Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 13-03-2012.

European stocks advanced, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbing to the highest since July 26, as reports showed German investor confidence in March increased more than forecast.

In Germany, the ZEW Center for European Economic Research in Mannheim said its index of investor and analyst expectations, which seeks to predict economic developments six months in advance, rose to 22.3 from 5.4 in February. That’s the fourth straight increase. Economists forecast a gain to 10, according to the median of 36 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey.

Euro-area finance ministers cleared a second rescue of Greece, paving the way for the first payment from the 130 billion-euro package ($170 billion) to be made this month. Officials will give a formal approval on March 14, a day before the International Monetary Fund board votes on its contribution.

National benchmark indexes rose in all of the 18 western European markets. France’s CAC 40 climbed 1.7 percent and Germany’s DAX added 1.4 percent. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 rose 1.1 percent.

Raiffeisen, eastern Europe’s third-biggest lender, advanced 1.4 percent to 25.20 euros. UniCredit advanced 3.9 percent to 4.05 euros.

Tod’s SpA, the Italian owner of the Hogan brand, jumped 7.2 percent to 84.45 euros. The company reported a 20 percent increase in 2011 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to 232.4 million euros, compared with the average analyst estimate for 230.7 million euros. The company raised its dividend 25 percent to 2.5 euros per share.

Eramet jumped 6 percent to 113.70 euros. Vedanta Resources Plc climbed 4.5 percent to 1,430 pence. Copper, lead, nickel and tin were among metals prices rising in London.

U.S. stocks advanced, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average toward the highest level since 2007, as retail sales rose by the most in five months and as investors awaited a Federal Reserve decision on interest rates.

Equities advanced after data showed retail sales rose 1.1 percent in February, matching the median forecast of 81 economists. Yet a pickup in payrolls accompanied by limited wage gains may not be enough to satisfy Fed officials, who today will probably reaffirm a commitment to keep interest rates low.

Dow 13,070.78     +111.07       +0.86%, Nasdaq      3,016.15       +32.49 +1.09%, S&P 500   1,383.46         +12.37 +0.90%

JPMorgan (JPM) increased 2 percent to $41.33. Bank of America Corp. (BAC) rallied 1.9 percent to $8.14 today.

Carmike Cinemas Inc. gained 14 percent to $10.33. The fourth-largest U.S. theater chain posted fourth-quarter revenue that exceeded the average analyst projection.

Urban Outfitters Inc. fell 5.6 percent, the most in the S&P 500, to $27.87. The operator of its namesake, Anthropologie and Free People brands reported fourth-quarter earnings that missed the average analyst estimate.

Resistance 3:1410 (Jun’2008 high)

Resistance 2:1400 (psychological level)

Resistance 1:1377 (area of Feb 29 and Mar 1-2 highs)

The current price: 1374,00

Support 1:1370 (intraday  low)

Support 2:1360 (Mar 12 low)

Support 3:1357 (Mar 9 low)

U.S. stock futures advanced after retail sales rose by the most in five months and as investors awaited a Federal Reserve decision on interest rates.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  9,899.08 +9.22 +0.09%

Hang Seng 21,339.7 +205.52 +0.97%

Shanghai Composite 2,455.79 +20.94 +0.86%

FTSE  5,930.83 +38.08 +0.65%

CAC  3,523.46 +33.40 +0.96%

DAX 6,963.8 +62.45 +0.90%

Crude oil $106.42 (+0,1%).

Gold $1684.20 (-0,9%).

00:01 United Kingdom RICS House Price Balance February -16% -13% -13%

00:30 Australia Home Loans January +2.1% 0.0% -1.2%

00:30 Australia National Australia Bank's Business Confidence February 4 1

03:00 Japan BoJ Interest Rate Decision March 0.10% 0.10% 0.10%

03:00 Japan BoJ Monetary Policy Statement 0

03:00 New Zealand REINZ Housing Price Index, m/m February -1.4% +0.8%

The New Zealand dollar strengthened against all of its 16 major counterparts after reports showed the nation’s house and food prices increased in February. The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand Inc.’s index of house prices increased 0.8 percent to 3,280.5 last month, according to an e-mailed statement released today. The number of transactions rose 37 percent from a year earlier, the institute said. New Zealand’s February food prices climbed 0.6 percent from the previous month, the statistics bureau said today. The country’s two-year swap rate, a fixed payment made to receive floating rates, increased four basis points, or 0.04 percentage point, to 3.05 percent.

The Australian dollar rose for the first time in three days as Asian shares rallied, boosting demand for riskier assets. The number of loans granted to build or buy houses and apartments in Australia dropped 1.2 percent in January from the previous month, the statistics bureau said in Sydney today. That compared with a revised 2.1 percent increase in December and the 0.6 percent decline that was the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Australia’s business confidence index fell last month to 1, the lowest level since September, from 4 in January, according to a National Australia Bank Ltd. survey of more than 500 companies taken Feb. 20-24 and released in Sydney today.

The Reserve Bank of Australia on March 6 held its benchmark interest rates unchanged at 4.25 percent. A Credit Suisse Group AG index based on swaps indicates the RBA will lower rates by 53 basis points over the next 12 months.

The yen erased its loss against the dollar and euro after the Bank of Japan  concluded its policy meeting where it kept its key interest rate and asset-purchase program unchanged.

EUR/USD: during the Asian session the pair gain, come nearer to $1.3200.

GBP/USD: during the Asian session the pair was in range $1.5635-$1.5660.

USD/JPY: during the Asian session the pair fell.

European data for Tuesday also starts at 0630GMT with France HICP data, while France current account data is due at 0745GMT. While the main Germany data release is the ZEW data at 1000GMT. UK data at 0930GMT includes the Trade Balance Report, CML Mortgage Approvals and also Weekly Fuel Price data. Also today, the DCLG House Price Index is due, while at 1000GMT, the UK Conference Board Leading Indicator is due.

Resistance 3 : $1.5750 (low of the European session on Mar 9)

Resistance 2 : $1.5695 (Mar 12 high)

Resistance 1 : $1.5660 (session high)

The current price: $1.5645

Support 1 : $1.5600 (psychological level, Mar 12 low)

Support 2 : $1.5530 (Jan 24-25 low)

Support 3 : $1.5450 (Jan 20 low)

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 9,889.86 -39.88 -0.40%

Hang Seng 21,134.18 +48.18 +0.23%

S&P/ASX 200 4,196.69 -15.30 -0.36%

Shanghai Composite 2,434.86 -4.60 -0.19%

FTSE 100 5,892.75 +5.26 +0.09%

CAC 40 3,490.06 +2.58 +0.07%

DAX 6,901.35 +21.14 +0.31%

Dow 12,959.71 +37.69 +0.29%

Nasdaq 2,983.66 -4.68 -0.16%

S&P 500 1,371.09 +0.22 +0.02%