Speculative trading in crude oil surges: report

Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:03:26 -0400
Speculative trading in crude oil surges: report

Speculators now account for about 70% of all benchmark crude-oil trading
on the New York Mercantile Exchange, up from 37% in 2000, according to
congressional findings cited in a Wall Street Journal report.

Retail Stocks: Penney rises; Circuit City tumbles in mixed sector
trading

NEW YORK Retail shares were mixed Monday as J.C. Penney Co. got a boost
after an upgrade by Deutsche Bank. Circuit City Stores Inc. shares
dropped for a third straight session after it reported a wider loss last
week and said it was suspending dividend payments to conserve cash.

Republic Services to buy Allied Waste in $6 billion-plus deal

Republic Services will acquire Allied Waste Industries via a stock swap
valued at roughly $6 billion, a deal that would create a major
environmental-services provider.

Bunge to acquire Corn Products International for $4.8 billion

Bunge has agreed to pay $4.8 billion to buy Corn Products International
in a stock swap, as demand for food stokes dealmaking in the
agricultural sector.

Rio, BHP Billiton warn Chinese companies of record iron-ore price rises

HONG KONG Rio Tinto PLC (RTP) and BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) have asked
their Chinese steelmaker customers to accept the largest ever increase
in iron ore prices or risk the interruption of supplies from Australia,
the Financial Times reported on its Web site Monday, citing traders and
industry officials.