TOP STORIES
POLL SUGGESTS CLOSE GREEK BAILOUT VOTE
Momentum in Greece's referendum appears to be shifting toward a
"yes" vote on creditors' demands, an opinion poll says, although
the gap between the two camps is minimal-suggesting Sunday's
outcome hangs in the balance.
EUROZONE BUSINESS ACTIVITY HITS FOUR-YEAR HIGH
Eurozone business activity hit a four-year high in June and
retail sales climbed further, pointing to sturdy economic growth in
the second quarter and beyond, despite the potential threat to
business confidence from Greece's unresolved financial crisis.
EUROPEAN MARKETS ON EDGE BEFORE GREEK VOTE
European stocks closed lower ahead of the referendum in Greece
this weekend, which could set the country on course for a messy
exit from the eurozone.
CHINA SPEEDS EFFORT TO STEM SELLOFF
China shares tumbled, even as Beijing moves swiftly to try to
plug losses, with the smaller Shenzhen index suffering its worst
week since December 1996.
UBER TO SUSPEND UBERPOP IN FRANCE
Uber Technologies plans to suspend one of its main services in
France, days after French prosecutors indicted two top Uber
executives on charges of running that service illegally.
GERMANY'S K+S REBUFFS POTASH TAKEOVER
German salt and fertilizer company K+S AG rejected a takeover
approach worth $8.75 billion by rival Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan,
saying the proposal undervalued the company.
IMF SAYS GREECE NEEDS DEBT RELIEF AND MORE AID
The International Monetary Fund warned that Greece would need
debt relief and more than €60 billion ($66.6 billion) in new aid,
raising the stakes in an already fraught Greek referendum over
creditors' bailout terms.
IMF STAFF APPROVE $1.7 BILLION LOAN DISBURSAL FOR UKRAINE
Ukraine won preliminary approval for a $1.7 billion emergency
loan payout from the International Monetary Fund Thursday, based on
the condition that Kiev implement a few more key economic policies
and cut its debt burden.
IRAN MINISTER URGES ACCORD TO FACE 'COMMON THREAT'
Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said Iran and six major powers are
closing in on a final nuclear agreement they need to seal so they
can turn to the "common threat" of violent extremism.
OIL PRICES FALL ON STRONG SHALE SUPPLY
Oil prices were lower, in response to concerns over resilient
U.S. shale production.
BP TURNS PAGE ON A DARK CHAPTER
With a pending legal settlement, BP executives must turn to
convincing investors it can re-establish itself as a pioneering and
profitable force among the world's top energy companies.
IRAQ, KURDISTAN OIL DEAL CLOSE TO COLLAPSE
An oil-sales deal between Iraq and the semiautonomous Kurdistan
Regional Government is close to collapse, undermining the country's
unity as it struggles to fight Islamic State and contain an
escalating financial crisis.
CHINA REGULATOR TO PROBE SUSPECTED STOCK MANIPULATION
China's securities regulator said it will launch an
investigation into suspected manipulation of shares after recent
sharp declines in the stock markets.
SOUTH KOREA UNVEILS $20B FISCAL STIMULUS TO SPUR ECONOMY
South Korea on Friday announced a fiscal stimulus package worth
nearly $20 billion to spur anemic growth in Asia's fourth-largest
economy.
AETNA TO BUY HUMANA FOR $34.1 BILLION IN LATEST INSURER DEAL
Aetna agreed to buy Humana for $34.1 billion, following weeks of
frenzied merger talks among large health insurers. Deal would add
to Aetna's Medicare business.
IRON ORE NOSE-DIVES ON SUPPLY SURGE
Iron ore crashed to its lowest level in more than two months as
rising shipments to China reignited fears of a glut and projections
of another downswing into decade-low territory.
MALAYSIAN ANTICORRUPTION BODY TO LOOK INTO FLOW OF MONEY TO NAJIB
Malaysia's anticorruption agency will look into a report in The
Wall Street Journal that investigators have traced nearly $700
million of deposits into what they believe are the personal bank
accounts of Malaysia's prime minister.
FRENCH COURT LIFTS JEAN-MARIE LE PEN SUSPENSION FROM NATIONAL FRONT
A French court Thursday overturned the suspension of Jean-Marie
Le Pen from the National Front party he brought into national
prominence.
======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES =======
Brussels Beat
EUROPE'S CROWNING GLORY IMPERILS POSTWAR PROJECT
The great project some hoped would eventually create a European
superstate faces the biggest challenge of its history Sunday, when
Greeks vote in a referendum that could decide whether they crash
out of the eurozone.
Europe News
FOR MANY GREEKS, PATRIOTISM TRUMPS ECONOMICS
To many Greeks, especially those outside cosmopolitan Athens,
national pride is coming before financial considerations ahead of
Sunday's referendum.