Google qtrly net tops expectations and shares rise

(Reuters) - SAN FRANCISCO, April 19 - Google Inc. reported on Thursday its quarterly net profit rose 69 percent, topping expectations, driven by market share gains in its Web search business, sending its stock up 2.8 percent after-hours.

Net income rose to $1.0 billion, or $3.18 per diluted share, from the year-earlier quarter's $592 million, or $1.95 a share. Excluding stock-option expenses, profit was $3.68 per share versus $2.29 a year before.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

European Stocks May Rise on U.S., Asia Rebound; BHP, Siemens Might Climb

(Bloomberg) -- European stocks may advance after a rebound in U.S. and Asian equities. BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group might track gains in Australia.

Shares of SAP AG may be active after the software maker reported higher earnings. Siemens AG might gain after naming Gerhard Cromme as chairman. Alliance Boots Plc may move after Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Italian billionaire Stefano Pessina raised their bid for the company.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Gold, Silver Rebound in Asia as Dollar's Fall Boosts Demand for the Metals

(Bloomberg) -- Gold and silver rebounded in Asia as the dollar headed for its fourth consecutive weekly decline against the euro, boosting demand for the precious metal as an alternative investment.

Gold generally moves counter to the dollar, which traded within a cent of its record low versus the euro on speculation slowing U.S. growth will cut the currency's appeal. Gold yesterday had its biggest one day fall since March 2.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

InBev's Ambev withdraws Quinsa minorities bid

(Reuters) - At the expiration of the offer, only 0.63 percent of the voting rights of Quinsa had been tendered to Beverage Associates Holding Ltd , a Bahamian corporation wholly owned by AmBev, AmBev said in a statement on Friday.

The minimium condition was therefore not met, meaning the offer would be withdrawn without BAH purchasing any class A or class B shares.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Yen slips as stock market worries ease

(Reuters) - The yen slipped on Friday as Asian stocks markets rebounded from a sell-off a day earlier on worries about an overheating Chinese economy, calming fears that investors could rush to unwind carry trades.

The Nikkei share average rose 0.5 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng rebounded 0.9 percent on relief that the Dow Jones Industrial average withstood to post a record closing high for a second day in a row on Thursday.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Nippon Life to Boost Yen Bond Holdings, Focus on Asset-Backed Securities

(Bloomberg) -- Nippon Life Insurance Co., Japan's biggest life insurer, will allocate half of its 500 billion yen ($4.21 billion) in domestic bond investments this fiscal year outside of the government debt market.

The company said it will boost holdings of Japanese residential mortgaged-backed debt by more than 125 billion yen in the year started April 1. Almost 10 percent of Nippon Life's 17.6 trillion yen in yen bond holdings was in asset-backed securities as of March 31, up from 7 percent two years ago, Nippon Life said.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

General Motors Says Agreement for Delphi to Exit Bankruptcy Still Possible

(Bloomberg) -- General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, said an agreement for Delphi Corp., its largest parts supplier, to exit bankruptcy is still possible even as a prospective investor will likely not participate.

``We're optimistic,'' said GM's Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner, in an interview in Shanghai. ``This is part of the process to hopefully bring this to a resolution.''


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News