TOP STORIES
STOCKS STEADY, CAPPING ROCKY FIRST HALF OF YEAR
U.S. stocks edged higher following a two-day bounceback in risk
assets, on track for a subdued end to a turbulent first half of the
year.
LIONS GATE AGREES TO BUY STARZ IN $4.4 BILLION DEAL
Lions Gate agreed to acquire Starz in a cash-and-stock deal,
valued at $4.4 billion, that combines the maker of "Hunger Games"
movies with the operator of pay-TV networks.
HERTZ REACHES DEALS TO RENT TO UBER, LYFT
Hertz Global Holdings said it reached new deals to rent cars to
drivers for Uber Technologies Inc. and its rival Lyft, which could
help the car rental company shore up its business as the
ride-hailing services race to bulk up on drivers.
U.S. JOBLESS CLAIMS ROSE BY 10,000 LAST WEEK
The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless
benefits rose last week, but remained at a historically low level
consistent with ongoing job growth.
CHINA OPENS DOOR TO FOREIGN PRIVATE-EQUITY FUNDS
China will allow foreign private-equity funds to set up
asset-management services in the country and invest in domestic
stocks, in its latest move to open its markets and financial sector
further to outsiders.
BORIS JOHNSON WON'T RUN TO REPLACE CAMERON
The race for the leadership of the Conservative Party, and
therefore the role of prime minister, took a sharp and unexpected
turn Thursday, as former London Mayor Boris Johnson said he
wouldn't run.
NEWMONT MINING TO SELL INDONESIAN MINE
Newmont Mining said that it would sell its stake in an
Indonesian copper and gold mine for $920 million and contingent
payments of up to $403 million.
CANADA'S GDP ROSE 0.1% IN APRIL
The Canadian economy grew in line with expectations in
April-expanding a scant 0.1%- as strength in manufacturing and
utilities was tempered by a steep decline in nonconventional oil
extraction.
DARDEN'S PROFIT CLIMBS BUT GIVES DOWNBEAT VIEW
Darden Restaurants said its profit climbed 33% in the latest
period as same-store sales rose, but the company gave a soft
forecast for earnings in its new year.
EU OPENS PROBE INTO AB INBEV'S TRADE IN BELGIAN BEER MARKET
The European Union opened a formal antitrust probe into
Anheuser-Busch InBev's practices on the Belgian beer market, citing
concerns it may be hindering imports of its beer from less
expensive markets in neighboring countries.
ECB NO CLOSER TO INFLATION TARGET AFTER SERIES OF STIMULUS MEASURES
Eurozone consumer prices were slightly higher on the year in
June, but left the European Central Bank no closer to meeting its
inflation target.
DEUTSCHE BANK SHARES AT 30-YEAR LOW
Deutsche Bank shares tumbled to a 30-year low after the
International Monetary Fund and the Federal Reserve delivered the
German lender a double whammy, saying it posed a significant risk
to financial stability.
UNICREDIT NAMES JEAN-PIERRE MUSTIER CEO
UniCredit has appointed its former investment banking chief
Jean-Pierre Mustier as the new chief executive of the embattled
lender, more than a month after former CEO Federico Ghizzoni agreed
to step down, according to a person familiar with the matter.
SHELL CEO STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF CLOSE U.K. TIES TO EU AFTER BREXIT
Ben van Beurden says he is concerned about the effects of
lingering economic uncertainty on the business climate.
ALCOA TO SUPPLY EMBRAER IN $470 MILLION CONTRACT
Alcoa said Thursday that it won a contract to supply aluminum
sheet and plate to Embraer in a contract valued at about $470
million.
MCCORMICK PROFIT CLIMBS 11%
McCormick said profit climbed 11% in the latest period, as
acquisitions and cost-cutting helped boost the spicemaker's
sales.
INTEROIL GETS BID, THREATENING OIL SEARCH DEAL
InterOil Corp. said it received an unsolicited takeover proposal
from an unnamed party, potentially disrupting Oil Search Ltd.'s
deal to buy the midsize energy company.
NEWS CORP BUYS WIRELESS GROUP'S TALKSPORT
News Corp is buying Wireless Group, the owner of the U.K. radio
station talkSPORT, for $290.3 million.
CONSTELLATION'S ACQUISITIONS HELP LIFT TOP, BOTTOM LINES
Constellation Brands on Thursday posted higher profit and
revenue as a number of acquisitions continued to boost the beer and
wine distributor.
CONAGRA RESULTS HURT BY WEAKNESS IN CONSUMER BRANDS
ConAgra Foods reported a steeper-than-expected sales decline in
its latest quarter, dragged by weakness in consumer brands as it
continues to reshape its business.
======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES =======
Business
EXXON TOUTS CARBON TAX TO OIL INDUSTRY
Exxon is ramping up its lobbying of other energy companies to
support a carbon tax, marking a shift in the oil giant's approach
to climate change as the industry faces growing pressure to address
the politically charged issue.
Technology
U.K.'S EU EXIT POSES DATA-PROTECTION DILEMMA
Brexit risks stripping companies of their ability to freely
store information about EU residents on British soil, potentially
creating a new barrier to trade in the region.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 30, 2016 10:00 ET (14:00 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.