Financial News

Few on Wall Street seem to embrace Wachovia's plan to acquire adjustable-rate mortgage provider Golden West Financial. On Tuesday, Bear Stearns analyst David Hilder reiterated an underperform rating on Wachovia's stock, citing concerns over the quality of Golden West's branches in California, which operate under the name of World Savings. Shares of Wachovia (WB) , the fourth-largest U.S. ban ...

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones) -- AT&T Inc., formerly known as SBC Communications, said net income climbed 80% in the second quarter, driven by wireless growth, cost cuts and the acquisition of the old Ma Bell. Aided by a contribution from Cingular Wireless, the new AT&T earned $1.8 billion, or 46 cents a share, in its second full quarter of operations. That was up from pre-merger profit of $1  ...

U.S. stocks turned higher Tuesday as better-than-expected housing and consumer confidence data eased concern about slowing economic growth, with strong earnings from AT&T and McDonald's among others lending support. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) rose 26 points to 11,076 after rallying more than 180 points on Monday. The Nasdaq Composite Index (RIXF) was up 16 points at 2,077 whi ...

Geoff Foster, Daily Mail25 July 2006 WHISPERS within banking circles suggest that new chairman Sir Victor Blank has reviewed Lloyds TSB's structure and a breakup of the UK's fifth-biggest bank could be on the agenda. OTHER STORIES Market report: Tuesday preview GUS pins hopes on Experian Dogs open lead over FTSE Sunday newspaper shares tips Income funds leave Footsie trailing  ...

By Rajat Bhattacharya SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian stocks rose on Tuesday, recouping losses suffered the day before, after strong earnings reports and a couple of mega-takeover deals in the United States boosted optimism for healthy profits at local companies. Japan's Nikkei stock average jumped 1.8 percent to 15,065.91 by midday, lifted higher by shares of top microchip testing equipment maker Advantest Corp. (6857.T: Quote, Profile, Research) . The dollar added to Monday's gains, dragging g ...

U.S. stocks ended higher Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average posting a triple-digit gain and the Nasdaq Composite up over 2%, after a diplomatic push in the Middle East, a flurry of merger-and- acquisition activity and strong results from Merck and Schering-Plough boosted sentiment. The Dow industrials (DJI) rose 182.67 points, or 1.7% to 11,051. Of 30 Dow stocks, 29 contributed to ga ...

This is Money24 July 2006 TROUBLED music management firm Sanctuary Group said it is evaluating an unsolicited all-share takeover approach it has received from smaller Aim-listed rival Mama Group. OTHER STORIES Vodafone chief sets out defence Rates prediction cheers borrowers Market report: Monday 09.00 High gas prices give BG lift BP boss Lord Browne to name quit date THE EDITO ...

Under-pressure UK music group Sanctuary has received a takeover approach from smaller rival MAMA. Sanctuary said the "unsolicited approach from MAMA may or may not lead to an offer for the company". MAMA, which manages bands including Franz Ferdinand, said it had made an all-share proposal but had not received a "meaningful response" from Sanctuary. It said it would prefer to work with Sanctuary, but might proceed with a bid without the firm's support. Eclectic roster In June, Sanctuary war ...

NEW YORK (Dow Jones) -- It may be a Middle East market, but one notably apocalyptical letter apparently hasn't noticed. However, you can't tell from its recommendations. Outstanding Investments has a history of eye-catching pronouncements. About what it sees as the looming energy crunch, it wrote last year: "The crisis is truly devastating in scope and could end life as we know it in the Uni ...

Helia Ebrahimi and Lucinda Kemeny, Mail on Sunday23 July 2006 STARWOOD Capital, the giant US hotel and property group, is in talks with advisers about launching a £3 bn plus takeover bid for leisure group Whitbread, which owns David Lloyd Leisure and the Premier Travel Inn budget hotels. WANT TO KNOW MORE? DATA: Whitbread's share price CHAT: Shares talk ADVICE & TIPS: Investing  ...