U.S. equities gain on global growth optimism

Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:54 -0400

U.S.EQUITIES GAIN ON GLOBAL GROWTH OPTIMISM
U.S. stocks start week higher, as ebbing fears over a contraction in
global economic growth bring back appetite for riskier assets.

BP DEADLINE LOOMS FOR CONTAINMENT PLAN UPDATE
BP's spill in the Gulf of Mexico continued to leak about 20,000
barrels a day Monday, ahead of a showdown this week between President
Barack Obama and BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg as the environmental
crisis approaches its eighth week and a price tag nearing $2 billion
thus far, with action on several fronts.

BP TO MEET ON DIVIDEND AS COSTS REACH $1.6 BLN
BP's board members were due Monday to determine their strategy on
dividend payments as the company said that the cost of cleaning up the
still-uncapped Gulf of Mexico oil spill has reached $1.6 billion.

OIL RISES AS EUROPEAN DATA SUPPORT DEMAND HOPES
Crude futures rally nearly 3%, reclaiming the $75-a-barrel mark, as
stronger European manufacturing data and a return of investor
enthusiasm for stocks, commodities and other assets seen as likely to
benefit from global economic growth set a constructive backdrop.

BP LOSSES KEEP BRITISH SHARE GAINS IN CHECK
British shares edged higher on Monday, with gains for miners barely
outweighing another decline for BP as the oil giant continues to
battle to stem a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.