Market Update

Reliance Ind and Energy Profit Gains

123jump.com Staff
17 Jan, 2008
New York City

Stocks in India fell for the fourth day in a row. Ssensex index declined 0.8% or 167.30 to 19,700.82. Reliance Industries fell 3% after it reported 162% rise in net income on 23% rise in net sales. Reliance Energy fell 2.4% to 2,212 after it reported proft rise of 50% on 1.8% rise in sales. TCS fell 2.3% after it posted 7% increase in profit.

Nikkei in Japan Rebounds 2%

123jump.com Staff
17 Jan, 2008
New York City

Stocks in Japan rebounded after four days of decline. Nikkei 225 index increased 2% or 278.94 to 13,783 and Topix index added 27.21 to 1,329.58. property stocks rallied on the hopes that housing industry will rebound in January. Exporters advanced after yen fell to 105.90. Sony Corporation rose 2.72%, Toyota Motor soared 3%, and Honda Motor Corporation climbed 3.90%. Retail stocks declined after the Bank of Japan said that the consumer sentiment is on the decline.

German Inflation Rises, Higher Auto Sales

123jump.com Staff
16 Jan, 2008
New York City

European markets closed lower on falling oil and gold prices and worries related to the economic slow-down in the U.S. Inflation in Germany rose at 2.3% in 2007, above the target rate of 2% set by ECB. Euro area annual inflation was 3.1% in December 2007, unchanged compared with November. The Bank of France estimated that economic growth slowed down in the fourth quarter. French government ordered Total to pay civil fines for the sinking of oil tanker Erika in 1999.

Weak Bank Earnings and Oil Weigh on Markets

123jump.com Staff
16 Jan, 2008
New York City

Economic assessment from twelve regions reported in the so called Beige Report suggested that economy continued to grow at a slower pace. Holiday sales in general were disappointing and demand for automobiles was weak. Nonfinancial sectors reported robust demand. Market averages rallied after the report but at close three popular averages fell. Ambac, the bond insurer, plunged 34% after it cut its dividend and revealed a plan to raise $1 billion.

Weak Housing, Stable Employment

123jump.com Staff
16 Jan, 2008
New York City

UK stocks fell after local real estate community estimated that housing markets was at its weakest in the last fifteen years. FTSE 100 index fell 1.4% or 82 to close at 5,942. Retailers rose after employment report from ONS suggested strength in certain age groups. Of the FTSE 100 index stocks, British Land led the gainers with a rise of 4% and Antofagasta led the decliners with a fall of 6.8%. Weak commodities and oil prices dragged miners, energy, and resources stocks.

Ambac Plunges 33%

123jump.com Staff
16 Jan, 2008
New York City

Ambac Financial group, bond insurace group, fell 33% after it lowered its dividend. The company plans to issue stocks and other securities to raise $1 billion. The bond insurance group also replaced its chief executive. Investors worry that may have to raise more capital in he future as Ambac insured bonds worth $555 billion of bonds may deteriorate in value. Ambac stock has lost nearly 90% of its value in the last six months and has fallen from a peak of $96 to $13 in the period.

Sub-Prime Losses at JP Morgan and Wells Fargo

123jump.com Staff
16 Jan, 2008
New York City

U.S. stocks fell in the morning hours after JP Morgan reported $1.3 billion and Wells Fargo reported $2.61 billion of losses. Intel revenue rose 10.5% in the fourth quarter but the stock fell 12%. BEA Systems and Oracle agreed to merge after Oracle lifted its offer. December CPI rose 0.3% and 4.1% in the year 2007. Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Japan markets fell more than 3%. Dollar fell to a record low against euro.

Banks Lead Hong Kong Stocks Lower

123jump.com Staff
16 Jan, 2008
New York City

Hong Kong stock index, Hang Seng suffered its worst one-day decline in the last six years on the back of a fall in the U.S. indexes. Hang Seng index fell 5.4% or 1,386.93 to 24,450.85. Financials, property developers, and shipping companies fell in the session. Asian markets fell across the region with Hong Kong and Indonesia falling more than 5%, Japan declining 3.4%, and Korea and India losing more than 2%.

Tokyo Stocks Fell 3.4%, Trade Surplus Rose

123jump.com Staff
16 Jan, 2008
New York City

Tokyo stocks declined, tracking losses in the U.S. and European markets. Nikkei 225 plunged 3.35% or 468.12 to 13,504.51, while the broader Topix Index slid 47.83 to 1,302.37. In a barrage of economic news market sentiment soured on weak domestic economy and weaker global investment setiment. Machinery orders fell 5.9% in November, domestic corporate goods price index rose 2.6% in December, and export price index fell 1.8%. Preliminary November trade surplus rose to 9.32 trillion yen.

Hypo Real Fell 35%; Markets Declined 2.5%

123jump.com Staff
15 Jan, 2008
New York City

Financial markets across Europe fell on the global slowdown as U.S. markets fell. Uk, Norway, and Spain fell more than 3%. France, Germany, and Switzerland declined more than 2%. Hypo Real Estate fell 35% after it revealed losses in subprime lending in the U.S. Commerzbank dropped 8$ and TUI fell 6%. Total S.A. said that fourth quarter profit rose 32% on higher refining margin of $30.10 ton. Accor revenue in 2007 rose 6% to 8.12 billion euros.

Fall in U.S. Sparks a Decline in Global Markets

123jump.com Staff
15 Jan, 2008
New York City

U.S. stocks fell sharply as investors grew nervous of the impending slow-down in the economy. The growing perception that the ongoing housing market correction will eventually slow-down the economy. Citigroup reported 70% decline in revenue and a loss of $9.8 billion on $18.1 billion write down related to subprime and consumer lending. Merrill and Citigroup are in deals to secure $21 billion in investments from investors in Singapore, Japan, Korea, and Middle East. Intel earnings jumped 51%.

UK and European Markets Fall Sharply

123jump.com Staff
15 Jan, 2008
New York City

UK stocks fell after a sell-off in the U.S. markets and worries related to housing market resurfaced. FTSE 100 index fell 3.06% or 190.1 to 6,025.60. Annualized consumer price index in December held steady at 2.1% compared to a year ago. The statistics office added that Retail Price Index fell to 4% in December from 4.3% in November while the RPIX inflation, excluding mortgage interest payments, dropped to 3.1% in December.Taylor Wimpey led decliners of the FTSE 100 index with a loss of 7.7%.

Nasdaq Down 2%; Citi and Merrill to Raise $22 B

123jump.com Staff
15 Jan, 2008
New York City

U.S. stocks fell sharply after more than two hours of trading. Weak retail sales, worries related to housing market, and a huge loss from Citigroup weighed on the market sentiment. Citigroup reported $9.8 billion of losses and cut the quarterly dividend by 41%. The bank also plans to raise $15 billion. Merrill Lynch said that it has raised $6.6 billion from sovereign funds controlled by Middle East, Mizuho Financial in Japan, Singapore and former Chairman Sandy Weil.

Mizuho to Invest $1.2 B in Merrill Lynch

123jump.com Staff
15 Jan, 2008
New York City

The Bank of Japan lowered its ecoomic outlook for several regions across the country as economic conditions deteriorate. Weeak housing market on tough standards for issuing building permits is the main reason for the weak economic growth. Nikkei 225 declined 0.98% ot 138.16 to 13,972.63. Fast Retailing rose 8.8% after it reported first quarter sales increase of 11% adn profit rise of 8.7%.

Weak Retail Sales, Citigroup $9.8B Loss

123jump.com Staff
15 Jan, 2008
New York City

U.S. stocks declined sharply in the morning hours after a weak retail sales in December and huge loss from Citigroup. December retail sales declined 0.4% from November but rose 4.1% from a year ago. Total retail sales for the year 2007 were up 4.2% from 2006. Citigroup reported fourth quarter revenue decline of 70% and a loss of $9.83 billion or $1.99 per share. Subprime-loan and consumer creidt losses in the quarter were $18.1 billion.