Market Update

Countrywide Loss, VMware Plunges

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

U.S. stocks traded in a narrow range ahead of the rate decision from the Fed. IMF lowered its outlook for global grwoth forecast on the expected economic slowdown in Japan, U.S., and select European nations. U.S. durable goods orders rose 5.2% in December. Countrywide reported a loss of 79 cents per share, sharply lower than its estimate of a profit between 25 cents and 75 cents. American Express earnings declined 9.9% on higher loan loss reserves.

IMF Lowers Global Growth Rates

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

The International Monetary Fund lowered its global economic growth target in 2008 to 4.1% from 4.4% estimated earlier in October of last year. IMF estimated that world economies rose at 4.9% in 2007. The IMF estimate may prove to be too rosy if the U.S. economy slows down at a faster pace as unemployment rate picks up. U.S. economic growth is lowered to 1.5% from 2.2%.

RBI Left Rates Unchaged

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

Stocks in Mumbai traded lower after the Reserve Bank of India left the rates unchaged. The Sensex Index 30-share BSE Sensex declined 0.34% or 60.84 at 18,091.94. The S&P CNX Nifty slid 16.5% or 1,076.30. Property and banks stocks had advanced ahead of the rate cut expectations. The RBI issued positive economic assessment and said that the impact of the U.S. recession on India will be limited.

HK Stocks Recover on Rate Cut Hopes

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

Stocks in Hong Kong edged higher after losing 16% in January. Hang Seng index jumped 238.20 or 1.0% to close at 24,291.80 and China Enterprises index added 0.5% to 13,379.18. Property, banking, and energy related companies rallied. Market built expectations of another rate cut at the end of the U.S. Fed meeting tomorrow. Sun Hung Kai added 4% and Cheung Kong Ltd increased 2%. China Oilfield projected 95% rise in 2007 earnings and China Life expects earnings to rise 50%.

Tokyo Rises 3%, Leads Asian Rally

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

Tokyo stocks rallied on the back of higher closing in the U.S. stocks and firmer trading this morning in Europe. Expectations of an additonal U.S. rate cut were building in Tokyo. Separately, India left its rates unchanged. Statistics office in Japan released December monthly household income and expenditure data. Monthly income fell 1.8% and expenditures rose 2.2% in real terms. December unemployment fell to 3.8%.

Market Awaits RBI Decision

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

Global market worries dragged Sensex lower. The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark index fell on Monday with a loss of 1.1% or 208.88 to 18,152.78. Larsen & Toubro reported third quarter earnings rise of 41% from a year ago to 481 crore rupees on 54% rise in sales. L&T fell 1.6% to 3,830 rupees.

Miners, Energy, and Financials Decline

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

European markets were weak on the first day of trading. German stocks fell on the contiued jitters related to the direction of interest rates. MAN and Adidas fell after UBS lowered its ratings. Fraport fell 5% on the worries that Green Party win in election may hamper its expansion plans. Societe Generale dropped 4% to a three year low after citigroup rated the stock sell. Casino Guichard fell 1.6% after it agreed to raise its stake in Dutch retalier Super De Boar. Lafarge lost 5%.

UK Home Prices Rise at 2.3%

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

UK stocks fell 1.4% or 80.10 to 5,788.90 after UK home prices rose at the slowest pace in eighteen months. The price increase declined for the fourth month in a row hurting the trading sentiment in stocks. UK households spent an average of

Alliance Data Plunges 35%

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

Alliance Data deal with the entities controlled by Blackstone appears to be in jepordy. Allinace had agreed to a deal in May 2007 for a price of $81.75 per share in cash, since then the stock has been cut in half on the weakness in credit market. The stock plunged today after blackstone cited the regulatory hurdle which Alliance believes that the suitor can meet. Alliance board is looking for legal measures to complete the deal.

CME and Nymex in $11 B Merger Talks

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

U.S. stocks traded higher after three hours of trading. CME Group and Nymex are in preliminary merger talks valuing Nymex at 11% premium from the closing Friday price. Alliance Data System said that its merger agreement with Blackstone controlled entity may not be completed. Allinace disagrees with the Blackstone assertion of regultory demands to not complete the merger. New home sales in December fell 41% from a year ago and 26.4% for 2007.

Financials Lift S&P 500 by 1.75%

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

U.S. stocks rallied ahead of the Fed meeting. Investors hoping that a rate cut of 0.75% last week will be followed by another rate cut of as much as 0.5%. Merger talks between Chicago Merc and Nymex heated up, after both companies confirmed on-going talks. Nymex jumped 11% on the news. Alliance Data Systems plunged 35% after Blackstone Group cited regulatory hurdle to the deal. Alliance disagreed with the assertion. McDonalds dropped 6% after its domestic stores reported weak sales in December.

Tokyo and Hong Kong Down 4%

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

Stocks in Tokyo and Asia fell sharply after comments from the IMF Chief suggested that monetary stimulus alone in the U.S. will not save the expected slowdown in the U.S. economy. He said that a coordinated global fiscal stimulus may be necessary. Separately, local economists in Japan worried that declining consumer spending and wages and worsening economic conditions may drive economy into recession. Shanghai plunged 7% and Singapore, Korea and Taiwan dropped 4%.

China Investments Lead Australia Higher

123jump.com Staff
04 Feb, 2008
New York City

Australian stocks eded higher as metal prices stayed at elevated levels. Chinalco and Alcoa 9% stake in Rio Tinto lifted stocks of other mining companies. Rio Tinto added 5%. Fortescue added 10% as talks of investment from China made rounds. Separrately BHP said that it has approved a plan to invest $1.2 billion in the Western Australian mining faciity. ASX 200 index gained 0.67% or 39.40 to close at 5,921.70. Mitsubishi facing difficult sales of a new model may shut its Australian plant down.

Insurance and Banks Face More Losses

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

European markets edged lower in a wild week of trading. Markets in Germany fell as banks reported more subprime losses during the week. Stocks on Friday edged lower as worries related to sub-prime loans persisted. Carlsberg and Heineken agreed to pay nearly 11 billion euros for Scottish & Newcastle. Finnish elevator company Kone reported 26% rise in profit in the fourth quarter. French retailer Casino Guichard rose after it reported 19% rise in revenue in the foruth quarter.

Credit Worries Resurface in U.S., Coal Rises

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

U.S.stocks lost the early gains as investors faced the fallout of the drop in bond insunrace ratings. The decline in ratings could cause banks to lose nearly $150 billion in bond portfolio and may force them to seek new capital. Market worried that the current sub-prime crisis is far from over. In the morning stocks gained after Microsoft reported 80% rise in earnings. Honeywell reported 18% increase in earnings, Caterpillar and Lockheed earnings rose 11% and 10% respectively.