(AFX UK Focus) 2007-10-03 09:13 GMT: Northern Rock says still 'exploring options' after press reports (Interactive Investor)
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Northern Rock PLC, the embattled mortgage lender, has reiterated that it is still talking to a number of parties about its future, following press reports that private equity group JC Flowers is to meet the bank's advisers for talks that could lead to due diligence.

Telstra to launch A$1 bln loan syndication Monday (Reuters Finance News, Australia via Yahoo!7 Finance)
SYDNEY, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Telstra Corp Ltd TLS.AX, Australia's largest telephone company, plans to launch on Monday the syndication of a A$1 billion ($885 million) loan, a market source said.

Telstra to launch A$1 bln loan syndication Monday (Reuters via Yahoo! Singapore News)
SYDNEY, Oct 5 - Telstra Corp Ltd , Australia's largest telephone company, plans to launch on Monday the syndication of a A$1 billion loan, a market source said.

Advice for First-Time Homebuyers (Washington Post)
With a current real estate market that's unpredictable, what's in store for would-be buyers or those thinking about selling? The Post's special feature, Property Values: The Market & You, helps forecast what to expect in the coming months.

Global Stocks Rise; UBS, Tesco, Mitsubishi UFJ, GM Lead Advance (Bloomberg.com)
Oct. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Stocks in Europe and Asia climbed on speculation contagion from the worst U.S. housing recession in 16 years is receding. Emerging-market shares and U.S. index futures also advanced.