International stocks trading in New York closed higher Friday,
with the Bank of New York index of American depositary receipts
rising 0.8% to 149.67. The European index added 0.7% to 149.81, the
Asian index climbed 1% to 141.19, the Latin American index edged up
0.4% to 276.09 and the emerging markets index rose 0.6% to 271.19.
Among the companies with shares that actively traded are Aviva PLC
(AV, AV.LN).
Shares of U.K. insurers and pension managers fell sharply Friday
after the Financial Conduct Authority confirmed it would launch an
inquiry into charges and restrictions on old policies worth
billions of pounds. Separately, Aviva said it is selling its U.S.
equity manager River Road Asset Management LLC to Affiliated
Managers Group Inc. (AMG) in a deal it said will boost its solvency
surplus and economic capital surplus by 0.1 billion pounds ($0.14
billion). Aviva shares fell 3.2% to $15.60.
China Southern Airlines Co. (ZNH, 1055.HK, 600029.SH, K3TD.SG)
said its 2013 net profit was 1.99 billion yuan (US$323 million),
according to international accounting standards, down 24% from a
net profit of 2.62 billion yuan a year earlier. Its revenue fell 1%
to 98.55 billion yuan. Despite the disappointing results, shares
edged up 0.6% to $16.27.
Diageo PLC (DEO, DGE.LN) Chief Executive Ivan Menezes on Friday
moved to shake up his senior management team and stamp his
authority on the drinks giant, less than a year after taking the
top job from longtime CEO Paul Walsh. Shares edged up 0.6% to
$124.79.
China's largest offshore oil and gas producer, state-controlled
Cnooc Ltd. (CEO, 0883.HK), is planning a big rise in capital
spending in the year ahead as it shifts its focus to deep-water and
overseas projects. "We now face new challenges in various areas
including production growth and cost structure," Cnooc Chairman
Wang Yilin said. "In 2014, the company will further strive to
control costs and enhance efficiency," he added. Shares slipped
3.4% to $153.11.
African gold miner Randgold Resources Ltd. (GOLD, RRS.LN) is
targeting over one million ounces of gold production this year and
said it is getting close to its long-term goal of 1.2 million
ounces by 2015. Shares edged up 0.6% to $75.73.
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (RBS, RBS.LN) on Friday priced
two note issues worth $1 billion, which it will use for general
corporate purposes. Shares rose 0.9% to $10.19.
India has ordered a special audit of Nokia Corp.'s (NOK,
NOK1V.HE) accounts in a move that could affect the Finnish
company's plans to sell its devices and services business to
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT). Till, Nokia shares added 1% to $7.34.
GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK, GSK.LN) is taking full control of its
Indonesian Consumer Healthcare business in a deal which includes
selling a non-core brand and a manufacturing facility in the
country. Shares of the pharmaceutical company were essentially flat
at $53.90.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@wsj.com
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