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Mark Prigg, Evening Standard1 June 2006 SCIENTISTS claim to have discovered a foolproof way to win on the stock exchange. The key, they say, is straightforward — pick companies with simple names. WANT TO KNOW MORE? GUIDES: How to pick share winners OTHER STORIES Market report: Thursday 14.00 Dealers pack travel stocks in portfolio Time to take a good look Windfalls 'mask  ...

HONG KONG (Dow Jones) -- Bank of China shares soared in their trading debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Thursday, sending a positive signal about additional upcoming China banks scheduled to list later this year. Shares of Bank of Chinaclosed at HK$3.40, gaining 15.3% from an offer price of HK$2.95. The IPO was the world's largest in six years. The bullish performance contrasted with ove ...

By Paul Bond LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fresh off his turn as producer of "X-Men: The Last Stand," which enjoyed one of the biggest openings in history last weekend, Avi Arad has stepped down as head of Marvel Entertainment's film studio to run his own production company. Arad said Wednesday that he has resigned as chairman and CEO of Marvel Studios and chief creative officer of parent c ...

NEW YORK (Dow Jones) -- Ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co. said Thursday that fourth-quarter net income declined and it laid out its plan to reduce costs and return more money to shareholders. Heinz (HNZ) , facing a proxy fight with shareholder Nelson Peltz, announced cost and trade-spending cuts totaling $500 million over the next two years. The Pittsburgh food company also said it'll add $1 billion ...

By Friedel Rother LONDON (Reuters) - Shares slipped into negative territory Thursday, erasing their initial gains as mining stocks tracked metals prices lower, although fund manager Man Group (EMG.L: Quote, Profile, Research) stood out among top gainers after revealing forecast-beating profits. Steelmaker Corus (CS.L: Quote, Profile, Research) was another focus of attention, up 2 percent after ...

By David Cullen LONDON (Reuters) - United Utilities (UU.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , Britain's biggest listed water firm, said higher bills helped to drive a 21 percent rise in annual profit on Thursday and that more price rises would underpin growth in future. South West Water owner Pennon Group (PNN.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , also said inflation-beating price hikes bolstered its yearly p ...

By Miyoung Kim LONDON (Reuters) - Precious metals refiner Johnson Matthey reported an 8 percent rise in annual profit, powered by soaring platinum prices, and said it expected continued good growth from the introduction of new products. "We remain optimistic about prospects for future performance," Chief Executive Neil Carson said on Thursday. "We expect growth in earnings to be stronger in the second half of the current year than in the first driven by increasing demand for our technology-le ...

By Clara Ferreira-Marques LONDON (Reuters) - Insurer Aviva aims to increase life sales at its existing international businesses by an average of at least 10 percent a year over the next five years, but will also keep a "watchful eye" on acquisitions. Aviva (AV.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , under pressure to show it can generate growth after its bid for rival Prudential (PRU.L: Quote, Profile, Research) was rebuffed in March, said on Thursday that increases in new business profits would at le ...

By Friedel Rother LONDON (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 slipped into negative territory Thursday, erasing its initial gains as mining stocks tracked metal prices lower, although fund manager Man Group stood out among top gainers after revealing forecast-beating profits. Steelmaker Corus (CS.L: Quote, Profile, Research) was another focus of attention, up 2 percent after a Russian newspaper said Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea football club and Russia's richest man, was in talks with the Anglo-Dut ...

By Pratima Desai LONDON (Reuters) - Man Group's stock jumped nearly 4 percent on Thursday after the world's largest listed hedge fund firm posted better-than-expected profits and said it was confident about future prospects. Profits were boosted by a strong investment performance in the financial year to March 31 and challenge the idea that hedge funds have waved goodbye to their best years. Man's (EMG.L: Quote, Profile, Research) chief executive Stanley Fink told Reuters he expects hedge fu ...