Market Update

Asian Markets Surge, India Up 3.6%

123jump.com Staff
24 Dec, 2007
New York City

Asian markets closed sharply higher led by a surge in India, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. India soared 3.6% on the strength in local election victory of pro-business party BJP. Banks and infrastructure stocks gained. Property stocks in Hong Kong advanced after talks of another interest rate cut in the U.S. made rounds. Brokerage stocks led the rise in Shanghai trading. Mining stocks led the rise in Australia.

France and Germany Up 1.7%

123jump.com Staff
21 Dec, 2007
New York City

European markets advanced for the second day in a row after metal and energy prices advanced. Philips agreed to buy Respironics for 3.6 billion euros and Russia based Vimpel Communication purchased Golden Telecom for $4.3 billion. Alitalia management favored a bid from Air France-KLM Group over that from domestic emerging carrier Air One. British pound fell to a 8-year low against euro on the interest rate outlook. France and Germany led the gaiers in the region with a rise of 1.7%.

Centro Falls on Asset Sale Talks

123jump.com Staff
21 Dec, 2007
New York City

ASX 200 index fell 1.1% or 70 to close at 6,4247. Largest explosive maker, Orica plans to expand its explosive manufacturing capacity after the rival Dyno Nobel stops from buidling another plant. Japanese investor paid A$202 million for Park Hyatt hotel managed by fund management company MFS. Centro Properties Group fell further after it said that it plans to sell asset to cover debt obligations.

Nasdaq Closed Up 1.9%

123jump.com Staff
21 Dec, 2007
New York City

U.S. stocks clsoed sharply higher on takeover deals of $10 billion earnings from RIM. Nasdaq led the three popular indexes with a rise of 1.9% followed by increases in S&P 500 of 1.7% and in Dow Jones of 1.6%. Tech stocks rose for the second day after Research in Motion reported 100% rise in sales and earnings. Gold jumped $12 and oil closed above $93 per barrel. Circuit City plunged 27% after reporting wider loss. walgreen surged 6% after reporting higher earning

Vimpel Buys Golden Telecom for $4.3 B

123jump.com Staff
21 Dec, 2007
New York City

Vimpel Communication, first Russian company to list on the New York Stock Exchange, agreed to buy voice and telecom services provider Golden Telecom. Vimpel is the largest mobile telecom operator in Russia and CIS countries and Golden Telecom operates in several cities in Russia and neighboring countries. Vimpel jumped 3% after the news of the deal and Golden Telecom increased 2%.

Philips to Pay $5.1 B for Respironics

123jump.com Staff
21 Dec, 2007
New York City

Philips Electronics has agreed to pay $5.1 billion or $66 per share of Respironics. Respironics provides treatment for sleep disorders which are estimated to affect 6% of the population in the U.S. Philips home healthcare division has made a number of acquisition this year and now care about one million people through various services in the U.S.

RIM, Walgreen Rise, Circuit City Plunges

123jump.com Staff
21 Dec, 2007
New York City

U.S. stocks opened higher after solid earnings from Research in Motion and talks of investment of $5 billion in Merrill Lynch from Singapore sovereign fund Temasek. S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow rose more than 1% in the morning trading. Circuit City plunged after it reported loss of more than $200 million. Walgreen jumped 7% after it reported higher earnings.

Asian Markets Rise, Temasek Invests in Merrill

123jump.com Staff
21 Dec, 2007
New York City

Asian markets closed higher after four days of sell-off and weak financial sector in the region. Infrastructure, metals, and energy sectors advanced in the region. Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo added 1.5% but lost 1.7% for the week. Sumitomo Metals and China Steel are in joint venture to build a steel plant in Vietnam. India and Indonesia were closed to observe local holiday. Singapore based sovereign fund Temasek is likely to invest $5 billion in Merrill Lynch.

Sumitomo and China Steel in JV

123jump.com Staff
21 Dec, 2007
New York City

Stocks in Japan rose for the second day in a row but declined for the week. Nikkei 225 Index rose 1.5% to 15,257 today but lost 1.7% for the week. The Bank of Japan said in its monthly report that slow-down in construction industry has hurt the economic growth. Toshiba gained after Sharp was reported to buy more digital chips from Mitsumi Electric Company. Sumitomo Metal and China Steel joint venture will build a steel plant in Vietnam.

Faster Economic Growth Lifts UK Stocks

123jump.com Staff
20 Dec, 2007
New York City

UK economy in the third quarter expanded by 0.7% lower than 0.8% expansion in the second quarter. The UK economy has expande at 3.3% from the third quarter of the last year on steady growth in business and financial services. Household expenditures and construction were the contributors to the economic expansion. Johnson Matthey soared as high as 19% on the speculation that Dow Chemical will make a bid for the company. UK anti-trust regulator said that BSkyB should reduce its stake in ITV.

Deals from Vivendi, Prisa Lift European Stocks

123jump.com Staff
20 Dec, 2007
New York City

UK led the European markets after the release of third quarter economic growth of 3.3%, higher than estimated by the most economists. FTSE 100 gained nearly 1%. Johnson Matthey soared nearly 20% but settled at 5% higher after rumors that Dow Chemical is likely to make a bid fr the company. Sogecable jumped 4% after Prisa, largest media company in Spain, offered 2 billion euros for 53% of the company it does not own. SFR controlled by Vivendi offers 4.5 billion euros for Neuf Cegetel.

Tech Stocks Lead U.S. Averages

123jump.com Staff
20 Dec, 2007
New York City

U.S. stocks managed to close higher after a day of volatile tradig. Nasdaq led the gainers with a rise of 1.5%. U.S. third quarter GDP was unrevised at 4.9%, higher than 3.8% in the second quarter. Jobless claims at the end of the last week rose 12,000. Inventories of crude oil and distillate fuel fell at the end of the last week. The bond insurance company MBIA plunged 25% after it reported surprise exposure of $8 billion of CDO debts. Oracle, Accenture, and Nike rose after earnings.

MBIA Plunges 25%

123jump.com Staff
20 Dec, 2007
New York City

The bond insurer MBIA plunged 25% after the company released its exposure to risky loans that few fear the company may not have sufficient capital to withstand. The bond insurers'' AAA rating was affirmed by S&P and Moody''s but outlook on the company and its insurance subsidiary was turned negative from stable by both rating agencies.

Accenture, Oracle, and Nike Rise on Earnings

123jump.com Staff
20 Dec, 2007
New York City

U.S. stocks traded sideways as the credit market worries dominated the earnings news in the morning. Bear Stearns reported its first quarterly loss in nine decades on higher mortgage market related lossed. The earnings report also suggested that other business divisions at the brokerage are suffering fromt the current weakness in the market. FedEx earnings declined by 6% on higher fuel cost and weak domestic shipments. Accenture, Oracle, and Nike reported better than expected earnings.

Takeovers Talks in Australian Mining Sector

123jump.com Staff
20 Dec, 2007
New York City

Takeover activities in the mining and building industries heated up in Australia. BlueScope Steel agreed to purchase IMSA Steel from Ternium S.A. for $730 million. Herald Resources is in preliminary talks with Indonesia based PT Bumi Resources. Herald is looking to develop zinc mine in Indonesia. Western Plains and OneSteel remain deadlocked in their discussions to export iron ore from a port controlled by OneSteel. Australian stocks fell today on the weakness in mining and financials