Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 03-08-2012.

European stocks rose for a ninth week as U.S. economic data surpassed estimates, outweighing comments by the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank that disappointed investors looking for more definitive steps to support growth.

A U.S. report showed nonfarm payrolls in the world’s largest economy climbed more than forecast in July. Employers added 163,000 workers last month, according to the Labor Department. That exceeded the 100,000 median estimate of economists.

Confidence among American consumers unexpectedly rose for the first time in five months, a report on July 31 showed. The Confidence Board’s index increased to 65.9 last month from 62.7 in June. Economists projected a reading of 61.5.

National benchmark indexes rose in 16 of the 18 western European markets. France’s CAC 40 Index gained 2.9 percent, the U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index advanced 2.8 percent, while Germany’s DAX Index jumped 2.6 percent.

Vestas jumped 11 percent. The world’s biggest wind-turbine maker allayed investor concern that it may breach its loan covenants, leading to a default scenario. The company said its banks agreed to let it draw on credit lines and defer a test of the covenants.

Air France rallied 11 percent. The company’s operating loss narrowed to 66 million euros ($82 million) from 145 million euros a year earlier, helped by the introduction of a 2 billion- euro savings plan, Air France said on July 30. That beat the 163 million-euro average estimate of analysts.

U.S. stock futures advanced as payrolls climbed more than forecast in July even as the jobless rate unexpectedly rose to a five-month high.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  8,555.11 -98.07 -1.13%
Hang Seng 19,666.18 -24.02 -0.12%
Shanghai Composite 2,132.8 +21.61 +1.02%
FTSE  5,765.88 +103.58 +1.83%
CAC  3,331.28 +98.82 +3.06%
DAX 6,785.36 +179.27 +2.71%
Crude oil $89.09 +2,25%
Gold $1592.70 +0.13%

European stocks advanced, paring yesterday’s largest slide for the Stoxx Europe 600 Index in more than a week, as investors awaited the monthly U.S. jobs and unemployment report.

Draghi yesterday announced that the ECB has a plan to re- enter bond markets and said new purchases in the secondary market would only complement buying by the European Union’s rescue fund in the primary market, to which strict conditionality is attached.

In the U.S., a Labor Department report at 8:30 a.m. in Washington may show that the pace of hiring in July failed to reduce the jobless rate, which has held above 8 percent for more than three years.

Allianz rose 3.3 percent to 81.24 euros as second-quarter profit climbed more than analysts had predicted after earnings increased at its life and health business. Net income of 1.23 billion euros topped the average 1.15 billion-euro average estimate of 13 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

Axa climbed 1.2 percent to 9.82 euros as first-half operating profit, which excludes capital gains, one-off charges and asset-valuation swings, rose to 2.3 billion euros, helped by rising revenue from health and property-and-casualty insurance. That exceeded the 2.15 billion-euro average estimate.

Siemens climbed 4.3 percent to 71.25 euros, its biggest gain this month, after the company said it will repurchase equities and cancel 33 million shares held in treasury. Siemens said it will use the buybacks to reduce capital stock, to issue shares to employees and board members and to back convertible bonds and warrants.

FTSE 100 5,728.02 +65.72 +1.16%

CAC 40 3,295.03 +62.57 +1.94%

DAX 6,720.1 +114.01 +1.73%

Asian stocks fell for a third day after the European Central Bank failed to deliver immediate action to stem the debt crisis and amid speculation China’s monetary authorities will be slow to ease policy. Sharp  Corp. led technology shares lower after it forecast a wider loss.

Nikkei 225 8,555.11 -98.07 -1.13%

S&P/ASX 200 4,221.5 -48.04 -1.13%

Shanghai Composite 2,128.24 +17.06 +0.81%

Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc.  paced declines among banks after surging bond yields in Spain and Italy stoked concern Europe’s debt crisis may hamper the global financial system.

Sharp, Japan’s largest maker of liquid-crystal displays, plunged 28 percent after widening its full-year loss forecast and announcing job cuts.

ResMed Inc., the world’s second-biggest maker of machines to regulate breathing for people with sleep disorders, jumped 9.3 percent in Sydney after earnings beat analyst estimates.

Asian stocks outside Japan fell, with the regional benchmark index set to drop for a second day, as investors await a policy announcement by the European Central Bank after the Federal Reserve refrained from adding stimulus to the U.S. economy. The European Central Bank is scheduled to make a policy announcement today, with President Mario Draghi pledging policy makers will do whatever is needed to preserve the euro. Most investors in Asia, the Americas and Europe expect the ECB will engage in sovereign-bond purchases in support of Spain and Italy, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said in a note yesterday, citing a survey of 410 people.

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 8,653.18 +11.33 +0.13%

S&P/ASX 200 4,269.5 +6.74 +0.16%

Shanghai Composite 2,111.41 -11.95 -0.56%