BUSINESS BRIEFS
Suez SA, Gaz de France to merge
Advertiser Staff and News Services
PARIS — Utility giant Suez SA and state-owned Gaz de France agreed yesterday to new terms for a long-stalled merger that would create a global energy behemoth minority-owned by the French state, an official said.
Both companies' boards met last night and approved an outline of the new deal, said a participant in the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. The companies were expected to release financial details of the plan this morning.
The merged entity, called GDF-Suez, would be worth about $110 billion, presidential spokesman Claude Gueant said. He said the new terms give the state a greater say than an earlier deal.
INVESTORS BET ON GOLD-PRICE RISE
SEATTLE — Gold may rise for a third week on speculation a strengthening U.S. economy and rebounding equities will boost investment demand for precious metals.
Seventeen of 32 traders, investors and analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News Service from Sydney, Australia, to Chicago on Thursday and Friday advised buying gold, which rose 0.6 percent last week to $681.90 an ounce in New York. Four said to sell, and 11 were neutral.
CASINO CASHIERS VOTE NO ON UNION
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Cashiers at Caesars Atlantic City casino rejected a bid on Saturday to unionize.
The cashiers voted 77 to 42 to not join the United Auto Workers, the union said.
The UAW has been pushing hard to organize workers at all of Atlantic City's 11 casinos.
Last Saturday, full- and part-time card dealers voted 626-157 at the Tropicana Casino and Resort to unionize.
Dan Nita, general manager of Caesars, said he is "looking forward to working together with our cashiers to address their concerns."
