

The notes are rated at the same level as Xinyuan's senior

unsecured rating

because they constitute direct and senior unsecured obligations

of the company.

The final rating is subject to the receipt of final

documentation conforming to

inf

Read more

Australia shares flat amid mixed financial results

SYDNEY/WELLINGTON, Aug 24(Reuters) - Australian shares

struggled to advance on Wednesday as mixed earnings reports

offset a boost from firmer mining and bank stocks.

Read more

China's yuan back to fifth most-used world payment currency - SWIFT

HONG KONG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - China's yuan bounced back to

be the fifth most-active currency for global payments in July,

thanks to a big fall in payments in other currencies, global

transaction service provider SWIFT said on Wednesday.

Read more

As China e-commerce booms, private equity sees room for growth in storage space

* Investors in China warehouses include Warburg Pincus,

Carlyle

Read more

BRIEF-First Defiance Financial to buy Commercial Bancshares for transaction value of $63 mln

* First Defiance Financial Corp and Commercial Bancshares

Inc announce definitive merger agreement

Read more

China's Silk Road powers bids for $1.5 bln Pakistan utility stake

SINGAPORE/ISLAMABAD, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Chinese state-backed

firms are frontrunners to buy a $1.5 billion controlling stake

in Pakistani utility K-Electric, sources said, as they bet the

benefits of a Beijing-led economic corridor will trump the risks

of investing in Pakistan.

Read more

Mongolians scrabble for dollars after local currency's plunge

ULAANBAATAR, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Making money amid Mongolia's

deepening economic crisis, currency dealers thronging the black

markets of Ulaanbaatar wave wads of American dollars and Chinese

yuan, warning desperate customers that foreign banknotes are

becoming scarcer by the day.

Read more

Caesars argues fresh lawsuit shield will help bankruptcy deal

CHICAGO, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The bankrupt operating unit of

Caesars Entertainment Corp asked a judge on Tuesday to

extend a lawsuit shield for its parent company, which a

financial advisor said is critical to making progress toward a

settlement with holdout creditors.

Read more

Australia shares set to extend gains, New Zealand shares fall

SYDNEY, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Australian shares were poised to

edge higher on Wednesday as a stronger Wall Street pushed the

index towards a three-week high.

The local share price index futures rose 0.3

percent to 5,533 points, a 0.7-point discount to the underlying

S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark rose 0.7 percent

on Tuesday as the index hit a three-week high.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.2

percent in early trade.



For a summary of overnight action across globa

Read more

US CBO says budget deficit to reach $590 bln for fiscal 2016

WASHINGTON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. budget deficit is

expected to grow to $590 billion in fiscal year 2016 due to

slower than expected growth in revenues and higher spending for

programs including Social Security and Medicare, the

Congressional Budget Office said on Tuesday.

Read more

BRIEF-Connectone bancorp files for mixed shelf of upto $50 mln

* Files for mixed shelf of upto $50 million - sec filing

Source text : http://bit.ly/2bLAREC

Further company coverage:

Read more

AIG in talks to sell Lloyd's insurance business to CPPIB-WSJ

Aug 23 (Reuters) - American International Group Inc

is in early talks to sell Lloyd's of London Ltd's

insurance operations to Canada Pension Fund (CPPIB), the Wall

Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

Read more

MOVES-Former Itau banker joins buyside firm Noctua

NEW YORK, Aug 23 (IFR) - Ricardo Navarro, the former head of

international debt capital markets at Brazilian investment bank

Itau BBA, has joined asset management firm Noctua Partners as a

portfolio manager.

Read more

Russia c.bank: govt decision on pensions no reason to change inflation forecast

MOSCOW, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Russia's central bank said on

Tuesday a government decision to make a one-off payment to

pensioners early next year was no reason to change its inflation

forecast.

Read more

European shares gain, led by housebuilders, mining companies

LONDON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - European shares advanced on

Tuesday, with housebuilders leading the market higher and mining

companies rebounding from their declines the day before.

Read more

Azeri currency under pressure as demand for dollars grows

BAKU, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan's central bank pledged

on Tuesday to support the country's banks and currency and

called fears of another devaluation groundless.

Read more

BRIEF-Teckro, Inc says it has sold $6 million in equity financing - SEC Filing

* Teckro, Inc says it has sold $6 mln in equity financing -

SEC Filing

Source - http://bit.ly/2c35Ss4

Read more

BRIEF-Turkey's Akbank says to issue up to 10 billion lira in debt in domestic market

* To issue up to 10 billion lira in debt in domestic market

Further company coverage:

(Istanbul newsroom)

Read more

UPDATE 1-UBS's Zeltner warns rivals of pitfalls in Asian growth push

ZURICH, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The head of the world's biggest

wealth manager on Tuesday warned rivals turning to Asia for

growth that achieving profitability in the region will prove

challenging.

Read more

ECB balance sheet expanded by 16.8 bln euros last week

FRANKFURT, xxxxx (Reuters) - The combined balance sheet of

the European Central Bank and the euro zone's 19 national

central banks expanded by 16.8 billion euros to 3.313 trillion

euros in the week to August 19, the ECB said on Tuesday.

Read more

BRIEF-Viex Capital Advisors believes Immersion has strategic opportunities

* Viex Capital Advisors says it believes there are strategic

opportunities for Immersion Corp - SEC filing

Read more

UBS's Zeltner says bank focused on organic growth

ZURICH, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Swiss bank UBS will

approach any possible acquisitions with caution and is focused

on growing organically, its wealth management head said on

Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Turkey cuts rates again despite ratings worries

* President has repeatedly called for cheaper bank credit

(Adds analyst comment, details on inflation)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Bank of Montreal's quarterly earnings beat expectations

TORONTO, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Bank of Montreal

reported a 3 percent increase in quarterly earnings, ahead of

market expectations, on strength in its retail and commercial

banking and capital markets businesses.

Read more

CANADA STOCKS-Futures rise tracking world stocks amid Fed limbo

Aug 23 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a higher opening

for Canada's main stock index on Tuesday, tracking world

markets, as investors await further clues on whether the U.S.

Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this year.

Read more

UPDATE 1-China's Henan province cuts loans to overcapacity sectors by almost $1 bln

* CBRC in Henan encouraging banks to restructure firms'

debts

Read more

EU mergers and takeovers (Aug 23)

BRUSSELS, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The following are mergers under

review by the European Commission and a brief guide to the EU

merger process:

Read more

BRIEF-Toll Brothers third-quarter earnings per share $0.61

* Toll brothers reports FY 2016 3rd quarter and 9 month

results

Read more

BRIEF-Orix JREIT updates unit issuance plan

* Says it plans to issue new units for 16.30 billion yen via

public offering

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf continues sliding as oil sags

DUBAI, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Gulf stock markets continued

dropping early on Tuesday after Brent crude oil fell

back below $49 a barrel and short-term technicals for several

indexes in the region turned negative over the past few days.

Read more

Hong Kong shares barely move as investors await Fed policy clues

Aug 23 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares were roughly flat on

Tuesday as investors awaited clues on U.S. monetary policies

from the coming annual conference of the Federal Reserve.

Read more

India's NSE names Citigroup, 3 others to manage IPO

MUMBAI, Aug 23 (Reuters) - India's National Stock Exchange

(NSE) on Tuesday named four banks, including Citigroup and

Morgan Stanley, to manage its planned initial public offering of

shares next year.

Read more

Danish consumer confidence rises to 4.8 points in August

COPENHAGEN, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Denmark's consumer confidence

index rose to 4.8 points in August from 3.1 points in July, the

statistics office said on Tuesday.



August 2016 July 2016 FY 2015

Consumer confidence 4.8 3.1 8.9



The monthly survey asks a cross section of Denmark's

population its views on current personal and national economic

trends, along with consumer intentions for the coming months.

For further details in Danish, Thom

Read more

Monday, August 22, 2016

BRIEF-MyBucks partners with German FinTech Group AG

* FinTech Group's subsidiary biw Bank will provide credit

facilities to MyBucks

Read more

BRIEF-Magnolia Bostad Q2 operating profit doubles to SEK 115.4 million

* Q2 operating profit 115.4 million Swedish crowns ($13.81 million) versus 53.8 million

crowns year ago

Read more

China fund managers ramp up stock connect marketing as regulations ease

SHANGHAI, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Chinese investment managers,

taking advantage of a significant step to open up investment

flows in and out of China, are aggressively marketing

well-priced Hong Kong shares to mainland investors through

stock connect schemes.

Read more

COLUMN-Emerging markets may enjoy secular stagnation: James Saft

Aug 23 (Reuters) - A low-growth world won't be an easy one

for emerging markets, but at least the Federal Reserve will keep

the water in the bath warm.

Read more

Moody's downgrades Brazil's Odebrecht construction company

SAO PAULO, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Moody's Investors Service

downgraded the credit ratings of two units of Odebrecht SA, the

engineering and construction company and the financial holding

entity, citing liquidity and reputational risks for the

Brazilian conglomerate, which is one of the main targets of the

country widest-ever corruption probe.

Read more

Barclays mandates banks for U.S. dollar AT1 securities

HONG KONG, Aug 23 (IFR) - Barclays PLC has mandated

itself as sole bookrunner and structuring adviser for a U.S.

dollar Reg S Additional Tier 1 offering.

Read more

UPDATE 1-California wildfire prompts weeklong closure of Hearst Castle

Aug 22 (Reuters) - The historic Hearst Castle, a major

tourist attraction on California's central coast, will be closed

to the public through the week as a safety precaution due to a

wildfire in the area that has destroyed more than 30 homes,

state officials said on Monday.

Read more

Fitch: Asian Regulatory Reforms to Increase Appetite for Reinsurance

(The following statement was released by the rating agency)

Link to Fitch Ratings' Report: Asian Reinsurance Markets

https://www.fitchratings.com/site/re/886340

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG, August 22 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings believes

that various

regulatory initiatives in the region could lead indirectly to

greater demand for

reinsurance, as direct insurers rethink risk-management

strategies and appetite.

Asian regulators have implemented - or are in the process of

implementing - a

range of measures th

Read more

Australia shares poised for flat start, NZ at record highs

SYDNEY, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Australian shares are likely to

start mostly unchanged on Tuesday as they track Wall Street, but

a drop in metals and oil prices overnight are expected to weigh

on the benchmark index.

Local share price index futures slipped 0.1 percent

to 5,494 points, a 21.1 point discount to the underlying

benchmark, which lost 0.21 percent on Monday.

Caltex Australia and Oil Search report

half-year figures.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index hit another

record hi

Read more

IMF evaluates Ghana's fiscal outlook, could review assistance program

ACCRA, Aug 22 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund

(IMF) is evaluating Ghana's fiscal outlook for the rest of 2016

and will consider the third review of the country's $918 million

assistance programme next month subject to the outcome, the

Washington-based lender said on Monday.

Read more

REFILE-UPDATE 1-Cinven to acquire pharmaceutical research firm Bioclinica

Aug 22 (Reuters) - Cinven Ltd said on Monday it agreed to

acquire BioClinica Inc from two other buyout firms, Water Street

Healthcare Partners and JLL Partners, in a deal that sources

said values the U.S. clinical trials company at around $1.4

billion, including debt.

Read more

BRIEF-Leo Acquisitions says intends to seek shareholder approval for a 1-for-3.3 consolidation

* At meeting, company, among other things, intends to seek

shareholder approval for a 1-for-3.3 consolidation

Read more

BRIEF-Cinven to buy Bioclinica

* Consideration is not disclosed

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

Read more

UPDATE 2-Citigroup, AT&T end litigation over 'thanks'

NEW YORK, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc and AT&T

Inc have ended a court battle over whether the "AT&T

thanks" customer loyalty program infringed Citigroup's trademark

in the phrase "thankyou."

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. appeals court declines to reconsider Bank of America ruling

NEW YORK, Aug 22 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court refused on

Monday to reconsider its decision to overturn a $1.27 billion

penalty against Bank of America Corp and a jury verdict

finding it liable for mortgage fraud leading up to the 2008

financial crisis.

Read more

Citigroup, AT&T end litigation over 'thanks'

NEW YORK, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc and AT&T

Inc have ended their litigation over the latter's use of

the phrase "AT&T thanks" on a customer loyalty program, which

the bank said was too similar to its trademarked "thankyou."

Read more

BRIEF-Dai-Ichi Life Insurance Co Ltd to acquire United States Warranty Corp - Nikkei

* Dai-Ichi Life Insurance to acquire united states warranty

corp for deal valued at $127 million - nikkei

Read more

President says Peru owes nothing to fund in bond dispute -report

LIMA, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Peru's new president, Pedro Pablo

Kuczynski, said the government does not owe anything to a

U.S.-based investment fund that is suing the Andean country over

disputed bond payments, Latin Finance reported on Monday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-British PM faces struggle to keep executive pay in check

* Data shows binding pay policy votes little used

(Adds Parry on plans for employees 'representation on the

board)

Read more

Wells Fargo to pay $4.1 mln for illegal student loan practices-CFPB

Aug 22 (Reuters) - A Wells Fargo & Co unit will pay a total

of $4.1 million to settle charges that it engaged in illegal

private student loan servicing practices that unfairly penalized

certain borrowers, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB)

said on Monday.

Read more

BRIEF-Armour Residential REIT co-CEO buys 5,000 shares of company at avg price of $22.07/share - SEC filing

* Co-CEO Ulm Scott reports open market purchase of 5000

shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share at average

price of $22.07 per share - SEC filing

Source text -

Further company coverage:

Read more

BRIEF-Armour Residential REIT's Co-CEO, President, Jeffrey Zimmer reports open market purchase of 10,000 shares co's common stock

* Co-CEO, President, Jeffrey Zimmer reports open market

purchase of 10,000 shares co's common stock at average price of

$22.11per share

Read more

BRIEF-Oriana Resources says no longer proceeding with the Graphene Lighting Plc deal

* Oriana Resources Corporation announces that it will no

longer be proceeding with its qualifying transaction with

Graphene Lighting Plc

Read more

BRIEF-Valiant Investment Holdings LLC says it has sold $50.4 mln in equity financing

* Valiant Investment Holdings LLC says it has sold $50.4 mln

in equity financing - SEC Filing

Source - http://bit.ly/2bfPArR

Read more

StanChart cuts African private equity team as economies struggle

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 22 (Reuters) - The head of Standard

Chartered's African fund, which has $800 million

invested, is set to leave the bank as it trims its private

equity team on the continent, its global head of private equity

said on Monday.

Read more

Baltic Exchange board backs SGX bid for London firm

SINGAPORE, Aug 22 (Reuters) - The Baltic Exchange board has

unanimously backed a takeover bid from Singapore Exchange Ltd

, a deal that will give SGX access to a trading

platform for the multi-billion dollar freight derivatives

market.

Read more

BRIEF-China Lending Qtrly EPS $0.31

* Announces 2016 guidance: expects over 16% and 20% increase

in revenue and net income, respectively, as compared to 2015

Read more

BRIEF-Mara Delta to buy Tamassa Resort for $40 mln on a cash, debt free basis

* Has entered into a non-binding heads of terms with Néréide

Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lux Island Resorts

Limited, for acquisition of Tamassa Resort

Read more

BRIEF-Asian Growth Properties to sell Property Development project in Chengdu

* Disposal of property development project in Chengdu,

Sichuan Province, PRC

Read more

BRIEF-Nexus Capital Management buys 4.35 mln H-shares in China Vanke - HKEx disclosure

* Nexus Capital Management Limited's Nexus Diversified Asia

Real Estate Fund has bought 4.35 million H-shares in China Vanke

Co Ltd , taking holdings to 9.32 percent

from 8.99 percent

Read more

GE's plan to take on debt could pressure credit metrics -Moody's

Aug 22 (Reuters) - General Electric Co's plan to take

on $20 billion of debt adds to the "uncertainty surrounding its

ability to mitigate" pressure on credit metrics, Moody's

Investors Service said on Monday.

Read more

BRIEF-Hithink Royalflush Information Network's H1 net profit up 62.15 pct

Aug 22 (Reuters) - Hithink Royalflush Information Network Co

Ltd

Read more

BRIEF-Shanghai Aerospace Automobile Electromechanical to sell shares in Guotai Junan

Aug 22 (Reuters) - Shanghai Aerospace Automobile

Electromechanical Co Ltd

Read more

BRIEF-Banco del Caribe to propose dividend of 1.04 billion bolivar

* Said on Friday will propose to the general meeting held on

Sept. 15 a dividend payment of 1.04 billion bolivar ($104.26

million), that is 10.00 bolivar per share

Read more

Sunday, August 21, 2016

BRIEF-Fukuoka Financial Group unit sets up insurance unit

* Says its unit The Bank Of Fukuoka Ltd sets up a wholly

owned subsidiary in Fukuoka, which will be mainly engaged in

insurance related business, on Aug. 16, with investment of 400

million yen

Read more

BRIEF-Business One Holdings sells land in Fukuoka

* Says it sold a Fukuoka-based land(720.82 square meters)

with an undisclosed price

Read more

BRIEF-Avic Aviation High-Technology to set up compound material JV

* Says it plans to set up a JV in Nantong with a holding

company, industry-guiding fund and individuals

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf may be soft after oil, global bourses pull back

DUBAI, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Gulf stocks may be soft on Monday

after the global environment weakened, with oil and Asian

equities pulling back amid concern that a U.S. Federal Reserve

gathering this week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming may signal the U.S.

central bank is gearing up to hike interest rates.

Read more

BRIEF-Changshu Rural Commercial Bank issues IPO prospectus to list in Shanghai

Aug 22 (Reuters) - Jiangsu Changshu Rural Commercial Bank Co

Ltd

Read more

Taiwan stocks fall; Mega Financial plunges after NY branched fined by regulators

TAIPEI, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Taiwan stocks fell on Monday,

weighed down by declines in Mega Financial Holding Co Ltd

after its New York banking branch was fined $180

million by New York State's financial services department for

anti-money laundering violations that included lax attention to

risk exposure in Panama.

Read more

South Korea's boxed-in Kospi sends investors looking abroad

SEOUL, Aug 22 (Reuters) - South Korean shares have been

emerging Asia's most becalmed for six years, trading in a narrow

range as a sluggish economy and weak exports stifle profits and

investment, sending local investors increasingly in search of

returns elsewhere.

Read more

MEDIA-Security Bank eyes possible acquisitions - BusinessWorld

MANILA, Aug 22 (Reuters) - -- Source link: http://bit.ly/2b9wR3Y

Read more

Louisiana residents without flood insurance face uncertainty

BATON ROUGE, La., Aug 21 (Reuters) - Quenton Robins watched

on Sunday morning as a giant metal claw clamped down on his

mother's ruined belongings, snapping wooden cabinets with an

audible crack as the operator of a giant mechanized arm slowly

cleared a mound of debris from her yard in Baton Rouge.

Read more

Italy's Renzi not worried at all about Monte dei Paschi

MARINA DI PIETRASANTA, Italy, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Italian

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Sunday he was not worried

about the situation at Italian lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di

Siena.

Read more

Box Office: 'Ben-Hur' Flops With $11.4 Million, 'Suicide Squad' Still on Top

LOS ANGELES, Aug 21 (Variety.com) - "Ben-Hur" derailed

spectacularly at the multiplexes this weekend, as the latest

attempt to revive the chariot racing epic opened to an anemic

$11.4 million. That's a disastrous result for the $100 million

production, putting "Ben-Hur" in the ranks of the summer's

biggest flops.

Read more

China's Vanke says confidence hit by takeover battle

* Partners question tie-up benefits in land acquisition

projects

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf edges down despite petchems; Telecom Egypt climbs

DUBAI, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Most Gulf stock markets edged down

on Sunday despite strength in some Saudi Arabian petrochemical

shares, while Telecom Egypt boosted Egypt's bourse

slightly.

Read more

RPT-UPDATE 2-Soccer-Liverpool not for sale despite Chinese interest - source

LONDON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - The American owners of Liverpool,

one of the most famous teams in English soccer, are not planning

to sell, a senior source at the club said on Sunday, after

reports that a Chinese-backed consortium wanted to buy a

sizeable stake.

Read more

Soccer-Senior Liverpool source says club not up for sale

LONDON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - The American owners of England's Liverpool Football Club are not planning to sell, a senior source at the soccer club said on Sunday, after reports that they were gearing up for the possible sale of a stake to a Chinese-backed consortium.

Read more

Egypt sees eurobond yield at 5.5-6 pct for Sept/Oct issuance

CAIRO, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Egypt expects its eurobond

issuance at the end of September or early October to have a

yield between 5.5 percent and 6 percent, Deputy Finance Minister

for fiscal policies Ahmed Kojak told Reuters on Sunday.

Read more

Patel's naming as India cbank chief to comfort markets as continuity seen

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, Aug 21 (Reuters) - India's incoming

central bank governor Urjit Patel will aggressively fight

inflation and continue a policy of a stable rupee and cash

injections into the financial system, investors said, offering a

comforting degree of continuity to his predecessor's policies.

Read more

RPT-UPDATE 1-Soccer-Liverpool hire advisers after Chinese bid - report

Aug 20 (Reuters) - Liverpool's owners have hired an

investment bank to advise on the possible sale of a sizeable

stake in the club to a Chinese consortium, the Financial Times

said on Saturday citing sources close to the matter.

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Petchems boost Saudi but markets mostly sluggish

DUBAI, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Petrochemical shares boosted Saudi

Arabia's stock market early on Sunday on the back of strong oil

prices but most share markets in the Gulf were barely changed.

Read more

Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power expands revolving credit facility

DUBAI, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia-based power and water

project developer ACWA Power said on Sunday it had

increased a revolving credit facility secured last year by 600

million riyals ($160 million) to 1.30 billion riyals.

Read more

Saturday, August 20, 2016

CORRECTED-China's Bohai Steel $28.9 billion debt plan to get local support - Caixin

BEIJING, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Bohai Steel Group, the indebted

state-owned conglomerate, may receive help from a local

government bailout fund to restructure its debts, the online

financial magazine Caixin said at the weekend.

Read more

New Indian cenbank head's arduous task: getting banks to lower rates

MUMBAI, Aug 21 (Reuters) - One of the biggest challenges for

India's incoming central bank chief is a problem he and his

predecessor have long grappled with - how to spur stubborn state

banks to cut borrowing costs more aggressively to boost the

economy.

Read more

Debris piles mark the start long road to recovery in flooded Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La., Aug 20 (Reuters) - Renee Deal still hopes

to salvage the wedding photo album placed out to dry on Saturday

in the carport of her flood-ravaged house in southern Louisiana.

Read more

Goldman, S.Korea fund to buy majority stake in cookware firm Happycall

SEOUL, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc and

South Korean private equity firm EastBridge Partners said on

Sunday they have agreed to acquire a majority stake in cookware

and kitchen appliances maker Happycall Co Ltd.

Read more

NEWSMAKER-Solitary by nature, India's new central bank head steps into spotlight

MUMBAI, Aug 20 (Reuters) - India's incoming central bank

governor, Urjit Patel, is widely regarded as having the

professional and academic credentials he needs to make a success

of his new job.

Read more

EXOR says Dutch base makes it easier to invest, raise funds

MILAN, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Italy's EXOR, the

holding company of the Agnelli family, said switching its base

to the Netherlands will make it easier to carry out acquisitions

and raise funds in the future.

Read more

Magnitude 6 quake strikes off Japanese coast

LONDON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - An earthquake measuring 6.0

struck off the east coast of Japan in the early hours of Sunday,

the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Read more

India names Urjit Patel as next RBI governor - PMO

MUMBAI, Aug 20 (Reuters) - India's government promoted Urjit

Patel, a deputy governor in charge of monetary policy at the

Reserve Bank of India, to serve as its next governor for a

three-year term, it said on Saturday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-India appoints insider Urjit Patel as new central bank governor

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, Aug 20 (Reuters) - India's government

promoted Urjit Patel, a deputy governor in charge of monetary

policy at the Reserve Bank of India, to serve as its next

governor for a three-year term, it said on Saturday.

Read more

BRIEF-Corrections Corp Of America CEO Damon Hininger reports purchase of 2,870 shares at $16.60/share

* CEO Damon Hininger reports purchase of 2,870 shares of

co's common stock on Aug 18 at $16.60/share - SEC filing

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

Read more

India's SBI says will gain $120 bln in assets from takeover of units

NEW DELHI, Aug 20 (Reuters) - State Bank of India (SBI)

, the nation's biggest lender by assets, will gain $120

billion in assets following its merger with associate banks and

Bhartiya Mahila Bank, the lender said in a statement on

Saturday.

Read more

Friday, August 19, 2016

BRIEF-United Insurance Holdings says to pay sole stockholder $9.3 mln as termination fee

* If deal is terminated under certain specified

circumstances, co to pay sole stockholder $9.3 million

termination fee

Read more

BRIEF-CIFC to pay F.A.B. Holdings I LP a termination fee of $13.3 mln upon termination of deal

* To pay F.A.B. Holdings I LP a termination fee of $13.3

million in cash upon termination of deal under certain specified

circumstances

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

Read more

Travelers former CEO Jay Fishman dies at 63

Aug 19 (Reuters) - Jay Fishman, chairman and former chief

executive of property and casualty insurer Travelers Cos Inc

, died on Friday.

Read more

BRIEF-Your Community Bankshares shareholders approve merger agreement with Wesbanco

* Your Community Bankshares shareholders approve merger

agreement with Wesbanco

Read more

Chinese power conglomerates becoming dominant forces in Brazil

SAO PAULO, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Chinese power conglomerates

are gradually becoming the dominant force in Brazil's

electricity industry, where high debt, a harsh recession and

less stringent takeover barriers than in other major markets

have stoked a wave of acquisitions.

Read more

BRIEF-Alibaba Group's Jack Ma adopts stock trading plan

* Alibaba Group Holding Ltd founder Jack Ma adopts

Rule 10b5-1 sales plan

Read more

BRIEF-Travelers mourns death of former CEO Jay Fishman

* Death of Jay Fishman, its executive chairman of board and

former chief executive officer

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

Read more

UPDATE 1-Speculative net longs in U.S. 10-year T-notes lowest since June -CFTC

(Adds details on latest weekly data)

Aug 19 (Reuters) - Speculators' net bullish bets on U.S.

10-year Treasury note futures fell for a third week to their

lowest since early June, according to Commodity Futures Trading

Commission data released on Friday.

The amount of speculators' bullish, or long, positions in

10-year Treasury futures exceeded bearish, or short, positions

by 26,619 contracts on Aug. 16, according to the CFTC's latest

Commitments of Traders data.

The drop in specu

Read more

Venezuela's PDVSA in talks with Credit Suisse for bond swap

CARACAS/HOUSTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Venezuelan state oil

company PDVSA has begun talks with Credit Suisse AG

for a possible swap of bonds expiring in 2017,

according to sources familiar with the conversations.

Read more

BRIEF-Activist investor Elliott cuts stake in Premier Farnell to 3.93 pct

* Discloses stake of 3.9328 pct in Premier Farnell Plc

through derivatives

Read more

BRIEF-Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Holdings to offer individual health insurance in Chinese market - Nikkei

* Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Holdings will offer individual

health insurance in Chinese market, with plans to sign up

employees of Japanese businesses - Nikkei

Source text - (http://s.nikkei.com/2bDvo3O)

Read more

IEX's 'Flash Boys' exchange goes live, aims to disrupt market

NEW YORK, Aug 19 (Reuters) - IEX Group, the upstart trading

venue featured in Michael Lewis's book "Flash Boys: A Wall

Street Revolt," began operations as a public stock exchange on

Friday after more than 2-1/2 years as an off-exchange trading

platform.

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BRIEF-QRF H1 net current result up by 44.0 pct to 3.62 million euros

* H1 net current result up by 44.0 pct to 3.62 million euros

($4.10 million) (versus 2.52 million euros in first half of

2015)

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BRIEF-DUFL, Inc says it has sold $5.4 million in equity financing

* DUFL, Inc says it has sold $5.4 million in equity

financing - SEC Filing

Source - http://bit.ly/2bt1HE9

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BSI settles bonus lawsuit with former Asia head

ZURICH, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Swiss private bank BSI, which was

involved in a corruption scandal linked to its dealings with

Malaysian state investor 1MDB, has settled a lawsuit over bonus

payments to the former head of its Asian operations.

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BRIEF-Sweett Group says RICS panel imposes fine over bribery case

* Announces outcome of a disciplinary panel held by Royal

Institute Of Chartered Surveyors on August 17

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Britain not to trigger EU divorce before end of year - Downing Street

LONDON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa

May will not begin formal divorce talks on leaving the European

Union before the end of the year, a government spokeswoman said

on Friday.

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BRIEF-Gdynska Grupa Finansowa acquires 0.6 mln of Grupa Jaguar shares

* Gdynska Grupa Finansowa acquires 0.6 million of the

company's series E shares for 168,000 zlotys ($44,200)

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

($1 = 3.8023 zlotys)

(Gdynia Newsroom)

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RBS to charge some corporate customers for deposits in Britain

LONDON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Some large corporate clients who

bank with Royal Bank of Scotland face the prospect of

paying to hold cash in their accounts from Monday, a source

close to the bank said, the first in Britain to charge negative

interest rates on deposits.

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UPDATE 1-Indonesia central bank leaves key rate unchanged, lowers economic forecast

JAKARTA, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Indonesia's central bank kept

its new benchmark rate unchanged on Friday, reduced its forecast

for economic growth this year and said there was room for more

monetary easing.

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BRIEF-MediaNews Group says opposes Monster Worldwide's sale to Randstad

* Medianews Group, Inc. Says Sent A Letter To Monster

Worldwide Inc.'s Board Of Directors Disclosing An 11.6%

Ownership Stake In Monster's Shares

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REFILE-Cambridge University innovation investor raises 75 million pounds

LONDON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Cambridge Innovation Capital,

which commercializes technology and healthcare research from

Cambridge University, has raised 75 million pounds ($98 million)

from investors, including for the first time Woodford Investment

Management.

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