Market Update

U.S. Movers: Cascade, Global Payments, Kid Brands, Office Depot, Nasdaq

Mukesh Buch
01 Apr, 2011
New York City

Nasdaq OMX made a joint proposal to acquire NYSE Euronext. Global Payments third quarter net income fell to $47.8 million. Kid Brands fourth quarter net income surged 72.6% to $22.8 million. Office Depot restates tax benefits of $80 million and change net earnings from $33 mn to net loss of $46 mn.

UK Manufacturing Activity Eases; 3i Down 5%

Arthi Gupta
01 Apr, 2011
New York City

The UK indexes surged after successful completion of stress tests in Ireland and a rating agency lowered Irish debt view. The UK manufacturing sector growth eased in March. Shell agreed to sell Chilean downstream business to Quinenco for $614 million.

U.S. Unemployment Rate Falls to 8.8%; GM Sells Delphi Stake

Arthi Gupta
01 Apr, 2011
New York City

U.S indexes climbed after better-than-estimated jobs report in March. The WTO ruled Boeing received at least $5.3 billion in illegal subsidies. GM sold stake in Delphi Automotive for $3.8 billion. Goodrich agreed to acquire Italy-based Microtecnica for $462 million.

European Indexes Higher; Portugal Election on June 5

Arthi Gupta
01 Apr, 2011
New York City

The European indexes rose after Chinese manufacturing activity improved in March. Nasdaq and ICE jointly bid for NYSE Euronext at 19% higher than Deutsche Boerse bid. Clariant agreed to acquire Canada-based Prairie Petro-Chem. Logitech fell on weaker 2011 outlook.

Euro-zone Jobless Rate Falls to 9.9%; French Auto Sales Up 6.1%

Arthi Gupta
01 Apr, 2011
New York City

Euro-zone unemployment in February declined to 9.9% and in the wider zone of 27 nations the rate eased to 9.5%. Manufacturing expansion in the region slowed in March. French car sales increase slowed to 6.1%. Swiss retail sales rebounded in February.

India's Exports Surge 50%; Stocks Rest After 8-day Rally

Devan Biswas
01 Apr, 2011
New York City

Mumbai stocks edged lower after rallying for eight days. Exports soared 50% in February and imports gained 21% and trade deficit hovered near $99 billion. Sharp upswing in exports was driven by higher sales of gems and jewelry and petroleum products.

Japan Stocks Weak on Higher Crude; Toto Lowers Earnings Outlook

Nigel Thomas
01 Apr, 2011
New York City

Stocks in Japan struggled to hold early gains and confidence index dropped in a quarterly survey. Toto Ltd declined after it lowered full-year earnings outlook. Tokyo Electric Power dropped 3.7% in a volatile trading.

Xstrata Negotiates 13% Increase in Coal Price; Australian Stocks Up

Marcus Jacob
01 Apr, 2011
New York City

Australian stocks closed higher tracking gains in the commodities prices. Xstrata signed an annual contract to sell coal to Japanese utility at 13% higher price of $129.80 a ton. Biota won a five-year contract to supply flu drug to the U.S. for $231 million.

World Markets Trade Sideways; Dow Up 6.6% in Volatile Quarter, Oil Up 17%

Bikram Pandey
31 Mar, 2011
New York City

U.S. indexes traded sideways after weekly jobless claims declined. For the quarter the Dow added 6.6%, S&P 500 index increased 5.6% and the Nasdaq gained 4.7%. Oil soared 17% and gold gained 1.3%. In Europe, French budget deficit was lower than expected but debt to GDP ratio hovered near Spain

U.S. Movers: Acuity Brands, CarMax, EnergySolutions, Robbins & Myers

Mukesh Buch
31 Mar, 2011
New York City

Acuity Brands second quarter net income surged to $19.9 million. CarMax fourth quarter net earnings rose 19% to $89.5 million. Cybex reported fourth quarter net loss of $57.1 million. PepsiCo estimates fiscal year 2011 earnings per share growth of 7% to 8% to $4.13 billion in 2010.

Irish Stress Test in Focus, UK Home Prices Rise

Arthi Gupta
31 Mar, 2011
New York City

The UK indexes gained after home prices rose in March. Ireland trade surplus fell in January. Taylor Wimpey agreed to sell North American business for $955 million. Vodafone paid $5 billion to buy Essar Stake in JV.

U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Drop 6,000; NY Fed Rejects AIG Offer

Arthi Gupta
31 Mar, 2011
New York City

U.S. indexes traded sideways after weekly jobless claims fell 6,000 to 388,000. SunTrust completed repurchase of $3.50 billion of preferred stock under TARP. CarMax quarterly earnings rose boosted by used vehicle unit sales.

European Indexes Ease; Hennes & Mauritz Falls on Sales Weakness

Arthi Gupta
31 Mar, 2011
New York City

The European indexes declined after inflation rose to 2.6% in March. Infineon planned to invest $160 million in Malaysian expansion. Inmarsat agreed to acquire Norway-based Ship Equip International A.S. for $159.5 million.

Euro Area Inflation 2.6%; German Jobless Rate Drops to 7.1%

Arthi Gupta
31 Mar, 2011
New York City

Euro-zone annual inflation rose in March. French and Italian producer price inflation climbed in February. German unemployment declined more than estimated in March and retail sales fell in February. Danish jobless rate dropped in February.

Vodafone Pays $5 Billion to Essar; DoCoMo Invests $180 Million in Tata Tele

Devan Biswas
31 Mar, 2011
New York City

Stocks in Mumbai gained for the eight day in a row after foreign investors ratchet up deals. NTT DoCoMo Inc agreed to invest $180 million, Vodafone Group paid $5 billion to Essar Group to increase its stake in Vodafone India and International Paper acquired 54% stake in Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills.