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• UPDATE 1-EU fines Lundbeck, 8 others 146 mln euros for blocking cheaper drugs Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 6:02 AM ET

  BRUSSELS, June 19- Nine drugmakers, including Denmark's Lundbeck, were fined a total of 146 million euros by EU antitrust regulators on Wednesday for blocking the supply of a cheaper anti-depressant medicine to the market.

• PRECIOUS-Gold holds steady ahead of Fed policy statement Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 5:46 AM ET

  LONDON, June 19- Gold held steady on Wednesday ahead of the outcome of the latest Federal Reserve policy meeting, as traders awaited further guidance on the future of the U.S. central bank's quantitative easing programme. Gold broke below its recent trading range on Tuesday to slide 1.2 percent, its biggest one-day loss in nearly two weeks.

• EU fines Lundbeck, 8 others 146 mln euros for blocking cheaper drugs Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 5:30 AM ET

  BRUSSELS, June 19- EU antitrust regulators fined nine drugmakers a total of 146 million euros on Wednesday for blocking the supply of cheaper medicines on the market, with a penalty of 94 million euros imposed on Denmark's Lundbeck.

• Small global warming rise would have 'alarming' impact -World Bank Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 3:59 AM ET

  WASHINGTON, June 19- Much of Bangkok could flood within the next two decades if global warming stays on its current trajectory, as sea levels rise and cyclones intensify, the World Bank said in a new report on Wednesday.

• PRECIOUS-Gold slips for 3rd day on rally in stocks, Fed caution Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 2:58 AM ET

  *Gold down 1.7 percent so far this week. SINGAPORE, June 19- Gold fell for a third straight session on Wednesday, hovering near the lowest level in four weeks, as a rally in stocks and investor caution over the Federal Reserve curbing its stimulus programme sapped support for bullion.

• COLUMN-Thailand's rice scheme cutback doesn't go far enough: Clyde Russell Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 2:46 AM ET

  Thailand has piled up about 17 million tonnes of milled rice since the scheme started in October 2011, and with warehouses filled to brim it's running out of space for the next crop that will start arriving in November this year.

• HIGHLIGHTS-Q2 ThomsonReuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey - by economy Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 11:19 PM ET

  SYDNEY, June 19- Optimism among Asia's top companies gathered momentum in the second quarter despite lingering concerns about the global economy and rising costs, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey published on Wednesday showed.

• UPDATE 1-Asia business sentiment rises in Q2, global growth risk still dominates Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 11:06 PM ET

  *Sentiment in China continues at record low. SEOUL, June 19- Asia's top companies have become more optimistic about their business outlook with the retail and shipping industries rebounding sharply in the second quarter of 2013, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey shows.

• Asia business sentiment rises in Q2, global growth risk still dominates Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 11:00 PM ET

  SEOUL, June 19- Asia's top companies have become more optimistic about their business outlook with the retail and shipping industries rebounding sharply in the second quarter of 2013, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey shows.

• UPDATE 1-U.S. lawmakers, businesses demand Indian trade reforms Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 5:05 PM ET

  WASHINGTON, June 18- A bipartisan group of more than 170 U.S. lawmakers joined with a coalition of U.S. business groups on Tuesday to demand increased U.S. pressure on India to change policies that they said threaten American exports, jobs and innovation. Secretary of State John Kerry travels to India for the fourth annual U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue.

• UPDATE 1-U.S. court lets stand Ex-Im Bank loan for Air India Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 2:13 PM ET

  WASHINGTON, June 18- A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday let stand a decision by the U.S. Export-Import Bank to finance the sale of 30 Boeing wide-body jets to Air India in a legal challenge brought by Delta Air Lines.

• U.S. groups form alliance to push for Indian trade reforms Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 1:06 PM ET

  WASHINGTON, June 18- A coalition of U.S. business groups on Tuesday demanded President Barack Obama's administration increase pressure on India to change trade policies that they said threaten U.S. exports, jobs and innovation. Secretary of State John Kerry is headed to India next week for the fourth annual U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue.

• PRECIOUS-Gold down more than 1 pct on Fed jitters, equities gain Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 1:06 PM ET

  *Demand still soft in India, China- traders. NEW YORK/ LONDON, June 18- Gold fell more than 1 percent on Tuesday as U.S. equities rallied and bullion buyers took to the sidelines before the conclusion of a two-day Federal Reserve policy meeting they hope will give greater clarity on the outlook for U.S. monetary policy.

• METALS-Copper drops to 1-1/2 month low as market awaits Fed Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 10:56 AM ET

  LONDON, June 18- Copper fell to a 1-1/ 2 month low on Tuesday as investors remained sidelined awaiting Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's clarification on the central bank's plans for its monetary stimulus programme following a two-day policy meeting. Copper posted its steepest weekly decline since mid-April last week.

• METALS-Copper drops for second day as market awaits Fed meeting Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 8:29 AM ET

  LONDON, June 18- Copper dipped for a second day on Tuesday as investors waited for Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to clarify the U.S. central bank's plans for its monetary stimulus programme at a two-day meeting starting later in the session.

• AIRSHOW-UPDATE 1-Embraer unveils orders for current E-Jets Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 7:36 AM ET

  *Destined for India, Lithuania, Venezuela, Japan. PARIS, June 18- Brazilian planemaker Embraer announced deals for more than a dozen of its current passenger jets worth nearly $700 million at list prices on Tuesday, as it filled out its order book until the second-generation E-Jets arrive in 2018..

• WRAPUP 1-Asian currencies slide on high anxiety ahead of Fed meeting Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 6:35 AM ET

  MUMBAI, June 18- The Indian rupee approached a record low while other Asian currencies also fell, reflecting the high stakes for regional policymakers should the Federal Reserve end a period of easy money that had boosted markets from Jakarta to Mumbai.

• PRECIOUS-Gold prices retreat ahead of Fed meeting Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 5:57 AM ET

  *Demand still soft in India, China- traders. LONDON, June 18- Gold prices fell on Tuesday as traders took to the sidelines ahead of a Federal Reserve policy meeting they hope will give greater clarity on the outlook for U.S. monetary policy.

• Hong Kong shares flat, cash shortage caps China gains Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 4:48 AM ET

  *'Big Four' China banks lackluster despite higher state stakes. HONG KONG, June 18- Hong Kong shares ended little changed after two days of gains with investors selling recent outperformers and turnover low as markets braced for the U.S.

• POLL-China, other East Asian stock markets to shrug off losses, end 2013 higher Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 3:30 AM ET

  BANGALORE, June 18- China and other East Asian stock markets will be able to shrug off recent turmoil and post some gains in 2013 on hopes of an economy recovery, policy easing in the second half of the year and attractive valuations, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.