Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 08-06-2012.

European stocks retreated, paring the Stoxx Europe 600 Index’s biggest weekly gain in four months, after German exports slumped more than forecast and Fitch Ratings cut Spain’s credit rating.

German exports declined in April for the first time this year as Europe’s worsening debt crisis and weaker global growth curbed demand.

Exports, adjusted for work days and seasonal changes, fell 1.7 percent from March, when they gained 0.8 percent, the Federal Statistics Office said today.

Fitch cut Spain’s rating to within two notches from junk, citing the cost of recapitalizing the country’s banking industry and a lengthening recession.

National benchmark indexes fell in 10 of the 18 western European markets. France’s CAC 40 slid 0.6 percent. Germany’s DAX and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 each lost 0.2 percent.

BHP, the world’s largest mining company, fell 2.9 percent to 1,767 pence. BofA-Merrill cut its earning per share estimate for the company by 5.9 percent for full-year 2013 and by 1.8 percent for 2014 on lower oil-price estimates, analyst Peter O’Connor wrote, while holding a neutral rating.

Basic-resource shares lost 2.8 percent for the biggest decline among industry groups in the Stoxx 600 as metals prices fell in London. Vedanta Resources Plc retreated 5.1 percent to 935.5 pence. Eramet dropped 2.5 percent to 86.36 euros.

Lamprell plunged 22 percent to 84.50 pence, paring earlier losses of as much as 37 percent. The U.K. oil and gas rig engineer cut its earnings forecast for the second time in three weeks, saying it expects a first-half loss of $15 million to $20 million.

H&M declined 0.6 percent to 214.30 kronor. The shares earlier fell as much as 4.1 percent after Societe Generale cut its recommendation on the stock to sell from hold, with a share price estimate of 197 kronor.

U.S. stocks rose, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index toward its best week in 2012, as investors awaited weekend discussions of European finance officials for news of a potential bailout of Spain.

Investors watched Europe’s attempts to tame its debt crisis. Spain is poised to become the fourth of the 17 euro-area countries to require emergency assistance as the currency bloc’s finance chiefs plan weekend talks on a potential aid request to shore up the nation’s lenders.

Earlier today, U.S. equities joined a global slump as German exports dropped in April for the first time this year as weaker global growth curbed demand. French business confidence and Italian output also declined. The trade deficit in the U.S. narrowed in April as a drop in imports overshadowed the first decline in exports in five months.

Telephone service providers and companies that sell consumer necessities gained today, while energy shares slumped. Wal-Mart Stores (WMT), the world’s largest retailer, rose 2.9 percent to $67.77. Intel (INTC), the biggest chipmaker, added 1.4 percent to $26.29.

Facebook rose 3.7 percent to $27.28. The social-networking company that held an initial public offering last month introduced an online directory for downloadable apps, taking a page from Apple Inc. and Google Inc.

McDonald’s (MCD) dropped 1 percent to $87.50. Sales at stores open at least 13 months rose 3.3 percent globally last month, falling short of analysts’ estimates, as sales declined in Japan and China. Analysts projected a gain of 5.2 percent, the average of 13 estimates compiled by Consensus Metrix.

Yum! Brands Inc., owner of the KFC and Pizza Hut restaurant brands, slumped 4.7 percent to $63.64 for the second-biggest decline in the S&P 500.

NetApp Inc. retreated 2.6 percent to $30.49. The seller of hardware and software for storing data was downgraded at Barclays Plc. The share-price estimate is $34.

Resistance 3:1355 (МА (55) for D1)

Resistance 2:1334 (area of May 29-30 highs)

Resistance 1:1322 (Jun 7 high)

Current price: 1305.50

Support 1:1298 (session low)

Support 2:1290 (Jun 6 low)

Support 3:1265 (Jun 4 low)

U.S. stock futures fell as commodities tumbled and disappointing economic data in Europe added to concern about a global slowdown.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 8,459.26 -180.46 -2.09%

Hang Seng18,502.34 -175.95 -0.94%

Shanghai Composite 2,281.45 -11.68 -0.51%

FTSE 5,416.47 -31.32 -0.57%

CAC 3,049.22 -21.94 -0.71%

DAX6,113.22 -31.00 -0.50%

Crude oil  $82.38  (-2.86%)

Gold  $1576.60  (-0.72%)

Asian stocks fell, paring the first weekly advance in six weeks, amid concern that central banks are struggling to reinforce global demand amid Europe’s worsening debt crisis.

Nikkei 225 8,459.26 -180.46 -2.09%

S&P/ASX 200 4,063.7 -44.87 -1.09%

Shanghai Composite 2,281.23 -11.90 -0.52%

Sony Corp., Japan’s No. 1 exporter of consumer electronics, slid 5.1 percent.

BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s largest mining company, gained 1.2 percent in Sydney after China cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2008 and metals prices climbed.

Renesas Electronics Corp. soared as much as 19 percent on a report the maker of automotive microcontrollers was scrapping a share sale.

Asian stocks climbed, with the benchmark regional gauge heading for its biggest three-day gain this year, as global policy makers signaled they may take steps to stimulate economic growth.

Nikkei 225 8,639.72 +106.19 +1.24%

S&P/ASX 200 4,108.6 +53.31 +1.31%

Shanghai Composite 2,293.13 -16.43 -0.71%

BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s largest mining company, advanced 1.5 percent in Sydney as Australian employment unexpectedly rose in May, driven by hiring amid the nation’s minerals boom.

Mitsubishi Corp., the No. 1 Japanese trading house, rose 1.2 percent and Komatsu Ltd., a mining-equipment maker, gained 2.1 percent in Tokyo as investors bought shares of companies with profits closely tied to economic growth.

Resistance 3 : $1.5645 (May 30 high)

Resistance 2 : $1.5600 (Jun 7 high)

Resistance 1 : $1.5540 (session high)

The current price: $1.5488

Support 1 : $1.5430 (Jun 7 low)

Support 2 : $1.5370 (Jun 6 low)

Support 3 : $1.5320 (Jun 5 low)

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 8,639.72 +106.19 +1.24%

S&P/ASX 200 4,108.6 +53.31 +1.31%

Shanghai Composite 2,293.13 -16.43 -0.71%