Market Update

Liberty Mutual Offers $6.2 B for Safeco

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

Safeco agreed to be acquired by Boston based Liberty Mutual at $68.25 per share of $6.2 billion. The deal represents 51% premium from the closing price of Safeco stock on Tuesday. Privately held Liberty Mutual will pay cash for the deal and there are no financial contingencies. Safeco, Seattle based insurer has struggled in the past five years as auto insurance premiums have declined and costs of servicing claims have risen.

Japan Trade Surplus Shrinks

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

Stocks in Japan advanced spurred by rising crude oil prices on growing demand from China and supply constraints from Iraq and Nigeria. In Tokyo trading Nikkei 225 rose 0.23% or 31.34 to 13,579.16, and the broader Topix Index increased 0.2% or 2.93 at 1,314.39.Exports in March grew 2.3% from the same period a year ago compared with 8.7% rise in February. Imports in March surged 11.1% on rising oil and materials costs.

Ambac Loss, Moody's Weak Earnings

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

U.S. stocks edged higher after losing ground at the opening. Delta reported first quarter loss of $6.39 billion on revenue rise of 12% to $4.77 billion. Ambac Financial reported a loss of $1.66 billion compared to profit of $213 million from a year ago. Ambac reported loss in the quarter from CDOs of $1.73 billion and $1.04 billion in loan loss provisions. Health insurance company, WellPoint reported revenue rise of 3% to $15.55 billion and earnings decline of 25% to $588.1 million.

Euro Rises, Stocks Decline

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

European markets were cautious after a surprise plan by Royal Bank of Scotland to raise 12 billion. On the news banks traded lower. Euro reached another record high against dollar as talks of inflation fight circulated. Havas jumped 2.5% in Paris trading after it reported sales rise. Saint Gobain, building materials maker reported a decline in sales on the weakness in the North America.

Records in Dollar and Oil, Yahoo Falls

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

U.S. stocks fell in the final hours of trading on rising oil and falling dollar. Crude oil jumped above $119 in the session on Nigerian oil supply disruption. The dollar fell agaist euro on talks of firm interest rates in Europ. The euro rose above $1.60 to a dollar. Gold rebounded to $925 per ounce. Yahoo after the market hours reported its quarterly net income jumped to 37 cents from 10 cents a year ago on Alibaba.com stake sale.

Home Builders, RBS Drag UK Stocks

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

Royal Bank of Scotland announced a plan to raise

Stocks in HK and Shanghai Rebound

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

Hong Kong stock indexes advanced after a surge in afternoon trading on rising speculation that Beijing will take additional steps to protect oil companies from rising crude oil prices. In Shanghai trading CSI 300 Index rose 0.9% to 3,296.28 and in Hong Kong trading Hang Seng added the same to 24,939. PetroChina advanced 6.5% and Sinopec increased 5.1%.

Stocks in Japan Fall

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

Stocks in Japan continue to trade volatile and in the shadow of the U.S. market average trading. Nikkei 225 fell 1.1% to 13,547 after earnings from Bank of America and Texas Instruments dragged tech and financial stocks. Analysts also lowered outlook on Sony on the ongoing volatility in yen. More international companies are looking to issue bonds in yen. Bank of Canada was the latest in its samurai bonds. For the year nearly 1 trillion in yen bonds were issues by foreign companies.

Sixth Gains in Stocks, Reliance, TCS Earnings

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

Reliance Industries fell after it reported 24% rise in earnings to 3,912 crore rupees. The earnings rose on higher crude oil refining margins and higher sale across various chemical segments. Tata Consultancy reported sequential profit decline on a marginal rise in revenue. The information services provider also issued a cautious guidance. TCS fell 10% and led decliners in the Sensex index.

Stocks Decline on Fifth Third, Sun Trust

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

U.S. stocks traded sideways after more banks report losses from risky loans and growing worries related to losses from the consumer banking. For now, banks are taking losses only in the residential mortgage loans but rising charges in the consumer and retail loans are expected to be just as bad. Fifth Third and Sun Trust reported sharp rise in net charge offs and loans loss provisions. Royal Bank of Scotland is forced to raise $24 billion in UK.

RBS to Raise

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

Royal Bank of Scotland today announced its plan to sell assets, raise capital and cut costs. The battered bank vastly overpaid for its recent acquisition of investment banking and Asian operations of ABN Amro. The bank now suffering from losses in mortgage loans and slow down in investment banking business has seen its Tier 1 capital ratio as low as 6%. RBS plan to raise

Banks and Autos Drag European Stocks

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

ECB President Trichet in its annual report 2007 said that the ongoing fiancial market is likely to persist as banks remain weary of lending each other. Banks in Europe and the U.S. are still heavily leveraged and are likely to suffer widening losses from the current U.S. credit market crisis. European stock markets fell as oil traded near record level. Autos and financials fell. Renault, Nestle, and Casino Guichard reported quarterly sales.

More Banks Raise Capital, Oil Above $117

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

Bank of America earnings plunged 76% on mounting subprime and mortgage losses and it provisioned $6 billion to cover asset write downs. Citigroup plans to sell at least $5 billion of securities to bolster its captial base. National City, the tenth largest U.S. bank cut its dividend to 1 cent from 21 cents and reported a quarterly loss. The embattled bank also sold stock at 40% discount to raise $7 billion.

BoE

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

The Bank of England unveiled a plan to exchange

U.S. Stocks Struggle, National City Plunges

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

U.S. stocks fell after Bank of America earnings plunged 76% and reported a provision of $6 billion for loan losses. National City, Ohio based lender nearly eliminated its dividend and raised $7 billion at $5 per share, 40% from its stock price on Friday. Arch Coal jumped 5% after it reported surging earnings and revenues on rising coal prices. Sears Holdings fell after Bank of America declined to renew its credit line.