Market Update

Stocks Fall; Yahoo, Microsoft Talks Fail

123jump.com Staff
05 May, 2008
New York City

U.S. stocks fell at the opening after the merger talks between Yahoo and Microsoft fell. Yahoo fell nearly 20% after the two companies could not agree on a price. Sprint Nextel rose on the potential interest from Deutsche Telekom. Arcelor Mittal, the largest steel company and second largest Chinese steel company are in merger talks. Berkshire Hathaway, after reporting sharply lower earnings over the weekend, is expected to make a purchase in Europe.

Financials Lift European Markets

123jump.com Staff
02 May, 2008
New York City

European stocks closed higher on a rise in airlines, banks and commodities stocks. The market averages in the region tracked morning gains in the U.S. German retail sales fell in April as consumers battel rising food and energy prices. Home prices in UK declined as lenders tighten mortgage lending. April auto sales in France rose 14%. BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole rose on a broker recommendation.

Crude Oil Rise Kills Payrolls Rally

123jump.com Staff
02 May, 2008
New York City

U.S. stocks closed mixed after April payrolls declined 20,000 and unemployment fell to 5% from 5.1%. The smaller than expected drop in payroll lifted stocks in the morning. Crude oil rebounded 3% and dragged market averages at close. Yield on 30 years bonds rose. Stocks in Europe and Latin America closed higher tracking gains in the U.S. Countrywide Financial debt status was lowered to junk level after the Bank of America in filing suggested that it may not guarantee $93 billion of debt.

Realty, Financials Lift Tokyo Stocks

123jump.com Staff
02 May, 2008
New York City

Stocks in Japan rose sharply after the yen fell to a 2-year low. Investors returned to stocks on he falling commodities and crude oil futures prices and rising optimism related to credit market. In Tokyo trading Nikkei 225 rose 2.05% or 282.4 to 14,049.26, rising 1.3% for the week, and the broader Topix Index increased 2.3% or 31.29 to 1,377.39.

Fed TAF at $75B, Stocks Gain

123jump.com Staff
02 May, 2008
New York City

U.S. stocks edged lower after surging nearly one percent at the opening. The Fed widened its term auction next week to $75 billion from $50 billion. April non-farm payroll declined lower than expected, sparking a rally in dollar. Construction and retail industries continue to shed workers. In addition, construction spending fell 1.1% in March. Crude oil and gold edged higher. Tech stocks fell after a surge at the opening.

Kirin, Seiko Fall on Earnings

123jump.com Staff
01 May, 2008
New York City

Stocks in Japan fell on the downgrade of economic growth by the Bank of Japan and a spate of negative earnings news from Kirin Holdings and Seiko Epson Corp. March cash earnings of employees rise 1.2% at small companies and 1.4% at large and mid-size companies. Seiko Epson reported that annual profit for the year ended March 31st fell to 19 billion yen as net sales fell 4.8% to 1.3 trillion yen from 1.4 trillion a year earlier.

Rally in Techs, Financials Lifts U.S. Stocks

123jump.com Staff
01 May, 2008
New York City

Stocks in financials and technology sector closed sharply higher at close on a rally in the late afternoon. Tech heavy Nasdaq closed up 2.8%, Dow Jones Industrial rose 1.5% and S&P 500 increased 1.7%. Most markets in Asia, Latin America and Europe were closed for trading today. Exxon Mobil led decliners in Dow and American Express led gainers. Of the stocks in S&P 500, 430 closed higher and 70 closed lower, with MBIA leading gainers and JDS Uniphase leading decliners.

Smith Nephew Led FTSE Stocks Decline

123jump.com Staff
01 May, 2008
New York City

The Bank of England in its report on financial stability said that the current re-pricing in the credit markets is taking longer than anticipated. But, added that prices of securities are likely to rebound from the current low in levels in months ahead. FTSE 100 index close unchanged on a weakness in energy and mining and metals related stocks. Smith & Nephew led decliners in the FTSE 100 shares with a drop of 13% followed by losses in Eurasian Natural of 3%, in Home Retail Group of 2.8%.

GM, Ford Sales Fall; Toyota, Nissan Sales Rise

123jump.com Staff
01 May, 2008
New York City

General Motors and Ford report sales decline but Toyota and Nissan sales rise. As consumer watch the rising fuel cost, more people chose to buy smaller vehicles and forego purchase of light trucks. There were also two fewer selling days in April this year compared to April 2007. GM unit sales declined 17% and sales at Ford fell 12%. Toyota unit sales rose 3.5% and at Nissan sales surged 6.7%.

ExxonMobil Falls; Visa, MasterCard Raised

123jump.com Staff
01 May, 2008
New York City

U.S. stocks traded higher in the morning trading after the release of weekly jobless claims and personal income and expenditure data. Weekly jobless claims increased 35,000 at the end of last week and personal income in March rose 0.3% and personal consumption expenditure rose 0.4%. Exxon Mobil earnings fell short of expectations and stock fell 4%. UBS raised its price target for MasterCard to $350 from $275 and for Visa to $100 from $88.

Earnings at Sanofi and Orders at Siemens Up

123jump.com Staff
30 Apr, 2008
New York City

Stocks in Europe rose despite a fall in consumer sentiment. The index declined for the eleventh month in a row on rising commodities prices and worries related to strong euro. German cabinet office approved the sale of 24.9% in Deutsche Bahn. On the earnings front, Siemens earnings fell nearly 70% on 0.5% rise in revenue. Alcatel widened its quarterly loss on higher restructuring charge. Sanofi-Aventis reported earnings rise of 12% to 1.9 billion on revenue loss of 3.3%.

Fed Signals Pause, Stocks Fall, Brazil Record

123jump.com Staff
30 Apr, 2008
New York City

The Federal Reserve lowered its key interest rate by 0.25% to 2% and indicated that it may pausse for a while, however, the Bank of Japan left its key rate at 0.5%. China reported a surge in its crude oil imports and consumption as production rose only 2% in the first quarter. Hong Kong retail sales surged in March and in the first quarter. Brazil debt rating was raised to investment grade by S&P as it improves its balance of payment situation lifting Real and Bovespa stock index.

BoJ Left Rate at 0.5%, March Production Declines

123jump.com Staff
30 Apr, 2008
New York City

The Bank of Japan left its key rate unchanged at 0.5% as economy continues to remain sluggish. Inflationary pressures are on the rise but retail sales remain weak. Japan, in a near 11 year economic slump is now facing inflation from the outside world as commodities and food prices rise. March industrial production declined compared to February and from a year ago. Production is likely to fall further in April. Matsushita surged 14% after it forecasted 10% rise in the current year profit.

HK Retail Sales Rise, China Oil Demand Up

123jump.com Staff
30 Apr, 2008
New York City

Hong Kong retail sales in March surge 20% and in the first quarter rose 17%, lifted by a 29% surge in auto related sales. Separately China reported crude oil consumption in the first quarter rose 8% to 91.8 million tons and consumption of petrol, diesel and kerosene rose 16.5%. Crude oil production in China rose only 2.2%.

Nestle, HDFC, Reliance Comm Earnings Rise

123jump.com Staff
30 Apr, 2008
New York City

Stocks in India closed lower ahead of the rate decision in the U.S. The U.S. Fed lowered its key rate by 0.25% to 2% and signaled that future cuts may not be necessary. Reliance Communication earnings surged 71% on 32% rise sales. HDFC declined after it reported 40% rise in income on 33% rise in revenue. Nestle India earnings gained 48% and Videocon Industries profit gained 8%.