Market Update

Financials Drag UK Stocks

123jump.com Staff
18 Feb, 2009
New York City

UK stocks edged lower on persistent weakness in financial stocks. The Bank of England is likely to resume printing money as it looks for ways to fund various loan commitments. Royal Bank of Scotland led decliners in the FTSE 100 index shares with a drop of 13% followed by losses in Legal & General.

Commerz Bank, ING, Merck Report Loss

123jump.com Staff
18 Feb, 2009
New York City

European stocks fall as OECD economies contract. Daimler AG dropped after rating agency lowered its debt rating outlook. Commerzbank reported full-year operating loss and insurance company AXA reported second half loss. Heineken net profit for full year dropped 87%.

Japan Stocks Decline 1.5%

123jump.com Staff
18 Feb, 2009
New York City

Bank of Japan begins two-day policy meeting. Crude steel production declined 37.8% in January according to the latest data from the industry association. Shipping lines Kawasaki Kisen climbed 3% and Mitsui OSK Lines of 5% after the freight rates index gained.

China Issues Rmb22 Billion Bonds

123jump.com Staff
18 Feb, 2009
New York City

Stocks in Hong Kong edged higher but investors confidence remain fragile. Investors are increasingly realizing that the current recession is likely to be protracted and may widen further. In Hong Kong, residential prices fell 41% at its most expensive district in the three months to in December.

Australian Stocks Drop, Westpac Charges Rise

123jump.com Staff
18 Feb, 2009
New York City

Stocks in Australia dropped sharply after Wespac reported sharply higher impairment charges. Earnings fell 2% to A$1.2 billion in the three months to December on a pro-forma basis, while total lending rose 2.4% in the period driven by strong mortgage and business lending in Australia.

U.S. Indexes Drop, World Market Weakness

123jump.com Staff
17 Feb, 2009
New York City

U.S. stocks dropped as investors increasingly come up empty with details of economic stimulus and bank bail out plan. General Motors and Chrysler seek additional $22 billion and plans to eliminate 50,000 jobs this year. European indexes fall between 2% and 3% on worries linked to the Eastern Europe.

GM, Chrysler Seek $22 Billion, Medtronic Rises

123jump.com Staff
17 Feb, 2009
New York City

Arbitron Inc fourth quarter profit slips. Medtronic, Inc third quarter profit rises. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc fourth quarter profit declined 7% on weak sales rise at domestic locations. Hartford Financial, SunTrust Banks and Fifth Third Bank declined.

UK Inflation, Stocks Fall, Global Worries

123jump.com Staff
17 Feb, 2009
New York City

U.K. stocks plunged on weak financial and commodity stocks as global economic recession appear to widen and may take longer and cost more than earlier anticipated. Banks fell on the worries that those with exposure to Eastern European region may suffer more losses.

Weak Bank, Industrials Drage European Stocks

123jump.com Staff
17 Feb, 2009
New York City

European indexes fall between 2% and 3% at close on the worries that banks in Eastern European countries are weaker than earlier estimated. The banks in Western Europe may suffer as many banks have significant operations in the region.

Indian Stocks Fall 6% in 2-Days

123jump.com Staff
17 Feb, 2009
New York City

Stocks in India dropped for the second day in a row after interim budget did not provide any corporate tax relief. The volatile foreign investors are likely to withdraw funds from the company as global economic recession widens. India is likely to miss its export target in the current fiscal year.

MasterCard Q4 Earnings Call Transcript

123jump.com Staff
17 Feb, 2009
New York City

The payment solutions firm reported revenues rose 14.2% to $1.22 billion in the quarter and earnings declined 21% to $239.4 million. Earnings per share decreased to $1.84 from $2.26 a year ago quarter. Revenues increased 22.7% to $5.0 billion for fiscal 2008.

Visa Q1 Earnings Call Transcript

123jump.com Staff
17 Feb, 2009
New York City

The payment processor quarterly revenues rose 17% to $1.7 billion. Net income increased 35% to $574 million for the quarter. Earnings per share rose to 74 cents from 55 cents a year ago quarter. Total cards carrying customers rose 10% globally to 1.7 billion.

Stocks in HK Fall, Foreing Investors Withdraw

123jump.com Staff
17 Feb, 2009
New York City

The benchmark indexes in Hong Kong dropped 3.8% and in Shanghai declined 3.1% after foreign investors withdrew HK$500 million in January. Separately, China reported fiscal revenues in January declined 17.1% on similar decline in tax revenues. Hong Kong exports in December declined 13%.

Euro Drops; Daimler Loss, Banks Fall

123jump.com Staff
17 Feb, 2009
New York City

European markets closed lower as banking sector woes persist in the region. Raiffeisen International, Swedbank AB, UniCredit SpA and Daimler AG declined in the regional trading. Eastern European economies are expected shrink at a faster pace than the Western Europe as the region relied on debt.

Wal-Mart Earnings Drop 7.4%, Asian Markets Fall

123jump.com Staff
17 Feb, 2009
New York City

Wal-Mart fourth quarter earnings dropped 7.4% to $3.79 billion or 96 cents a share compared to $4.01 billion or $1.02 a share. The company increasingly reliant on international sales and sale of groceries at domestic locations in the U.S. had anemic sales growth.