Thomas Cook has been tentatively approached about a takeover of its tour operating unit, or the entire company, by several parties as its lenders prepare for crunch talks over the state of its finances, Sky News reported on Saturday.

Congo Republic shipped its first iron ore exports on Friday ahead of an expected boom in production from mines owned by Congolese billionaire Paul Obambi's Sapro SA and Swiss commodities giant Glencore.

Global commodities house Trafigura Group said on Wednesday it is entering petrochemicals trading by teaming up with Houston-based Altis Group International to take advantage of an expanding sector.

Oil major BP and Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR signed an agreement on Friday to build a new exploration platform for the South Caucasus nation's three major oilfields, BP-Azerbaijan said in a statement.

Angola's state oil company Sonangol plans to divest 52 joint ventures, reduce staff and focus on its core business, part of an ongoing reorganisation and package of reforms designed to lure back investors, its chairman said on Friday.

Oil major BP and Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR signed an investment decision on Friday to build a new exploration platform for the South Caucasian nation's ACG oilfields, BP-Azerbaijan said in a statement.

BP suspended its central Azeri platform on April 15 for planned maintenance that will last two weeks, it said on Friday.

* ANNOUNCES THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING (IPO) IN FAVOR OF PRIVATE EQUITY TRANSACTION

* U.S. inventories last week drop for first time in four weeks

Is the London Metal Exchange's (LME) physical storage function in danger of slipping into the shadows?