Takeda says not in talks now with Abbott over TAP

(Reuters) - Takeda has long had its eye on gaining full control of TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., its venture with Abbott, but has been at odds with Abbott over the price.

Speculation has mounted recently, however, that a TAP buyout could happen this business year on reported comments by Abbott Chief Executive Miles White that the atmosphere may be right for Abbott to sell, and on co-marketing agreements between TAP and Takeda's wholly owned North American unit.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

China-U.S. trade volley unlikely to become trade war

(Reuters) - A spokesman for China's Commerce Ministry lashed out at the two World Trade Organization cases -- on intellectual property rights and on market access for films, music and other media -- for the second day in a row, saying they would "seriously undermine" bilateral trade ties.

The official China Daily and Xinhua news agency both issued scathing editorials, saying the move was at odds with a consensus the two sides had reached on how to handle tensions. A top U.S. trade official had said on Tuesday the step signaled the relationship was maturing.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Japan spring retail JGB sale sags on low coupons

(Reuters) - Japanese retail investors shied away from JGBs, while they continued to be lured to investment trusts and foreign assets that offer better returns.

Long-term yields have dropped as consumer inflation has fallen back to virtually zero, even as the BOJ has raised interest rates.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

JGBs surge on Treasuries, weak machinery data

(Reuters) - Japan's core machinery orders fell 5.2 percent in February from January, below a consensus forecast for a 0.2 percent drop. The data cast some doubt on the outlook for capital spending.

"Machinery order data encouraged market participants to buy back JGBs, especially after a fall in U.S. bond yields overnight," said Masuhisa Kobayashi, chief JGB strategist at Barclays Capital.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

UPDATE 1-SAfrica's Mittal to appeal competition body ruling

(Reuters) - The Tribunal ruled last month that Mittal SA, which is 52 percent owned by Arcelor Mittal , contravened a section of the Competition Act by "charging an excessive price for its flat steel products to the detriment of consumers".

The Tribunal said that although it was empowered to penalise Mittal SA, it would postpone considering remedies against the company until it heard further evidence.


Read more at Reuters.com Government Filings News

Voestalpine signs deal for 20.95 pct Boehler stake

(Reuters) - A dividend of 2.05 euros payable on May 18 would still go toward the sellers, it added.

Voestalpine said earlier it would launch a public bid for the same price on April 16. Its "white knight" bid had shelved an offer by private equity firm CVC Capital Partners [CVC.UL], which sparked fierce political resistance.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Telecom Italia's list of contenders narrows

(Reuters) - Following a request by Italy's bourse regulator Consob, most of Telecom Italia's top shareholders said their stakes were unchanged despite the intense trading in the stock last week when 20 percent of the capital exchanged hands.

Italy's second-largest bank Intesa Sanpaolo and merchant bank Mediobanca confirmed reports they were in talks with other investors to buy a stake in Olimpia to counter an interest by AT&T and America Movil .


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News