* Nikkei 225 Stock Average: +121.04 (+0.7%) to 18,261.98, topped 6/21 close high of 18,240, but failed to reach 18,300 intra-day high set 2/26
* Nikkei 225 futures Osaka: +130 (+0.7%) to 18,280, Singapore (SGX) 18275, Chicago (CME) 7/6 — 18,205
* TOPIX: +12.56 (+0.7%) to 1,792.23; Advancers 1,125 x decliners 462 (unchanged 144), New highs 93 […]

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The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that Vanguard will soon offer an ETF tracking the MSCI EAFE index, to trade on the AMEX, with an expense ratio of only 0.15% — less than half the cost of Barclays Global Capital’s iShares offering.
The WSJ also notes the explosive growth at BGI, where its iShares […]

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May machinery orders +5.9% sequential vs. consensus estimate of 2.6% and high-end estimate of 5.0%.
Nikkei 225 Stock Average up ~100 yen to ~18,240. Yen also weakening towards 123.5/US$, supporting exporter stocks. Nikkei could test ytd & multi-year intra-day and closing highs above 18,300 and 18,240, respectively.

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