Housing slump continues

Housing slump continued in April (AP)

AP - Home building posted a small gain in April, but permits for future construction plunged by the largest amount in 17 years, a sign the nation's housing industry is still in a deep slump.

Japan economy slows down

Japan economic growth slows to 2.4 pct. (AP)

AP - Japanese economic growth slowed to a 2.4 percent pace in the first quarter as businesses cut back on investment amid worries about a slowdown in the United States, Japan's biggest export market. But economists agreed that Japan's overall growth was still healthy and seemed to be stabilizing.

HP Q1 profit up by 27 percent

HP sales grow 13 percent (Reuters)

Reuters - Hewlett-Packard Co. reported underlying quarterly profit growth of 27 percent on Wednesday, lifted by broad cost cutting and strength in its personal computer and printer businesses.

JC Penney posts higher profit

J.C. Penney posts higher profit (Reuters)

Reuters - J.C. Penney Co. reported higher quarterly profit on Thursday as branded merchandise available only at its stores buoyed sales.

CNNMoney.com article - Buy Bonds

Sleep well at night: Buy bonds

I guess I'd better talk about bonds in hushed or, better yet, hurried tones - making my point and then heading for the exit before you lose whatever interest you thought you had. It doesn't bother me anymore, though, this second-class citizenship. Actually it was the first thing I realized when I signed on to the bond market in 1971, and something you should be made aware of before you read any further: Bonds don't make as much money as stocks do, so they are the wallflowers at the debutante ball - being asked to dance only out of pity, inebriation or ties to a wealthy father.

Nikkei down, yen down versus dollar

Japanese stocks drop; dollar up vs. yen (AP)

AP - Japanese stocks slipped Thursday, with losses in real estate and banking shares offsetting gains in consumer electronics and semiconductor makers.

Peso at 6-year high

Peso hits new 6-year high: P46.935:$1.00

SINGAPORE -- The Philippine peso hit a fresh six-year high on Wednesday, boosted by news of strong remittances from Filipinos working abroad.

JGS profit falls for Q1

JG Summit profit falls 55%

MANILA, Philippines -- JG Summit Holdings Inc., of the Gokongwei group, reported a first-quarter net income of P1.75 billion, down 55 percent from P3.88 billion in the same period last year, which included P3.21 billion in one-off gains from the sale of shares in food subsidiary Universal Robina Corp.

FPH expects lower net profit

First Philippine Holdings expects lower net profit in 2007

First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPHC) will likely post a lower net profit for this year in the absence of one-off gains that boosted last year's earnings, although it sees its core power generation business performing better, company president Elpidio Ibanez said.

President Arroyo to make RP more investor-friendly

President Arroyo to make Philippines more investor-friendly

MANILA, Philippines -- Emerging results from mid-term elections in the Philippines were a vote of confidence for the government and its economic policies, President Gloria Arroyo said in an interview published Thursday.

Foreign portfolio investments up 40%

Net portfolio investments jumped 40% in April

MANILA, Philippines -- Foreign portfolio investments in April registered a net inflow of $243.1 million, up 40 percent from 173.21 million in March, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Manila’s central bank, said.

B&L to be acquired by Warburg Pincus

Bausch & Lomb to Be Acquired by Warburg Pincus

The total value of the deal for the eye-care company is $4.5 billion.

HD profit tumbles

Home Depot 1Q profit drops 29.5 percent (AP)

AP - The Home Depot Inc. posted a 29.5 percent drop in first-quarter profit Tuesday and warned the rest of the year will be challenging. The company also said it still hasn't decided the fate of its wholesale distribution arm three months after announcing it might shed the unit.

What would you do for money?

What would you do for money?

What's OK, and what's not, when it comes to financial matters? Read what Americans think in this Money Magazine special report.  (CNNMoney.com)

Consumer prices ease inflation worries

Consumer prices ease inflation worries (Reuters)

Reuters - Consumer prices rose less than expected in April, according to a government report on Tuesday that offered some signs inflation pressures may be easing.

Buffett reveals stakes in two railroads

Buffett reveals stakes in two railroads

The Oracle invested in railroads.  Billions on 'em.

Read full story for latest details in CNNMoney.com

Medusa Mining - 10koz in Q2

Medusa Mining sees gold output at 10,000 oz in Q2

LONDON -- Medusa Mining Ltd said it expects to produce 10,000 ounces of gold in the second quarter.

Alliance Global Q1 net profit P955M, up 443%

Alliance Global Q1 net profit P955M, up 443% yr-on-yr

MANILA, Philippines--Holding firm Alliance Global Group Inc said its first quarter net profit jumped 443 percent from a year earlier to P955 million, boosted by a 218-percent rise in revenue.

PNOC-EDC Q1 net down 33%

PNOC-EDC Q1 net down 33% on smaller forex gain, lower sales

MANILA, Philippines--PNOC-Energy Development Corp said its net profit in the first quarter fell 33 percent year-on-year to P1.5 billion due to smaller foreign exchange gains and lower sales.

Philippines - Chinabank profit slides 35.7%

Chinabank Q1 net profit P765M, down 35.7% yr-on-yr

MANILA, Philippines--China Banking Corp (Chinabank) said its first quarter net profit declined 35.7 percent from a year earlier to P765 million because of trading and securities losses.  (Inquirer)

Philippines - URC profit rises 181% in first half

Universal Robina profit skyrockets 181% in first half

Universal Robina Corp.'s (URC) consolidated net profit for its financial first half ended March jumped 181 percent to P4.12 billion from a year earlier, boosted mainly by the one-time gain from the sale of its investments in affiliate Robinsons Land Corp. and growth of some of its business segments.  (Inquirer)

PSE - Shares close flat

Shares close flat on profit-taking

MANILA, Philippines -- Share prices closed little changed on profit-taking in blue chips like Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. after the main index jumped to an all-time high during the session, finally catching up with the record breaking run in other regional bourses, dealers said.  (Inquirer)

Manila - BOP surplus beats forecast

Manila's 4-month BOP surplus beats 2007 forecast

MANILA, Philippines--The government's balance of payments (BOP) surplus widened to $282 million in April, pushing the four-month surfeit to $1.7 billion, above the central bank's forecast of $1.6 billion for the entire year.