Financial News

U.S. stocks ended higher Friday as a strong jobs report focused investors on the current strength of the economy, and helped them set aside interest-rate concerns that plagued the market for much of the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was up 104.06 points at 11,076.34, the first triple-digit gain for the benchmark index in more than three weeks. The Dow posted a weekly gain of 0.5% ...

By Bill Berkrot NEW YORK (Reuters) - With major drug companies candidly admitting they are on the prowl for growth through acquisitions, speculation about large mergers and consolidation within the pharmaceutical industry heated up on both sides of the Atlantic this week. Pfizer (PFE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Vice Chairman David Shedlarz said he expects to see movement in the industry, predi ...

U.S. stocks were higher in late afternoon trading Friday as a strong jobs report capped off a mixed week for the market, with worry over rising interest rates at the forefront of investors' minds. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was last up 84 points at 11,057 after posting a triple-digit gain that took the benchmark index to a session high of 11,098.99. The Dow remains on course for a w ...

This is Money10 March 2006 THE London Stock Exchange was facing a fresh battle to retain its independence today after revealing a £2.43bn takeover approach from US rival Nasdaq. OTHER STORIES Rush to buy in Rightmove float Market report: Friday close £10m fraud at Cheshire Building Society Cafedirect pays first dividend Boom time in London's 'bonus belt' THE EDITOR ...

U.K. shares turned higher Friday as U.S. payrolls data offered support and with airport operator BAA leading the gainers. Anglo American, however, weighed on the index after a broker downgrade. U.S. data gave London a boost after nonfarm payrolls figures showed that the economy created more jobs than expected in February. The data helped Wall Street open higher, although an increase in av ...

Ross Tieman, Evening Standard10 March 2006 FRENCH Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin is to unveil a raft of new measures designed to make it more difficult for foreigners to take over French companies. WANT TO KNOW MORE? FOR SALE: Buy and sell small businesses OTHER STORIES 'Millions wasted' on Rover Rightmove is biggest float of the year Market report: Friday 09.30 Rethink urged ...

By John Authers and Andrei Postelnicu in New YorkPublished: March 8 2006 15:07 | Last updated: March 9 2006 21:11Shares in the New York Stock Exchange jumped a further 9 per cent in opening trades on Thursday but went into reverse to finish 2.5 per cent lower. // The shares leapt 25 per cent on the 214-year-old stockmarket’s debut as a public company. The stock of the NYSE Group, as the new entity is known following the NYSE’s takeover of a smaller electronic rival, was up to $88 in early mor ...

| Kroes threatens to break up EU power giantsBy George Parker in Brussels and Thomas Catan in LondonPublished: March 9 2006 21:12 | Last updated: March 9 2006 21:12Brussels warned Europe’s unreformed energy giants on Thursday that their days were numbered, as the European Commission launched an onslaught on monopolistic utilities and the politicians who protect them. // Neelie Kroes, the EU’s top ...

LONDON (Reuters) - Lookers (LOOK.L: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday its board had unanimously rejected a 259 million pound offer by rival Pendragon (PDG.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , the country's biggest car dealer. Pendragon launched its offer shortly before the market opened, offering 1.15 new Pendragon shares for each Lookers share. The offer, which it described as full and final, valued shares in Lookers at 725 pence each. Lookers released a statement during the day advising  ...

LONDON (Dow Jones) -- Dubai Ports World on Thursday closed its $6.8 billion takeover of Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co., turning it into one of the world's three largest ports operators and giving it control over some key U.S. ports. Dubai Ports reiterated that it would hold its U.S. ports business separate from the rest of the company pending a review in the U.S. "A review of ...