http://www.rttnews.comGlobal financial news, market analysis, economics and forex newsen-usSat, 21 Nov 2009 12:10:00 GMTUK-based Rotork Plc (ROR.L) said Friday, in an interim management statement for the period from 1 July to 20 November 2009, that its third-quarter order intake declined 3.4% year-over-year, yet affirmed that group revenues and margins remained strong. The group expects to achieve profits for the current year at the upper end of market forecasts. Further, Rotork revealed its finance director Bob Slater intends to retire by March 2010 end and will be succeeded by Jonathan Davis.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1136220Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:40:07 GMTDigital television entertainment service provider DirecTV Group Inc. (DTV) announced Thursday that it has successfully completed the merger of DirecTv Group and Liberty Entertainment, Inc. or LEI, a company split-off from Liberty Media Corp. (LCAPA, LCAPB, LINTA, LINTB, LSTZA, LSTZB).http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1136017Thu, 20 Nov 2009 01:25:08 GMTIdentification solutions and specialty products manufacturer Brady Corp. (BRC) reported Thursday a 41.6% year-over-year drop in profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2010, hurt by restructuring charges as well as a 15.8% decline in quarterly net sales, despite gross margin improvement of 160 basis points amid the ongoing cost-reduction initiatives. Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter dropped, but came in above analysts' expectations. The company also reaffirmed its earnings forecast for the full-year 2010.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1134928Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:49:07 GMTMelrose Plc (MRO.L) said Thursday, in its interim management statement for July-to-date 2009, that its current trading is marginally ahead of management expectations for 2009. http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1134918Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:39:00 GMTPackaged-food company Pinnacle Brands Corp., owned by New York-based Blackstone Group, is expected to acquire U.S. frozen-vegetable and meals company Birds Eye Foods for more than $1.3 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday citing people familiar with the matter. The all-cash deal is likely to be announced as soon as Thursday. Financing details were not available, the report said.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1134793Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:17:41 GMTPharmaceutical company AstraZeneca plc (AZN, AZN.L) said Thursday it has submitted a New Drug Application for ticagrelor to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Ticagrelor is an investigational oral antiplatelet treatment to reduce major adverse cardiac events in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The proposed trade name for ticagrelor is Brilinta, which is yet to be approved by the FDA.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1134780Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:09:00 GMTMobile device maker Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, a joint venture between Sony Corp. (SNE) and Swedish telecom equipment maker LM Ericsson Telephone Co. (ERIC), is trimming its presence in the U.S. by closing about six sites and shifting its headquarters to Atlanta from North Carolina's Research Triangle Park, leading to about 2,000 job cuts, according to media reports Wednesday.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1134534Wed, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:20 GMTMetal and plastic packaging supplier Ball Corp. (BLL) announced Wednesday that it named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John Hayes as president and as a director of the company, effective 2010 beginning. Additionally, the company also named Vice President and Treasurer Scott Morrison as senior vice president and chief financial officer.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1134500Wed, 19 Nov 2009 01:23:44 GMTDrug maker Pfizer Inc. (PFE) plans to begin selling generic drugs in Japan as early as 2011, the Nikkei business daily reported Wednesday. The company aims to enter the Japanese market for generic drugs in a bid to diversify due to shrinking profit margins on new drugs.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1134498Wed, 19 Nov 2009 01:22:53 GMTEuropean Union Competition regulator Wednesday announced the approval of the restructuring plan of Lloyds Banking Group Plc, and the approval of the restructuring plan and an illiquid asset back-up facility of Dutch-based financial institution ING under EC Treaty state aid rules. The European Commission also approved an asset relief and restructuring package for the Belgian KBC Group.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1133936Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:04:46 GMTDefense contractor Elbit Systems Ltd. (ESLT) reported Wednesday an significant increase in profit for the third quarter, helped mainly by revenue growth and lower financial expenses on currency hedging activity. Additionally, the board declared a dividend of $0.36 per share.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1133496Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:15:16 GMTPharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. (PFE) Wednesday announced that it has submitted pediatric data for its cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor to the European Medicines Agency, or EMEA. The company said it has also developed a new chewable form of Lipitor, including a pediatric-appropriate 5 mg dose, which is also a part of the submission.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1133495Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:14:53 GMTU.S. chocolate maker Hershey Co. is in talks with Italian chocolate maker Ferrero SpA about a potential joint venture for launching a bid for UK-based confectioner Cadbury Plc, media reported Tuesday citing people familiar with the talks.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1133295Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:27:52 GMTIsraeli telecommunications service provider 012 Smile.Communications (SMLC) reported Wednesday a 19% increase in profit for the third-quarter ended September 30, 2009, reflecting higher revenues on continued progress in operating segments as well as lower tax expenses.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1133289Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:17:32 GMTPenn National Gaming, Inc. (PENN), an operator of gaming and racing facilities, said Tuesday that it has offered $50 million for the unfinished Fountainebleau casino-resort project on the Las Vegas strip. The company's offer would serve as the opening bid at a bankruptcy auction of the project. Penn has also agreed to provide debtor-in-possession financing of about $51.5 million to complete the unfinished work on the project.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1133127Tue, 18 Nov 2009 03:34:43 GMTAutomaker General Motors Corp. (MTLQQ.PK), according to reports on Tuesday, plans to cut production capacity by 20% to 25%, and cut about 10,000 of the 55,000 jobs across Europe as part of its planned restructuring of its European operations, that include its German unit Adam Opel GmbH and British sister brand Vauxhall. The restructuring plan is expected to move forward in the next two to three weeks, reports stated.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1133122Tue, 18 Nov 2009 03:12:28 GMTMall operator Simon Property Group Inc. (SPG) has hired investment advisor Lazard Ltd. (LAZ) and law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to help come up with a plan to possibly bid for all or part of rival General Growth Properties Inc. (GGP, GGWPQ.PK), the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1133096Tue, 18 Nov 2009 02:09:10 GMTAccording to the Wall Street Journal Tuesday, home cleaning products maker S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. is eying the air-freshener business of Sara Lee Corp. (SLE), in a combination that could see S.C. Johnson's Glade brand and Sara Lee's Ambi Pur brand create a formidable player in Europe.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1133093Tue, 18 Nov 2009 01:52:51 GMTApparel and home furnishing retailer Dillard's, Inc. (DDS), reported Tuesday a profit for the third quarter compared to loss last year, reflecting improved margin and cost control initiatives, despite a drop in quarterly revenues. He company also reported a 22% drop in inventory, and said it is well-positioned to meet anticipated fourth quarter holiday demand.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1132089Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:16:56 GMTUK-based thermal processing company Bodycote plc (BOY.L), in its July-to-date Interim Management Statement, said Tuesday that its sales from 1 July to 31 October declined 26.4% year-over-year. Further, for the year ending 31 December, the group said its demand visibility remains limited. http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1131839Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:35:52 GMTSolar technology company SunPower Corp. Monday said that an internal review of its Philippine manufacturing operations identified unsubstantiated accounting entries made in the first three quarters of 2009. Some of these entries relate to the company's fiscal year ended on December 28, 2008.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1131687Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:57:44 GMTMoody's Investors Service upgraded Monday Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.'s (AMD) corporate family rating to B2 from B3 and revised its outlook to "positive". http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1131655Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:42:15 GMTTroubled lender GMAC Financial Services (GJM), the former lending arm of General Motors Corp. (MTLQQ.PK), announced Monday that its Chief Executive Officer Alvaro de Molina has resigned from the company. GMAC has named Ex-Citigroup Executive Michael Carpenter to succeed Molina, effective immediately. Carpenter, with extensive financial services experience, was already serving on the board of GMAC since May 2009. Molina served a chief executive officer for the last 19 months, since April 2008.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1131508Mon, 17 Nov 2009 02:50:12 GMTChinese solar wafer manufacturer ReneSola Ltd. (SOL, SOLA.L) reported Monday a net loss for the third quarter compared to a significant profit last year, as quarterly revenues dropped. The company also raised its shipment outlook for fiscal 2009, and provided initial shipment outlook for the full year 2010.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1130405Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:18:17 GMTMonday, aerospace and defense company EADS NV reported a loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2009, reflecting lower results at its Airbus and Defence & Security businesses and negative foreign exchange impact on asset revaluation. The company backed its fiscal 2009 new gross orders outlook and said that A400M's first flight is expected to take place around the end of the year.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1130201Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:15:03 GMTHouse builder Persimmon plc (PSN.L) said Monday, in its July-to-date Interim Management Statement, that its trading activity levels have continued ahead of last year and expects to legally complete around 9,000 homes for the year ending 31 December.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1130136Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:37:56 GMTChinese online game developer Perfect World Co., Ltd. (PWRD) reported Monday a higher profit for the third-quarter ended September 30, 2009, reflecting strong revenue growth, as the company successfully released expansion packs for some of its existing games. The group also provided an expected revenue range for the forthcoming quarter.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1130021Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:44:52 GMTGlobal Copper Mining Leader Grupo Mexico, S.A.B. DE C.V. (GMBXF.PK) announced Sunday the U.S. District Court has approved the full payment reorganization plan for Asarco LLC, in order to reintegrate the U.S. copper operations of both the companies into one of the world's most competitive, low-cost copper producers. The decision, handed down by Judge Andrew Hanen late Friday, would enable Grupo Mexico subsidiary Americas Mining Corp. to regain control of Asarco. The transaction is expected to close by mid-December.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1129892Sun, 16 Nov 2009 03:24:41 GMTJPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) is close to a deal to buy out its U.K. joint-venture partner Cazenove Group for about GBP 1 billion, or $1.7 billion, according to media reports on Sunday. The company is expected to strike a deal for the 190-year-old stockbroker in the coming weeks, in which it would buy the remaining 50% stake that it does not already own. http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1129888Sun, 16 Nov 2009 02:59:16 GMTDrug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) said Sunday it will split off its 83.1% holdings in Enfamil baby formula maker Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. (MJN) as a final step towards spinning it off into a fully independent BioPharma company. Bristol-Myers now intends to focus on its core BioPharma business following the split-off. The split-off is also expected to be net cash flow positive to the BioPharma business and accretive to earnings per share beginning in 2010.http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1129859Sun, 16 Nov 2009 01:26:40 GMT