Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 07-11-2012.

European stocks fell the most in two weeks as the European Commission cut its growth forecast for the region and concern over an impending fiscal crisis in the U.S. increased after the re-election of President Barack Obama.

Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) slumped the most in six months after predicting that its annual output will be at the bottom of its target. Holcim Ltd. (HOLN), the world’s largest cement maker, slid 2.4 percent as earnings missed analysts’ estimates. BNP Paribas SA jumped 1.1 percent after third-quarter net income more than doubled. Hochtief AG (HOT) advanced 3.1 percent after reiterating full-year profit targets.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index (SXXP) declined 1.4 percent to 271.04 at the close of trading, erasing an earlier gain of as much as 0.7 percent.

Brussels-based European Commission today projected the 17- nation euro economy will expand 0.1 percent in 2013, down from a May forecast of 1 percent. It cut the estimate for Germany, Europe’s largest economy, to 0.8 percent from 1.7 percent.

National benchmark indexes declined in all of the 18 western European markets today except Denmark.

FTSE 100 5,791.63 -93.27 -1.58% CAC 40 3,409.59 -69.07 -1.99% DAX 7,232.83 -144.93 -1.96%  

In the euro area, September retail sales decreased more than economists estimated, a report showed today. Sales fell 0.2 percent from August, when they rose 0.2 percent, the European Union’s statistics office in Luxembourg said. Economists had forecast a decline of 0.1 percent.

Rhoen-Klinikum AG (RHK) fell 5 percent to 14.53 euros after the hospital operator said profit this year will be hurt by lower revenue at two hospitals and costs from Fresenius SE’s failed takeover bid. The company already cut its earnings forecast in July.

William Demant Holding A/S (WDH) declined 5.1 percent to 468.80 kroner, the lowest price in nine months. The Nordic region’s largest maker of hearings aids cut its 2012 profit forecast. The company now sees earnings before interest and taxes “on par with or just short of” the 2011 level, compared with its earlier guidance for an increase.

Hochtief added 3.1 percent to 39.77 euros, its biggest gain in three weeks. Germany’s largest builder reiterated its full- year profit targets and reported a third-quarter pretax profit of 354.7 million euros, compared with a loss of 101.6 million euros a year earlier.

Alstom SA (ALO) advanced 1.4 percent to 27.98 euros. The French maker of power equipment and high-speed trains reported first- half earnings that beat analysts’ estimates on higher sales and orders for trains. Income from operations in the six months ended Sept. 30 rose 12 percent to 703 million euros, the company said. That exceeded the 689 million-euro average of analyst. Net income rose 11 percent to 403 million euros, also beating forecasts.

U.S. stock futures fell as President Barack Obama was re-elected.
Investors also watched the latest developments in Europe’s attempt to tame its debt crisis. Greek lawmakers vote today on an austerity bill that contains austerity measures demanded by the so-called troika that oversees euro-area bailouts insists.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  8,972.89 -2.26 -0.03%
Hang Seng 22,099.85 +155.42 +0.71%
Shanghai Composite 2,105.73 -0.27 -0.01%
FTSE  5,860.94 -23.96 -0.41%
CAC  3,450.02 -28.64 -0.82%
DAX 7,307.13 -70.63 -0.96%
Crude oil $87.51 -1,35%
Gold $1727.70 +0.74%

European stocks advanced to an almost three-week high as American President Barack Obama defeated Republican Mitt Romney to win a second term.

Obama defeated Republican Mitt Romney, winning at least 303 electoral votes in yesterday’s election with 270 needed for the victory. With one state -- Florida -- yet to be decided, Romney had 206 electoral votes.

The president faces a partisan divide in Congress, with Republicans retaining their House majority, while Democrats kept control of the Senate. A looming “fiscal cliff” of tax increases and spending cuts will start in January if Congress and the White House don’t act before then.

In China, Vice President Xi Jinping was appointed the secretary general of the 18th Chinese Communist Party Congress, a procedural move that signals he’ll replace President Hu Jintao as head of the party and government in the world’s second- largest economy. The congress will be held Nov. 8-14.

In the euro area, September retail sales decreased more than economists estimated, a report showed today. Sales fell 0.2 percent from August, when they rose 0.2 percent, the European Union’s statistics office in Luxembourg said. Economists had forecast a decline of 0.1 percent.

In indebted Greece, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras faces a test of his fragile coalition government today as he seeks parliamentary approval for austerity measures.

The 238 pages of austerity measures, ranging from raising the retirement age two years to 67 to eliminating Christmas and holiday payments for pensioners, will be debated in the 300-seat Parliament from 10 a.m. with a vote expected after 8 p.m. Athens time. Approval of the legislation is the first of the parliamentary votes required by Nov. 12 to obtain a 31 billion- euro ($40 billion) portion of international aid.

BNP Paribas rose 5.1 percent to 41.10 euros, contributing the most to the Stoxx 600’s gain. France’s biggest lender said third-quarter profit more than doubled after its investment- banking unit posted higher revenue. Net income climbed to 1.32 billion euros from 541 million euros a year earlier. That exceeded the 1.06 billion-euro average estimate of analysts.

Hochtief surged 6.3 percent to 41.02 euros, its biggest gain since Sept. 14. Germany’s largest builder reiterated its full-year profit targets and reported a third-quarter pretax profit of 354.7 million euros, compared with a loss of 101.6 million euros a year earlier.

Randgold Resources Ltd. slumped 5.5 percent to 7,020 pence, the sharpest decrease since June 7. The producer of gold in West Africa said full-year output will be at the bottom of its target range of 825,000 ounces to 865,000 ounces. The company also said its costs will increase after power disruptions at the Tongon mine in Ivory Coast.

FTSE 100 5,912.29 +27.39 +0.47%

CAC 40 3,501.79 +23.13 +0.66%

DAX 7,408.54 +30.78 +0.42%

Asian stocks advanced for a second day, with News Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. lifting the regional benchmark index on earnings that cheered investors, as U.S. President Barack Obama defeated Republican Mitt Romney to win a second term.

Nikkei 225 8,972.89 -2.26 -0.03%

Hang Seng 22,087.07 +142.64 +0.65%

S&P/ASX 200 4,516.46 +31.66 +0.71%

Shanghai Composite 2,105.73 -0.27 -0.01%

News Corp., the media company run by billionaire Rupert Murdoch, gained 3.2 percent in Sydney after reporting profit that topped estimates.

Nissan surged 4.1 percent after analysts said its earnings forecast was conservative and Chinese customers are returning to the carmaker’s dealerships.

Zijin Mining Group Co. climbed 3.6 percent in Hong Kong, pacing gains among gold producers as the precious metal rose on speculation the U.S. will continue monetary easing after Obama’s victory.

Asian stocks rose amid low trading volume, with gains in Japanese utilities helping reverse yesterday’s losses on the regional benchmark index, as investors awaited the results of the U.S. presidential election and a once-in-a-decade leadership change in China.

Nikkei 225 8,975.15 -32.29 -0.36%

Hang Seng 21,944.43 -61.97 -0.28%

S&P/ASX 200 4,484.8 +10.68 +0.24%

Shanghai Composite 2,106 -8.03 -0.38%

Kansai Electric Power Co. led a rebound in utilities after sliding yesterday as advisers to the regulator disagreed on the earthquake risk to the nation’s only operating nuclear plant.

HSBC Holdings Plc dropped 1.2 percent in Hong Kong after saying it may face charges tied to money-laundering.

Alumina Ltd. lost 7.9 percent after an Indonesian court stopped an ore export ban that bolstered demand for the Australian miner’s product.

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 8,975.15 -32.29 -0.36%

Hang Seng 21,944.43 -61.97 -0.28%

S&P/ASX 200 4,484.8 +10.68 +0.24%

Shanghai Composite 2,106 -8.03 -0.38%

FTSE 100 5,884.9 +45.84 +0.79%

CAC 40 3,478.66 +30.16 +0.87%

DAX 7,377.76 +51.29 +0.70%    

Dow 13,245.68 +133.24 +1.02%

Nasdaq 3,011.93 +12.27 +0.41%