Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 15-01-2013.

U.S. stock futures fell as concern about talks on raising the debt ceiling intensified and manufacturing in the New York region contracted.

Global Stocks:

Downgrades:
American Express (AXP) downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JP Morgan

Other:
Credit Suisse raises target of Caterpillar (CAT) to $124 From $108
Nomura cuts target of Apple (AAPL) to $530 from $660

European stocks were little changed as Spain sold more than targeted at a debt auction, offsetting concern that debt-ceiling talks will harm the U.S. economy and a report showing German growth slowed more than expected in 2012.

Spain sold 5.75 billion euros ($7.7 billion) of bills, overshooting the maximum target the Treasury set for the first short-term debt sale of the year.

Germany’s economy, Europe’s largest, probably shrank in the final quarter of 2012. Gross domestic product may have dropped as much as 0.5 percent from the third quarter, the Federal Statistics Office in Wiesbaden said today in a preliminary estimate. In 2012, growth slowed to 0.7 percent from 3 percent in 2011, it said. Economists forecast expansion of 0.8 percent for last year.

IG Group, owner of the IG Index financial spread-betting brand, slipped 3 percent to 454 pence. The company said first- half net trading revenue fell 14 percent to 169 million pounds ($271.8 million) and pretax profit slid 21 percent to 81.1 million pounds.

Air Liquide fell 0.6 percent to 92.50 euros after Bank of America’s Merrill Lynch unit cut its recommendation on the shares to underperform from neutral.

H&M jumped 3.8 percent to 228.60 kronor. Europe’s second- largest clothing retailer reported an increase in sales that beat analysts’ estimates for a second consecutive month. Total December sales rose 8 percent from a year earlier, the company said, exceeding the 5.1 percent average estimate in an SME Direkt survey.

FTSE 100 6,109.63 +1.77 +0.03%

CAC 40 3,713.8 +5.55 +0.15%

DAX 7,722.79 -6.73 -0.09%

Most Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index heading for the highest close since August 2011. Japanese shares gained after Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said the central bank will pursue powerful monetary easing.

Nikkei 225 10,879.08 +77.51 +0.72%

S&P/ASX 200 4,716.56 -3.15 -0.07%

Shanghai Composite 2,325.68 +13.94 +0.60%

Olympus Corp., a maker of cameras and endoscopes, jumped 7.7 percent in Tokyo after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised the stock’s rating to buy.

Billabong International Ltd. surged 16 percent as Australia’s largest surfwear maker received a takeover offer from VF Corp. and Altamont Capital Partners.

LG Display Co. slid 3.5 percent in Seoul, pacing declines among Apple Inc. suppliers, after the Nikkei newswire reported Apple scaled back production plans for the iPhone 5.

Asian stocks outside Japan advanced, with a regional gauge heading for its third gain in four days, as Chinese shares rallied after a regulator said China can boost by 10 times quotas for foreign investment in its financial markets.

Nikkei 225 10,801.57 +148.93 +1.40%

S&P/ASX 200 4,719.71 +10.22 +0.22%

Shanghai Composite 2,311.74 +68.74 +3.06%

Citic Securities Co., China’s biggest listed stock brokerage, jumped 5.4 percent in Hong Kong.

China Railway Group Ltd. added 1.2 percent after saying it won contracts worth 29.8 billion yuan ($4.8 billion).

Li & Fung Ltd., a supplier of clothes and toys to retailers, slumped 15 percent in Hong Kong after operating income dropped.

European stock markets ended lower Monday as investors awaited a speech by U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, while shares of TNT Express NV plunged after United Parcel Service Inc. said European regulators would block its proposed acquisition of the Dutch package-delivery company.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index fell 0.4% to close at 286.01.

FTSE 100 6,107.86 -13.72 -0.22% CAC 40 3,708.25 +2.23 +0.06% DAX 7,729.52 +13.99 +0.18%

Shares of TNT Express plunged more than 41% and PostNL plummeted nearly 36%, upended as UPS said the European Commission would refuse to approve the U.S. logistics group’s proposed $6.8 billion buyout of TNT Express over competition concerns. PostNL has been attempting to dispose of its nearly 30% stake in TNT.

In Paris, shares of Société Générale SA rose 3.8% and Credit Agricole SA added 3%. Credit Suisse upgraded the French banks to overweight, citing positive effects of 2012 asset disposals and inexpensive valuations relative to peers.

Also higher in Paris, shares of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA rose 0.4%. The company said Ardagh Glass Ltd. has made a “binding and irrevocable” offer valued at $1.69 billion for the French conglomerate’s North American unit, which makes glass bottles and jars.

In other deal news, shares of Swatch Group AG rose 4.1% after the Swiss watch company said it paid $750 million for the jewelry and watch brand of Harry Winston Diamond Corp.

European stocks got an early boost after comments from Charles Evans, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Media reports said Evans predicted the U.S. economy will grow by 2.5% in 2013, improving to a 3.5% growth rate for gross domestic product in 2014. Read: Monetary policy needs to boost growth: Fed's Evans

Shares of Volkswagen AG gave up an earlier gain to lose 0.1%. Société Générale said it believes the auto maker will continue to outperform in all major markets, but it did reduce earnings forecasts on the group. Volkwagen’s 2013 earnings before interest and taxes forecast was cut to €14.4 billion from €15.8 billion.

Shares of Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. traded 3.5% higher. Credit Suisse analysts upgraded its rating to outperform from neutral, saying they believe that downside risks are now limited and that there are potential re-rating catalysts this year.

Indexes finished trading mixed, as market participants were awaiting appearances Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.

The pressure on the indices, especially on the Nasdaq, shares continued to decline Apple (AAPL), which price temporarily fell below $ 500 a pressure reducing reported orders for spare parts.

Note that in his speech, U.S. President Barack Obama, as expected, raised the issue of increasing the debt ceiling, saying, "It is absurd to even think about, not to raise the debt limit." Obama also noted that "the U.S. economy is growing, it has to wait good in 2013. "Overall, Obama's speech a significant impact on the dynamics of trade did not have.

DOW index components traded mixed. Currently, the shares are news leader Hewlett-Packard (HPQ, +4.67%), which today has the support raising their rating analysts JP Morgan. Maximum loss carry stock Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ, -1,73%).

To date, the sector of the S & P demonstrate a mixed trend. The maximum loss is the technology sector (-0.5%). The leader is the sector conglomerates (0.4%).

At the close:

Dow +19.12 13,507.55 +0.14%

Nasdaq -8.14 3,117.50 -0.26%

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 Closed

S&P/ASX 200 4,719.71 +10.22 +0.22%

Shanghai Composite 2,311.74 +68.74 +3.06%

FTSE 100 6,107.86 -13.72 -0.22%

CAC 40 3,708.25 +2.23 +0.06%

DAX 7,729.52 +13.99 +0.18%

Dow +19.12 13,507.55 +0.14%

Nasdaq -8.14 3,117.50 -0.26%

S&P -1.35 1,470.70 -0.09%