Oil Options Show $100-a-Barrel Price by 2008, Sooner Than Even Goldman Saw

(Bloomberg) -- The $100-a-barrel oil that Goldman
Sachs Group Inc. said would prevail by 2009 may be only a few
months away.

Jeffrey Currie, a London-based commodity analyst at the
world's biggest securities firm, says $95 crude is likely this
year unless OPEC unexpectedly increases production, and
declining inventories are raising the chances for $100 oil. Jeff
Rubin at CIBC World Markets predicts $100 a barrel as soon as
next year.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Resona, Toyota, Idemitsu, Cabin, Japan Steel Works; Japan's Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following stocks may move in
Japanese markets on July 23. Prices are as of the close of
trading. Statements were released after the close. Stock symbols
are in parentheses.

Toyota Motor Corp. (7203 JT): Japan's biggest automaker told
Bloomberg News it will decide July 23 a schedule for restarting
production at domestic auto plants shut down for lack of parts
after a July 16 earthquake. Toyota may restart production as
early as July 24 using piston rings in inventory if Riken Corp.,
a supplier damaged in the earthquake, can repair its factories on
schedule, the Yomiuri newspaper reported July 22. Toyota's shares
rose 20 yen, or 0.3 percent, to 7,560.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Apple results eyed for iPhone sales

(Reuters) - The iPhone contributed virtually none of the $637 million Apple is forecast to have earned, but investors are eager for the first official word on how many of the combination phone, Web browser, media player devices were sold at launch.




"Perhaps the most significant catalyst from the report will be feedback regarding initial iPhone demand," Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore said in a research note. "We believe initial iPhone demand is very robust."


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

TRW guarantees most jobs should it buy VDO: report

(Reuters) - A stumbling block for any potential buyer is organized labor, however, as unions fear a sale of VDO may result in major job cuts.




The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, that TRW had tried to assuage those fears by making assurances it would keep VDO's administration and "practically cut no jobs".


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Amazon radar failure deepens Brazil air travel woes

(Reuters) - The radar glitch came just four days after the country's
worst plane crash and hours after President Luiz Inacio Lula da
Silva promised swift action to improve air safety.




Four American Airlines flights headed for Brazil turned
back to Miami and two of the company's aircraft en route to the
United States were grounded in the city of Manaus for several
hours before the radar was restored, local media reported.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

ABN CEO says merger with Barclays is better: report

(Reuters) - "I am still convinced a merger with Barclays is the best. It is better in terms of the content but as for the amount, it is not good enough," Groenink said in an interview.




ABN's boards have recommended Barclays' all-share offer currently worth about 35 euros per ABN share.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

S.African mining minister unhappy with De Beers

(Reuters) - South Africa's mining minister criticised a top official of diamond group De Beers on Friday for reportedly doubting the viability of boosting the local polishing industry.

South Africa and other regional diamond producers have been pressuring De Beers to distribute more rough diamonds locally to create jobs in the polishing and jewellery sectors.


Read more at Reuters Africa