123jump.com Staff
03 Jun, 2008
New York City
U.S. stocks struggle as worries of new credit market losses make rounds. Recent downgrade of bonds from Moodys and warnings of possible asset write downs at financial brokers left market on the defensive. Especially, Lehman Brothers is facing intense investors scrutiny. Lehman at the end of the quarter reported financial leverage of 27 to 1 and remains vulnerable to weakness in the housing market and leveraged loan after-market.
123jump.com Staff
03 Jun, 2008
New York City
Chairman Bernanke in his latest speech appears to stress the importance of controlling inflation expectations and protecting U.S. dollar. The renewed stress on dollar and focus on inflation lifted dollar. However, investors remain skeptical. In the past, the Fed has talked tough on inflation and seen the Fed lower inflation to a historic low. Food and energy inflation in the last five years and rising home prices in the last ten years have only ravaged consumer purchasing power.
123jump.com Staff
02 Jun, 2008
New York City
S&P downgrade on banks and financial brokers turned market sentiment negative. The rating agency estimated that earnings at Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers, and Merrill Lynch are likely to be lower as more losses are expected. S&P also revised its outlook to negative on Bank of America and JP Morgan. Separately, Wachovia ousted its chief executive and Washington Mutual apponted new chairman to the board. European stocks closed sharply lower on the worries related to banks.
123jump.com Staff
02 Jun, 2008
New York City
Seasonally adjusted Hong Kong dollar M1 decreased by 0.1% in April but rose by 14.6% year on year. Unadjusted Hong Kong dollar M3 expanded by 0.1% during the month and grew 10.5% from a year earlier. HKMA reported rise in surplus at the end of April by HK$1.8 billion to HK$494.8 billion.
123jump.com Staff
02 Jun, 2008
New York City
In Tokyo trading a gain in financial and commodities stocks lifted market indexes. The government reported wages in April rose 0.6% from a revised rise of 1.5% in March to 281,246 yen. The number of hours worked per person in the month was unchanged at 154.5 and number of full time employees increased 1.7% to 44.8 million.
123jump.com Staff
02 Jun, 2008
New York City
Bradford & Bingley plunges 21% after it agreed to sell 23% of the company to a private equity firm TPG. The deal to take a stake in the lender was agreed at 33% discount to the Friday closing price. Home mortgages issued in April fell to 58,000 in April from 63,000 in March according to the data released by the Bank of England.
123jump.com Staff
02 Jun, 2008
New York City
Stocks in Mumbai fell as the government debated a fuel price increase. The ruling party coalition discussed various diverging proposals with no decision. Prime Minister Singh said that the fuel price rise is inevitable. Separately, April trade deficit rose to a record high of 9% as oil price increased import bill. Exports in the month rose 31% but imports surged 36%. Auto sales in May rose as consumers bought more motor cycles and small cars.
123jump.com Staff
02 Jun, 2008
New York City
A subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell PLC signed an agreement to take a stake of 30% in Arrow Energy. Under the deal, Shell will pay $776 million. The investment from a large oil company is an indiacation of a rising interests as more power producers switch in the U.S. and Europe to cleaner burning fuel. The demand for LNG is expected to surge in the next seven years. Arrow Energy rose 14% after the deal news. Sundance Resources led the gainers in the ASX 200 index with a rise of 25%.
123jump.com Staff
02 Jun, 2008
New York City
Wachovia Bank one of the largest banks removed its chief executive officer Ken Thompson and appointed its chairman Lanty Smith as interim chief executive. The move comes after a serious of write downs at the bank and a recent ill timed purchase of the sub-prime lender Golden West. Separately, WaMu removes its CEO from the chairman of the board post.
123jump.com Staff
30 May, 2008
New York City
European Union area annual inflation is expected to be 3.6% in May according to a flash estimate by European Union Statistical Office released today, higher than April rate of 3.3%. The key indices in Germany and France closed higher after a decline in the crude oil prices. Oil prices continue to fall as Brent crude oil fell $1.18 or 0.93% to $128.07 per barrel. Air France-KLM and Lufthansa rose 4% on the decline in oil prices. Deutsche Postbank rose on talks of takeover.
123jump.com Staff
30 May, 2008
New York City
Fourth quarter GDP in India surged at 8.8% beating the expectations of 8.2% set by the government. For the fiscal year ending in March, economy grew at 9%. Service sector growth led the rise in the economy in the quarter and for the year. Lack of agriculture growth continues to drag the overall economy and record inflation at 8.1% is sapping disposable income for consumers.
123jump.com Staff
30 May, 2008
New York City
U.S. tech stocks rallied after better than expected earnings from Dell Inc and Marvell Technology. In economic report, U.S. perosnal spending and income rose at a slower pace and expectations of core inflation rate, a controversial measure of inflation, rate remained subdued. In commodities trading crude oil fell but natural gas traded near record level. India reported its fourth quarter economic growth rate at 8.8% and fiscal year 2008 rate of 9%. Inflation expectations rise in euro zone.
123jump.com Staff
30 May, 2008
New York City
Allco Finance Group agreed to a tougher financial conditions to refinance its $255 million of debt and Centro Gruop requested a trading halt on its stock as it negotiates with its creditors. Origin Energy surged 7% after it rejected $13 billion bid from the UK based BG Group. The provider of drilling services to mining companies, Boart Longyear Ltd stock gained 12% after it lifted its annual sales growth estimate to between 20% and 25% from the previous estimate of 15%.
123jump.com Staff
02 Jun, 2008
New York City
China Unicom Ltd. proposed to acquire China Netcom Group Corp. for HK 187 billion or $24 billion. The second largest mobile carrier, China Unicom will also sell its smaller CDMA mobile network to China Telecom Corp for 66.2 billion or $8.8 billion in cash and sell its operations and subscriber lists for 43.8 billion yuan or $5.6 billion to its Hong Kong listed subsidiary.
123jump.com Staff
30 May, 2008
New York City
Personal spending in April rose 0.2% after increasing by 0.4% in March. Personal income in the month rose 0.2% and disposable income increased 0.2%. The price index for personal consumption expenditure, the inflation index preferred by the Fed increased 0.2% in the month compared to a rise of 0.3%. On the deal front, Calpine Corp is looking for a higher bid from NRG Energy as its largest shareholder urges the two companies to explore merger. J Crew Group fell 21% after it reported earnings.
