*Hikes size to $465 mln from $350 mln. DUBAI, May 23- National Bank of Abu Dhabi, the UAE's largest lender by market value, has increased its convertible bond offering to $465 million following high demand from investors for a rare convertible from the Gulf region. NBAD shares closed on Thursday at 12.05 dirhams.
May 22- Starbucks Corp executive Michelle Gass, who was instrumental in the world's biggest coffee chain's post-recession U.S. turnaround, is leaving after more than 16 years to become chief customer officer at retailer Kohl's Corp..
NEW YORK, May 22- The dollar rallied to a 4-1/ 2- year high against the yen and a near three-year peak against a currency basket on Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stoked speculation the U.S. central bank could begin slowing its asset buying in coming months.
*Dollar rallies after Bernanke testifies to Congress. *BOJ upgrades economic assessment, stands pat as expected.
LONDON, May 22- Copper hit a six week high on Wednesday as a production outage at the world's second-largest copper mine looked set to continue, though gains were capped as investors digested comments on monetary easing from the U.S.
*Freeport death toll rises, mine remains shut. LONDON, May 22- Copper rose to its highest level in two weeks on Wednesday, as the dollar weakened and a production outage at world's second-largest copper mine in Indonesia after a tunnel collapse looked set to continue indefinitely.
MOSCOW, May 22- Igor Kim snapped cast-off assets from foreign banks pulling out of Russia and now the banker says he wants to expand into Europe. Kim, 47, emerged with his partners as an asset consolidator after the global crash of 2008 forced Western banks to downsize, buying the Russian commercial banking units of Barclays, WestLB, Morgan Stanley and Santander.
May 22- Foreign banks that once treated Russia as an undiscovered country where easy money could be made are now finding it a cut-throat market tougher than some bargained for.
MOSCOW, May 22- Foreign banks that once treated Russia as virgin land where easy money could be made are now finding it a cut-throat market tougher than some bargained for.
May 21- Please be advised that two articles from December 22, 2011 reporting that two Barclays Capital traders had left the firm after losses have been withdrawn due to lack of clarity surrounding the circumstances of the traders' departures.
JAKARTA, May 21- Freeport McMoRan Copper& Gold Inc's Indonesian mine could face a prolonged closure and scrutiny over its underground mining plans after one of the country's worst-ever mining disasters, analysts and mining sources said.
TOKYO, May 21- The dollar edged up against the yen on Tuesday after a Japanese minister clarified earlier remarks about the yen's weakness that had toppled the greenback from a 4-1/ 2- year high against the Japanese currency on Monday.
*Japanese econ minister says he hopes FX market can find' balance'. TOKYO, May 21- The dollar edged up against the yen on Tuesday after Japan's economy minister clarified earlier remarks about the yen's weakness that had toppled the greenback from a 4-1/ 2- year high against the Japanese currency on Monday.
TOKYO, May 21- Sprint Nextel Corp said its Japanese suitor SoftBank Corp granted it a waiver allowing it to consider a $25.5 billion rival bid by Dish Network Corp, as pressure mounts on SoftBank to sweeten its offer for the No. 3 U.S. wireless carrier.
*Japanese econ minister says he hopes FX market can find' balance'. TOKYO, May 21- The dollar edged up against the yen on Tuesday after Japan's economy minister clarified earlier remarks about the yen's weakness that had toppled the greenback from a 4-1/ 2 year high in the previous session.
*MSCI Asia Pacific ex- Japan eases 0.1 percent. The market's focus is shifting to Bernanke's testimony to Congress on Wednesday after recent comments by Fed officials fuelled speculation the U.S. central bank may trim its bond purchases sooner than expected.
LONDON, May 20- Copper rose to its highest in almost a week on Monday, helped by a weaker U.S. dollar and shrinking inventories of the metal in Asia, but concerns about sluggish Chinese growth capped gains. Copper has rebounded from 18- month lows earlier this month below $6,800 a tonne but is still 13 percent off its 2013 high hit in February.
LONDON, May 20- Copper turned slightly positive in volatile trading on Monday, helped by a weaker U.S. dollar and shrinking inventories of the metal in Asia, but concerns about sluggish Chinese growth capped gains. Copper has rebounded from 18- month lows earlier this month below $6,800 a tonne but is still 13 percent off the 2013 high hit in February. "
HONG KONG, May 20- Goldman Sachs Group Inc launched the sale of about $1.1 billion worth of Hong Kong- traded shares in Industrial and Commercial Bank of China on Monday, offering its entire remaining stake in the world's biggest bank by market value. The sale would be the final chapter in Goldman's investment alongside clients and employees in China's ICBC.