For related news click on [NOVN

For related news, click on [NOVN.VX] ECONOMY [M-CH] COMPANY STATEMENTS [CNR-CH] EQUITY RESEARCH [CH-RCH] *Morgan Stanley raises Julius Baer (BAER.VX) price target to57 Sfr from 37 Sfr, rating overweight *Nomura cuts Givaudan (GIVN.VX) to neutral from buy *Collins Stewart raises Syngenta (SYNN.VX) to buy from hold. FOR COMPANIES TRADING EX-DIVIDEND, PLEASE CLICK ON: .EX.S for all Swiss stocks .EXSMI.S for blue chips .EXNSMI.S for other stocks France. (Updates to midday) SEOUL, May 22 (Reuters) - The South Korean won gained againstthe dollar early on Friday as worries about the ballooning U.S.deficit dampened U.S. assets and after South Korea's financeminister forecast further stabilisation of the local unit. But investors remained cautious over possible dollar-buyingintervention by the foreign exchange authorities to stem thewon's KRW= rise.

The local currency was quoted at 1,244.0/4.7 per dollar as of0430 GMT, compared with Thursday's domestic close KRW=KFTC of1,248.6 It strengthened to as firm as 1,234.8. "A broad fall in the dollar pushed up the won, but we stillsee dollar demand, especially from importers as the won's furthergain may prompt actions from the authorities," said a local bankdealer. Earlier, Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun said he wasconfident that the won would stabilise on a current accountsurplus this year On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury said it would sell another$101 billion in notes next week, matching an April record andpushing Treasury debt prices lower. [ID:nN21559422] Seoul sharesfell 0.50 percent although foreigninvestors bought a net 35.0 billion won worth of stocks on themain exchange.0430 GMT0045 GMTPrev close Won KRW= 1,244.0/4.7 1,241.2/2.6 1,248.6 Yen/won JPYKRW=R13.2172/7413.1888/6513.2011/03 KOSPI1,414.511,409.911,421.65 (Reporting by Cheon Jong-woo and Lee Soo-jung; Editing byJonathan Hopfner).

HELSINKI, May 22 (Reuters) - The following stocks may beaffected by newspaper reports and other factors on Friday: Media  |  China ERICSSON (ERICb.ST), NOKIA SIEMENS NETWORKS [NSN.UL](NOK1V.HE) China's Huawei Technologies [HWT.UL] took the No. 3 positionin the ailing mobile network gear market in the first quarter,doubling its market share from a year ago and bypassingAlcatel-Lucent (ALUA.PA). Sweden's Ericsson expanded its lead as its closest rivalNokia Siemens Networks lost market share, researcher Dell'Orosaid on Thursday. [ID:nLL338473] For more on the companies, double click on [ERICb.ST][NSN.UL] OPERA (OPERA.OL) The Norwegian software firm's chief executive told Reutersin an interview he hopes the company, known for its mobilebrowser, will stay independent despite major industry playersincreasing focus on the sector. [ID:nLL316427] ** For a summary of upcoming results and forecasts, doubleclick on [NORD/EQTY] ** For the western European company diary covering earnings,shareholder meetings, news conferences and analysts' meetings,click on [WEU/EQUITY] or type in the code and hit the f9 button. ** Double click on for Swedish indices, for Danish indices, for Finnishindices and for Norwegian indices ** For real-time moves on Nordic blue-chip indices doubleclick on .OMXS30, .OMXH25,and .OBX ** For constituent stock moves highlight the above codes inthe command box and press the f3 button on your keyboard ** For Nordic top news items, double click on [TOP/NORD] ** For the latest news on Nordic stock price moves doubleclick on [HOT-NORD-RTRS] (Additional reporting by Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholmnewsrooms) (Helsinki Newsroom; +358-9-6805-0244) ($1=7.856 Swedish Crown) Media China.

BEIJING, May 22 (Reuters) - Total profits for China's topfive oil firms in April rose 44.8 percent from a year earlierthough their revenue from main businesses dropped 28 percent,local media reported on Friday. Aggregate profits for CNPC, Sinopec (0386.HK), CNOOC,Sinochem and Shannxi Yanchang Petroleum hit 27.142 billion yuan($4 billion) in April and their total revenue from majorbusinesses reach 207.72 billion yuan, the Shanghai-basedNational Business Daily said, citing data from the ChinaPetroleum and Chemical Industry Association (CPCIA). It did not specify whether the profit figures were on anafter-tax basis. April profits for Sinopec Group, parent of Sinopec Corp(SNP.N) (600028.SS), rose 48.4 percent from a year earlier, thepaper said.

The growth discrepancy in profits and revenue was due toChina's new oil pricing mechanism, which gives refiners largermargins, Feng Shiliang, vice chairman of CPCIA, told the paper. It was less likely for domestic oil demand to jump sharplyin the short term, the paper cited CPCIA analysts as saying. (Reporting by Eadie Chen and Tom Miles; Editing by JacquelineWong) (; +8610 6627 1268; Reuters Messaging:)) Stocks  |  Mergers & Acquisitions Stocks Mergers & Acquisitions. May 22 (Reuters) - BlackRock Inc's (BLK.N) co-founder RalphSchlosstein may join Evercore Partners Inc (EVR.N) as its ChiefExecutive, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiarwith the matter. Stocks  |  Funds News  |  ETFs News The decision to appoint Schlosstein is yet to be approvedby Evercore's board, and is expected to expand the top U.S.merger advisory boutique's asset management unit and otherareas outside its core business, the paper said. (Reporting by Anurag Kotoky in Bangalore; Editing byMuralikumar Anantharaman) Stocks Funds News ETFs News.