International Headlines

Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:02:04 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 11 July, 2010

> BP UNCAPS LEAKING WELL IN GULF
Crews removed a containment cap on the ruptured well in the Gulf
of Mexico so a better-fitting one can go on, BP said Saturday.
Meanwhile, oil is gushing freely.

> ISRAEL: AID FLOTILLA UNLIKELY TO REACH GAZA
An aid flotilla intended to break Israel's naval blockade of
Gaza likely will dock at another port, an Israeli foreign
ministry spokesman said today.

> IRAN TO REVIEW STONING SENTENCE
Iran's top human rights official said the Islamic regime is
reviewing a sentence of execution by stoning for a woman
convicted of adultery.

> FORMER HOSTAGE SEEKS $7M PAYOUT
Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt is
seeking a government payout for the six years she spent as a
hostage of leftist rebels.

> SRI LANKAN MINISTER ENDS 'DEATH FAST'
A Sri Lanka politician ended his "fast unto death" on Saturday
when the nation's president gave him water and an ambulance
rushed him to a hospital.

> UK MANHUNT ENDS IN FUGITIVE'S SUICIDE
The week-long hunt for fugitive gunman Raoul Moat ended early
Saturday when the 37-year-old shot himself after a six-hour
standoff with police in Rothbury, England.

> DEATH TOLL IN PAKISTAN BLAST REACHES 102
The death toll in Friday's blast in Pakistan has gone up to 102,
a government official said Saturday.

> POLICE: GOALIE WATCHED GIRLFRIEND KILLED
A Brazilian goalkeeper, who police named a prime suspect in the
disappearance and murder of a woman said to be his former
girlfriend, has refused to answer questions on his alleged
involvement, police said Friday.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> CHINA RENEWS GOOGLE LICENSE
Google said Friday that it has renewed its license with the
Chinese government to continue operating in that country, ending
a standoff over censorship with the search engine.

> MADAGASCAN VANILLA TRADERS UNDER PRESSURE
The world's largest vanilla industry is feared to be on the
verge of collapse as farmers struggle to earn a living.

> CREATING A BUZZ WITH ECO-VUVUZELAS
The sound of vuvuzelas has been a feature of every match at this
year's World Cup, but one Cape Town business is using them to
create a different kind of buzz.

BP removes well cap; crude oil flows unrestricted into Gulf of Mexico

Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:49:44 -0400

BP removes well cap; crude oil flows unrestricted into Gulf of Mexico
07/10/2010 04:48:02 PM EDT

International Headlines

Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 20:02:04 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 10 July, 2010

> BLOWN-OUT WELL MAY GET NEW CAP SOON
BP may replace the containment cap on its broken Gulf oil well
as early as Saturday, the head of the government's response team
says.

> UK FUGITIVE SPOTTED, POLICE SAY
Police in northeastern England believe they've spotted Raoul
Thomas Moat, wanted for a series of shootings last weekend.

> U.S., RUSSIA PULL OFF SPY SWAP
Ten Russian agents are on their way to Moscow after being
swapped for four prisoners accused of spying for the U.S.,
Russian state media reports.

> U.N. CONDEMNS SINKING OF WARSHIP
The United Nations formally condemned Friday the sinking of a
South Korean warship in March but did not specifically name
North Korea, which an international investigation found to be
culpable in the attack.

> BLAST IN PAKISTAN'S TRIBAL REGION KILLS 56
A blast in Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan killed
six people and wounded 90 others on Friday, a local doctor said.

> SUPERMODEL TO APPEAR AT TAYLOR TRIAL
British supermodel Naomi Campbell will appear before the war
crimes tribunal of former Liberian President Charles Taylor,
according to a statement from her representative.

> U.S. POLICE SHOOTING VERDICT SPARKS RIOT
Hundreds of rioters upset about the verdict in the trial of a
white former police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black
man stormed the streets of downtown Oakland, California,
Thursday night, police said.

> IRAN DENIES WOMAN TO FACE STONING
Iran's government is denying reports that an Iranian woman
convicted of adultery will be executed by stoning, though her
death sentence may still be carried out by some other method.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> CHINA RENEWS GOOGLE LICENSE
Google said Friday that it has renewed its license with the
Chinese government to continue operating in that country, ending
a standoff over censorship with the search engine.

> MADAGASCAN VANILLA TRADERS UNDER PRESSURE
The world's largest vanilla industry is feared to be on the
verge of collapse as farmers struggle to earn a living.

> CREATING A BUZZ WITH ECO-VUVUZELAS
The sound of vuvuzelas has been a feature of every match at this
year's World Cup, but one Cape Town business is using them to
create a different kind of buzz.

Markets, Friday, 07/9/2010

Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 17:31:04 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,198.03 up 59.04 | S & P : 1,077.96 up 7.71
|
| NASDAQ: 2,196.45 up 21.05 |Bond (10Y): 3.06% up 0.036
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks rally at end of big week
Markets finished in a tight range at the end of a strong week that has
seen the major indexes gain more than 5%.

Stocks rally to close higher. Dow, Nasdaq, S&P 500 all rise about 5% for the shortened trading week.

Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 16:02:04 -0400

Stocks rally to close higher. Dow, Nasdaq, S&P 500 all rise about 5%
for the shortened trading week.

Energy: BP to remove well cap to install new one

Date: 9 JUL 2010 16:02:13 GMT

BP PLC plans to remove a cap on its rogue gushing well in the Gulf of
Mexico Saturday, part of what might be a three- or four-day effort to
install a more efficient cover, Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said
Friday.

Google's license in China is renewed

Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:01:42 -0400

Google's license in China is renewed:
Google Inc. said Friday that its license to operate its
Internet-search services in China was renewed by the country's
authorities.

FINGERS CROSSED AS SECOND-QUARTER EARNINGS LOOM
Companies are slowly mending their bottom lines, but they're
struggling with cautious consumers, tougher comparisons and
unfavorable currency fluctuations, upcoming second-quarter results are
likely to show.

U.S. STOCKS GET MODEST BOOST FROM INVENTORIES DATA
U.S. stocks edge higher Friday following a rise in wholesale
inventories that met expectations and as investors grew hopeful for
the second-quarter earnings reports set to begin next week.

EUROPE STOCKS SPORT BEST ONE-WEEK GAIN IN YEAR
European shares closed higher Friday for the fourth straight session
to wrap up the best week in a year.

SMARTPHONE MAKERS HIT WITH BROAD PATENT LAWSUIT
A firm that won a massive settlement over the BlackBerry wireless
e-mail system four years ago is now going after the latest entrants to
the smartphone market.

Google says China has renewed its Internet content provider license, ending a standoff over censorship.

Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 07:11:04 -0400

Google says China has renewed its Internet content provider license,
ending a standoff over censorship.

Modest gains for U.S. stock indexes; Google rises on China license renewal, lifting Nasdaq

Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:47:09 -0400

Modest gains for U.S. stock indexes; Google rises on China license
renewal, lifting Nasdaq
07/09/2010 09:45:22 AM EDT

International Headlines

Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 20:02:06 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 09 July, 2010

> RUSSIAN SPY SUSPECTS PLEAD, WILL BE EXPELLED
Ten Russian spy suspects in New York will be expelled from the
United States in exchange for the release of four Russian
prisoners accused of spying for the United States, federal
officials said.

> U.N. RECALLING ENVOY FROM SRI LANKA
The U.N. secretary-general is recalling an envoy from Sri Lanka
and closing a U.N. office there because authorities in that
country "failed to prevent" protests disrupting the "normal
functioning" of the world body's offices in Colombo, the
nation's capital.

> PROGRESS IN STOPPING GULF OIL LEAK
BP is ahead of schedule on a relief well intended to stop the
leak in the Gulf, but mid-August still seen as the "kill" time
for the blown-out well.

> 3 CONVICTED IN 2006 AIRLINER BOMB PLOT
In a third trial, three men have been convicted in a 2006 plot
to blow up commercial airliners over the Atlantic Ocean, the
head of Britain's counterterrorism prosecution told CNN on
Thursday.

> MORE SHIITE PILGRIMS SLAIN IN IRAQ
More attacks targeted Shiite pilgrims across Baghdad on
Thursday, the latest in a wave of violence gripping Iraq's
capital, an Interior Ministry official said.

> WEATHER, TERRAIN SLOW ENGLAND MANHUNT
Law enforcement officers in northern England on Thursday
continued their search for a man who allegedly shot his
ex-girlfriend, fatally shot her new boyfriend and shot a police
officer, local authorities said.

> TERROR SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN NORWAY
Three people suspected of plotting terrorist attacks and having
connections to al Qaeda have been apprehended, the Norwegian
prime minister's office said Thursday.

> SPAIN TO ACCEPT FREED CUBAN PRISONERS
Spain's foreign minister has agreed to take in the 52 Cuban
political prisoners who are set for release, Spanish diplomatic
sources said Thursday.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> YOUTUBE TARGETS TV WATCHERS
YouTube is ready to take the wraps off its latest vision for how
online videos can be enjoyed on larger screens.

> SIX STORIES FROM THE ECONOMIC TRENCHES
In October, when her newspaper merged with a competitor, Jamie
Smith was laid off.

> IMF WARNS ON GLOBAL RECOVERY
The risk of a slowdown in the global economic recovery has risen
sharply, but governments should continue planning to tighten
fiscal policy, the International Monetary Fund has said.

Market Briefing Newsletter for Thursday, 07/8/2010

Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 17:31:04 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,138.99 up 120.71 | S & P : 1,070.25 up 9.98
|
| NASDAQ: 2,175.40 up 15.93 | Bond (10Y): 3.02% up 0.040
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Dow in triple-digit advance
Blue chips lead advance as investors continue to dig back in after the
recent sell-off. A drop in weekly jobless claims and stronger euro
help.

Stocks rally to close higher as investors welcome a better-than-expected drop in weekly jobless claims. Dow adds 120 points.

Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 16:02:03 -0400

Stocks rally to close higher as investors welcome a
better-than-expected drop in weekly jobless claims. Dow adds 120
points.

NIH scientists find antibodies that block most HIV

Date: Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:30:57 -0400

NIH scientists find antibodies that block most HIV
07/08/2010 02:29:20 PM EDT

U.S. stocks rise on fewer jobless claims

Date: Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 12:01 PM

U.S. STOCKS RISE ON FEWER JOBLESS CLAIMS    
U.S. stocks gain, fueled by a better-than-expected jobless figure and robust same-store sales from a handful of retailers. 

RETAIL JUNE SALES A MIXED BAG AMID OUTLOOK WORRY  
Retailers posted mixed June sales on Thursday as a boost from hot weather–induced buying and a shift in the timing of Memorial Day sales was offset by a string of disappointing economic reports that have hurt consumer confidence and led some to pull back on spending. 

SHOPPERS CAN'T SHAKE RECESSION WORRIES  
It looks like economic gloom has overtaken the consumer. 

DOW'S GAINS MAY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD
After the longest string of losses in nearly two years for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, one might think investors should be happy with any advance. Some gains, however, can end up doing more harm than good,

JOBLESS CLAIMS FALL 21,000 TO 454,000 
The number of people filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits sank 21,000 in the latest week to a still-high 454,000, maintaining a recent see-saw pattern. 

Initial unemployment claims drop by 21, 000 in the latest week to 454,000, the Labor Department says.

Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 08:33:05 -0400

Initial unemployment claims drop by 21, 000 in the latest week to
454,000, the Labor Department says.

Stocks rise at the open on stronger-than-expected jobless claims and chain-store sales. Dow gains 54 points.

Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 09:33:05 -0400

Stocks rise at the open on stronger-than-expected jobless claims and
chain-store sales. Dow gains 54 points.

International Headlines

Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 20:02:03 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 08 July, 2010

> FAMILY: RUSSIA PREPARING SPY SWAP DEAL
A Russian researcher convicted of spying for U.S. intelligence
services could be exchanged for one of the suspects in the
recent Russian spy scandal in the United States, his relatives
said.

> PILGRIMS ATTACKED IN BAGHDAD; 33 KILLED
The relentless violence against Shiite pilgrims in Iraq
intensified Wednesday evening, with at least 33 people killed by
bomb attacks, officials said.

> ARREST IN 'GRIM SLEEPER' KILLER CASE
An arrest has been made in connection with the Grim Sleeper
serial killer case involving 11 deaths since 1985, police in Los
Angeles, California, say.

> 5 CHARGED AS AL QAEDA PLOTTERS
The Justice Department announced charges Wednesday against five
people who prosecutors say are members of an al Qaeda plot to
attack targets in the United States and the United Kingdom.

> SON URGES IRAN COURTS TO STOP STONING
The son of an Iranian woman who faces execution by stoning
appealed to Iran's courts Wednesday in hopes of sparing his
mother's life.

> EXPERT: UK SHOULD FEAR MORE ATTACKS
Five years on from the London 7/7 bombings, Britain's most
senior anti-terror policeman at the time tells CNN the risk of
another attack is "as high as it has ever been."

> 'CLIMATEGATE' REVIEW CLEARS SCIENTISTS
A report into the "Climategate" controversy, which fueled
skepticism about global warming, finds no evidence to question
the "rigor and honesty" of scientists involved.

> FRENCH COURT JAILS NORIEGA FOR 7 YEARS
A French court sentences former Panamanian dictator Manuel
Noriega to seven years in prison for money laundering.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> OBAMA TRUMPETS U.S. EXPORT BOOST
A series of steps aimed at bolstering U.S. exports brought a 17
percent increase in the first four months of 2010 over the same
period last year, President Barack Obama announced Wednesday.

> CHINA BANK READIES RECORD $22.1B IPO
Agricultural Bank of China is set to raise up to $22.1bn in the
world's biggest initial public offering, underscoring the
strength of investor faith in the growth of the Chinese economy.

> APPLE BANS APPS AFTER ITUNES BREACH
Apple has banned dozens of applications from its iTunes digital
store after bogus purchases from hundreds of compromised
customer accounts drove the apps to the top of the popularity
charts for paid electronic books.

Breaking News: Stocks surge; Dow back over 10,000

Date: Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:24:13 -0600

NEW YORK (AP) - Financial and materials shares pulled the stock market
higher Wednesday after traders looked for beaten-down names. The Dow
Jones industrial average rose almost 275 points, climbing back above
the 10,000 barrier. The Dow and broader indexes gained more than 2%.
Interest rates rose as investors dumped Treasurys in favor of riskier
assets like stocks.

Markets, Wednesday, 07/7/2010

Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 17:31:03 -0400
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 10,018.28 up 274.66 | S & P : 1,060.27 up 32.21 |
| NASDAQ: 2,159.47 up 65.59 | Bond (10Y): 2.98% up 0.048
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Bank stocks ignite big rally
Blue-chip indicator is back above 10,000 after State Street's improved
forecast lifts financial issues, giving a boost to a market battered
in recent weeks.

State Street surge leads financials rally

Date: Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:00:49 -0400

STATE STREET SURGE LEADS FINANCIALS RALLY
State Street Corp. paces gains in the U.S. financial sector, after the
trust bank raises its second-quarter earnings forecast on improved
revenue trends.

U.S. STOCK GAINS ACCELERATE ON FINANCIALS, ENERGY
U.S. stocks advance as the financial sector gains on a rosy forecast
from State Street and energy stocks get a boost from higher crude
prices.

EUROPE EDGES HIGHER AS BANKS OFFSET MINERS
European shares turn losses into modest gains, lifted by the financial sector.

BP SAID COMFORTABLE WITH LARGE ABU DHABI STAKE
BP is reportedly comfortable with Abu Dhabi taking a stake as large as
10%, according to a published report.

Stocks teeter at the open as investors remain wary about the pace of the global economic recovery. Dow edges up 2 points.

Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 09:31:03 -0400

Stocks teeter at the open as investors remain wary about the pace of
the global economic recovery. Dow edges up 2 points.

International Headlines

Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 20:02:03 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 07 July, 2010

> NETANYAHU, OBAMA CALLS FOR MIDDLE EAST TALKS
Stressing the unbreakable ties between their nations, U.S.
President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu called Tuesday for direct talks between Israel and the
Palestinians.

> FRENCH PARLIAMENT DEBATES BURQA BAN
The French parliament begins debate Tuesday on a bill that would
ban women from wearing Islamic veils, such as the burqa, that
fully cover the face and body.

> 3 KILLED AT FINLAND MCDONALD'S
A quarrel at a drive-through at a McDonald's restaurant in
southern Finland erupted in gunfire Tuesday, leaving three men
dead, police said.

> IDF SOLDIERS FACE CRIMINAL INDICTMENTS
Israeli soldiers face criminal indictments for their conduct
during a three-week incursion into Gaza, including charges of
manslaughter and the use of a Palestinian man as a "human
shield," Israel's chief military prosecutor said Tuesday.

> QUEEN ELIZABETH PRAISES U.N. EFFORTS
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday addressed the United
Nations for the first time in more than 50 years, saying she has
"witnessed great change."

> LOHAN SENTENCED TO JAIL, BREAKS DOWN
Lindsay Lohan has been ordered to serve 90 days in jail for
missing alcohol counseling sessions in violation of her
probation.

> SARKOZY DENIES PAYOFF ALLEGATIONS
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says claims he received cash in
envelopes from L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt are
slanderous and "without any element of truth."

> SON PLEADS AS MOTHER AWAITS STONING
Sajjad Mohammedie Ashtiani travels to a Tabriz jail in Iran
every Monday to see his mother.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> CHINA BANK READIES RECORD $22.1B IPO
Agricultural Bank of China is set to raise up to $22.1bn in the
world's biggest initial public offering, underscoring the
strength of investor faith in the growth of the Chinese economy.

> STOCKS SURGE ON WALL STREET
Stocks rallied Tuesday as investors scooped up a variety of
shares hit in the battering that sent the major indexes down
more than 15 percent over the past two months.

> LIBYA HINTS AT TAKING BP STAKE
Libya's top oil official said that his country's sovereign
wealth fund should invest in BP to take advantage of its falling
share price.

Markets, Tuesday, 07/6/2010

Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 17:31:04 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 9,743.62 up 57.14 | S & P : 1,028.06 up 5.48
|
| NASDAQ: 2,093.88 up 2.09 | Bond (10Y): 2.93% down 0.047
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Dow breaks 7-session losing streak
Market manages advance after a choppy session in which worries about
the economy were eventually trumped by a little buying after the big
sell-off.

Rally that drove Dow up 171 points fizzles as fears about recovery reemerge. But Dow gains 57 points to end 7-day losing streak.

Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 16:03:03 -0400

Rally that drove Dow up 171 points fizzles as fears about recovery
reemerge. But Dow gains 57 points to end 7-day losing streak.

U.S. stocks strong on chip sales, Aussie bank

Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:00:53 -0400

U.S. STOCKS STRONG ON CHIP SALES, AUSSIE BANK
U.S. stocks rose Tuesday, boosted by bullish comments from Australia's
central bank and reports that global chip sales rose 4.5% in May from
the prior month.

U.S. SERVICE SECTOR WEAKENS A BIT IN JUNE
The service sector of the U.S. economy continued to grow in June, but
at a slower pace, according to a survey of companies released by the
Institute for Supply Management.

TREASURYS TURN UP AGAIN AFTER ISM SERVICES DATA
Treasury prices turn higher after a brief turn down, as traders eye
stock-market gains.

BP'S NEW YORK-LISTED SHARES EXTEND BOUNCE
BP's New York-listed shares extended gains Tuesday, reflecting hopes
that the oil giant's battered shares may discount the costs of the
Gulf of Mexico oil spill and attract new holders.

Stocks open sharply higher, led by financial shares, as investors return from a holiday weekend. Dow jumps nearly 100 points.

Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2010 09:33:04 -0400

Stocks open sharply higher, led by financial shares, as investors
return from a holiday weekend. Dow jumps nearly 100 points.

International Headlines

Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 20:02:04 -0400
>TOP STORIES as of 0800 HKT -- 06 July, 2010

> ISRAEL UNVEILS NEW GAZA BLOCKADE RULES
Israel announced that it will continue to restrict construction
materials allowed into Gaza, but will allow other items to be
brought into Gaza without specific permission.

> ACTIVIST: IRANIAN MOTHER FACES STONING
A veteran Iranian human rights activist has warned that Sakineh
Mohammadie Ashtiani could be stoned to death at any moment under. the
terms of a sentence handed down by Iranian authorities.

> PHILIPPINE POLITICIAN GUNNED DOWN
A Filipino politician and party leader was shot to death in
front of his house Monday, party officials said.

> ROMANIAN MILITARY PLANE CRASH KILLS 11
A military plane has crashed near the Tuzla Romania Airport near
the Black Sea with four crew members and nine military divers on
board, a Romanian Ministry of Defense spokesman said Monday.

> 8-YEAR SENTENCE FOR AMERICAN IN CHINA
The United States Embassy here said Monday that it is "dismayed"
by a Chinese court decision sentencing of a U.S. citizen to
eight years in prison for violating state secrets law.

> ROUGH GULF SEAS HAMPER OIL SKIMMER
Choppy seas made it hard to tell if a giant oil skimmer was able
to separate seawater from crude oil spewing out of the ruptured
BP oil well in the Gulf, an official says.

> POLICE KILL 64 IN AFGHAN DRUG BUST
Afghan counter-narcotics police and international security
forces killed 64 people and arrested 10 others during a
three-day operation in Helmand province, the interior ministry
said.

> QUEEN ELIZABETH II'S BUDGET SLASHED
Queen Elizabeth II's annual budget this year is 38.2 million
pounds ($57.8 million), down from 41.5 million pounds ($62.8
million) last year, Buckingham Palace announced Monday.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> LIBYA HINTS AT TAKING BP STAKE
Libya's top oil official on Monday said that his country's
sovereign wealth fund should invest in BP to take advantage of
its falling share price.

> U.S. STIMULUS: THE BIG BANG IS OVER
As U.S. stimulus spending hits its peak, the nation's economy
sputters and job creation remains weak. Did the record $787
billion program fail to do its job?

> U.S. JOB GLOOM AT ALL-TIME HIGH
A record number of Americans are discouraged about their
prospects for finding a job. A total of 1.21 million people want
to work, but said they aren't looking because of the weak labor
market, according to federal statistics.

Markets, Monday, 07/5/2010

Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 17:31:04 -0400

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dow : 9,686.48 down 46.05 | S & P : 1,022.58 down 4.79
|
| NASDAQ: 2,091.79 down 9.5 | Bond (10Y): 2.98% up 0.052
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

MARKETS:
Stocks: Pursued by a bear
The recent selloff has left markets in danger of falling into a bear
market - a decline of at least 20% off the highs.

European shares waver but oil giant BP gains

Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:00:57 -0400

EUROPEAN SHARES WAVER BUT OIL GIANT BP GAINS
European shares struggle for direction on Monday with U.S. markets
closed for a holiday amid lingering worries about growth, although oil
giant BP managed to gain ground.

U.K. SERVICE-SECTOR GROWTH HIT BY BUDGET
Activity in Britain's services sector slowed more sharply than
expected in June, undercut by worries about government spending cuts
and a tax rise, according to a monthly survey of purchasing managers
released Monday.

DOLLAR MOSTLY HIGHER
The dollar gains slightly versus the euro and pound after purchasing
managers indicated a slowdown in U.K. service-sector activity last
month.

BP BRACING FOR SHAKE-UP: REPORT
Investors are braced for a change in BP PLC's leadership once its
leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico is capped, which could come in
the next few weeks, according to a media report Saturday.

BP TESTS TAIWANESE OIL-SKIMMING SHIP
Vessel's owners claim it can remove 300,000 to 400,000 gallons of
spilled oil from the Gulf of Mexico every day.

International Headlines

Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2010 20:02:06 -0400

> AFGHAN ENVOY: 2011 U.S. WITHDRAWAL DATE UNREALISTIC
The July 2011 deadline to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from
Afghanistan is unrealistic and unhelpful, Afghan Ambassador Said
Tayeb Jawad told CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday.

> MEXICANS VOTE AMID SECURITY FEARS
Polls opened in Mexico on Sunday in an election that could
provide a boost for the opposition party amid concerns over
escalating violence.

> POLAND PRESIDENTIAL COUNTING UNDER WAY
Poland's voting booths closed Sunday night and officials began
counting the ballots that will determine the country's next
leader.

> GREEN ZONE SHELLED DURING BIDEN VISIT
Three mortar rounds struck harmlessly inside Baghdad's "Green
Zone" on Sunday night during a weekend visit by U.S. Vice
President Joe Biden, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.

> IRAQ: FEMALE BOMBER KILLS 4, WOUNDS 23
A female suicide bomber detonated explosives at a provincial
council office in western Iraq on Sunday, killing four people
and wounding 23 others, the interior ministry said.

> SETTLEMENT FREEZE DEADLINE NEARS
As the 10-month building freeze in the West Bank settlements
comes closer to its end scheduled in September -- and only days
before the Benjamin Netanyahu-Barack Obama meeting this week --
tension in Israel over the question of the future status of
settlements is rising.

> HEZBOLLAH'S 'FIRST SPIRITUAL LEADER' DIES
The man considered by many to be the first spiritual leader of
Islamist group Hezbollah, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein
Fadlallah, has died, his office says.

> SECOND SPACE DOCKING TRY SUCCESSFUL
A Russian unmanned cargo spacecraft has successfully docked with
the International Space Station after missing an earlier attempt
Friday, NASA officials said Sunday.

BUSINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~

> INDIA HAILS $3B AIRPORT TERMINAL
A massive new terminal at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International
Airport is being touted as a testament to India's economic
prowess.

> BP BRACES FOR A SHAKE-UP AT THE TOP
Investors are braced for a clear-out of BP's leadership once its
leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico is capped, which could
come in the next few weeks, according to several leading
shareholders and people close to the group.

> WHO DO AMERICANS BLAME FOR ECONOMY?
Republicans say it's time for President Obama to drop the Bush
bashing and take ownership of the economy.