KKR Offers Safeguards, Discount to Investors for $1.4 Billion Maxeda Loan

(Bloomberg) -- Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
strengthened investor safeguards and offered a discount to
borrow $1.4 billion for Dutch DIY retailer Maxeda BV, said a
banker involved in the transaction.

KKR is selling the debt at 99.75 percent of face value and
adding a so-called maintenance covenant that restricts how much
it can borrow relative to cashflow, according to the banker, who
declined to be identified because the deal isn't completed.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Sugar Rises as Crude Oil Rally May Boost Demand for Brazil's Cane Ethanol

(Bloomberg) -- Sugar in New York rose to the highest
in more than a week on speculation that rising crude oil prices
will increase demand for ethanol, the gasoline substitute made
from sugar cane.

Crude oil reached a 10-month high of $72.94 a barrel today
on speculation unrest in Nigeria, the biggest African producer,
may disrupt supplies. Mills in Brazil, the world's largest sugar
producer, are using more than half the country's cane crop to
make fuel instead of sweetener.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Mexico May Ease Rules to Foster Competition, Attract Foreign Fund Managers

(Bloomberg) -- Mexican market regulators may ease rules
in the asset management industry, opening the way for more foreign
fund managers and reducing the dominance of local banks to increase
investment in the country's securities.

The National Banking and Securities Commission may create a
new category of licensed financial company to spur competition in
the market for underwriting securities, said Mauricio Basila, a
vice president in charge of market supervision. The commission is
also reviewing ways to bring more fund management companies to the
country.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UBS shake-up renews investment bank sale talk

(Reuters) - UBS abruptly replaced its CEO on Thursday night for unclear reasons, but the move followed the shut-down of its hedge fund business and the defection of dozens of top U.S. and European bankers who complained about the bank's unwillingness to commit more capital to leveraged finance.




UBS share gains over the past 18 months have also lagged those of European peers Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank .


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Colombia's Peso Bonds Gain on Expectations Inflation to Slow a Third Month

(Bloomberg) -- Colombia's bonds gained as
expectations inflation will continue to slow made the fixed-rate
securities more attractive.

Colombian inflation slowed in June for a second straight
month as food prices dropped, the government said on July 1.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Chile's Peso Strengthens on Expected Benchmark Rate Increase, U.S. Growth

(Bloomberg) -- Chile's peso strengthened for a
fourth day as investors expect the central bank to raise rates
next week, making the currency more attractive, and as a strong
U.S. economy suggested exports will be maintained.

Seven economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect the central
bank to increase rates next week to 5.25 percent while three see
them unchanged at 5 percent. Policy makers are expected to
announce their decision on July 12.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Dollar Gains Most Against Yen in More Than a Week on U.S. Job Growth

(Bloomberg) -- The euro rose to an all-time high
against the yen and gained versus the dollar as rising global
interest rates prompted Japanese investors to buy assets abroad.

The yen fell against all 16 of the most-actively traded
currencies as Japan's 0.5 percent interest rate, the lowest among
developed nations, encouraged investors to borrow in the country
for higher returns overseas in a practice known as the carry
trade. The Bank of England yesterday lifted borrowing costs a
quarter-percentage point to a six-year high of 5.75 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News