Putin looks to gain lead in Balkan energy battle

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged on Sunday to help develop a Black Sea energy hub as the battle to control Europe's energy markets and supply routes moves to the Balkans.

At a Balkan energy summit held in Croatia, Putin said Russia, which supplies a quarter of Europe's gas, wanted to play a key role in all facets of energy supply and generation to the region, stressing Moscow's close cultural and historical ties.


Read more at Reuters Africa

UPDATE 1-Japan's Bull-Dog OK's poison pill for Steel Partners

(Reuters) - TOKYO, June 24 - Shareholders of Japan's Bull-Dog
Sauce approved a "poison pill" scheme that will allow
the sauce maker to issue new shares aimed at thwarting a $260
million takeover attempt by U.S. hedge fund Steel Partners.




If enacted, it would be the first time in Japan that a
company has used an anti-takeover defence to dilute a would-be
acquirer's stake, setting a precedent for the hundreds of other
firms building up similar defences, commonly called poison
pills.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Gaydamak to buy 45 percent of Israel's Willi Food

(Reuters) - Willi's Tel Aviv traded shares were up 30.4 percent at
33.43 shekels in the morning in Tel Aviv.




Under the agreement, Willi-Food controlling shareholder Zvi
Williger, who owns 38.54 percent of the company, would sell
30.54 percent, while his brother Joseph Williger would sell his
entire 14.42 percent stake.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Saab, Investor AB, Volvo and Fluegger Shares: Preview of Nordic Equities

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may rise or
fall in Nordic markets. Stock symbols follow company names and
prices are from the last close.

Markets in Finland and Sweden were closed June 22 for the
Midsummer holiday. Denmark's Copenhagen OMX 20 Index fell 1
percent to 480.88, while Norway's OBX Index declined 0.5 percent
to 421.96. Iceland's ICEX 15 Index rose 0.6 percent to 8236.83.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Nigerian unions call off general strike

(Reuters) - Nigerian unions called off a crippling strike in Africa's top oil producer on Saturday after the government agreed to freeze fuel prices for a year, both sides said in a statement.

The four-day-old general strike had halted most economic activity in Africa's most populous nation, but vital exports of crude oil were not affected.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Modest WTO free trade deal seen better than nothing

(Reuters) - Even a modest global trade pact may be better than nothing, according to economists and analysts who say the implosion of faltering World Trade Organisation talks would carry big costs.

Countries have missed deadline after deadline in their near six-year pursuit of a new WTO accord meant to give poorer nations a leg-up in world trade and reduce worldwide barriers to commerce in agriculture, manufacturing and services.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Ecuador's Correa says Congress should be dissolved

(Reuters) - Since he took office in January, Correa has maneuvered to
control Congress, but lawmakers have watered down or rejected
some of the government's key legislation.




"Given the quality of this Congress ... I think the
assembly will have to dissolve it," Correa said during his
weekly radio broadcast. "With this kind of Congress you can't
do anything."


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News