Argentina stocks close at record high, bonds flat

(Reuters) - Bonds closed flat as foreign institutional investors,
normally heavy traders in Argentine markets, were absent due
to the U.S. Independence Day holiday.




The MerVal index of 21 leading stocks rose 0.97
percent to close at 2,252.40 points.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Ecuador minister facing censure, says will not quit

(Reuters) - Next week, Congress is scheduled to vote on whether to
censure Patino after opposition lawmakers accused him of
deliberately manipulating the debt markets to benefit third
parties.




President Rafael Correa, a leftist former economy
minister, has publicly sided with Patino and he has the final
word on the minister's job.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Mexican stocks rise, driven by America Movil

(Reuters) - The benchmark IPC stock index moved up 0.26 percent
to 32,201.63 points, while the peso weakened
slightly, giving up 0.05 percent in local trading to 10.77 per
dollar.




Trading volume was low as investors in the United States,
who are big players in Mexican markets, stayed away for the
U.S. Independence Day holiday.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Mexico's Lamosa plans share offer of up to $240 mln

(Reuters) - Lamosa announced on Monday it had agreed to buy
Porcelanite, a unit of Mexican conglomerate Carso
, which is controlled by billionaire tycoon Carlos
Slim, for $800 million.




"The offer could happen between the last quarter of this
year and the final quarter of 2008," Lamosa chief financial
officer Tomas Garza told Reuters on Wednesday. He said the
offer would be between $160 million and $240 million.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Canada June job growth seen slowing from Q1 levels

(Reuters) - However, the softer job numbers expected on Friday at 7
a.m. will not stand in the way of a Bank of Canada
rate hike on July 10.




According to the average forecast of analysts surveyed by
Reuters, the economy will add 17,000 jobs in June and the
unemployment rate will stay unchanged at a three-decade low of
6.1 percent.


Read more at Reuters.com Economic News

Canadian Energy Stocks Drop as Natural Gas Falls; Shares of Telus Advance

(Bloomberg) -- Canadian energy stocks fell, led by
EnCana Corp., after the price of natural gas retreated. The
Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index was little changed as
telephone stocks led by Telus Corp. gained on speculation more
companies in the industry will be acquired.

The S&P/TSX added 3.3 to 14,068.04 as of 1:19 p.m. in
Toronto. It gained 2.5 percent in the previous two sessions after
Research In Motion Ltd. reported profit that topped analysts'
forecast and BCE Inc. agreed to the largest buyout.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Crude Oil Trades Near 10-Month High After Attack on Shell Rig in Nigeria

(Bloomberg) -- Crude oil traded near a 10-month high
in New York after Royal Dutch Shell Plc said militants attacked
its rig in Nigeria, raising concern about further oil supply
disruption from Africa's largest producer.

Five expatriate contractors working for Lonestar Drilling
Nigeria Ltd. were taken hostage, said Precious Okolobo, a
spokesman for Shell's Nigerian venture. The attack occurred
early this morning in the Soku field, where the rig was drilling
a well. No production was affected, he said.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News