Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 15-03-2012.

European stocks climbed for a third day, extending the Stoxx Europe 600 Index’s highest level since July, as U.S. jobs and manufacturing data added to optimism the recovery in the world’s largest economy is gaining momentum.

The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits fell by 14,000 to 351,000 in the week ended March 10, Labor Department figures showed today. Claims reached the same level a month ago, the lowest since March 2008.

Manufacturing in the New York region expanded in March at the fastest pace since June 2010, while Philadelphia factory output grew the most in almost a year.

Gains in Europe were limited today as Fitch said Britain risks losing its top investment grade because of its limited ability to deal with shocks.

National benchmark indexes rose in 14 of the 18 western European markets. Germany’s DAX added 0.9 percent and France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.4 percent. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 declined 0.1 percent as Fitch Ratings said Britain risks losing its top credit grade.

H&M added 2.4 percent to 249.60 kronor after comparable sales advanced 2 percent in February from a year earlier. Same- store sales were expected to drop 1 percent, according to an SME Direkt poll of analysts.

Aixtron rallied 15 percent to 14.40 euros, the biggest gain since October 2008, as Deutsche Bank upgraded the maker of equipment for the semiconductor and lighting-technology industries to buy.

HeidelbergCement AG climbed 5.1 percent to 44.57 euros. The world’s third-largest maker of cement predicted operating profit and sales will rise this year on growth in Asia and Africa and a weaker increase in raw material and energy costs. Net income in 2011 increased 4.5 percent to 534 million euros.

Pernod-Ricard paced declining shares, falling 2.1 percent to 80.38 euros after Groupe Bruxelles Lambert sold 6.2 million shares for 80.60 euros each.

U.S. stocks advanced, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index above 1,400 for the first time in almost four years, as manufacturing in the New York region unexpectedly increased and jobless claims declined.

Equities rose as manufacturing in the New York region expanded in March at the fastest pace since June 2010. Claims for jobless benefits fell last week, matching the lowest level in four years, more evidence the labor market is improving. Separate data showed that the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s general economic index increased to 12.5 in March from 10.2 last month, beating economists’ estimates.

Dow   13,225.70   +31.60       +0.24%, Nasdaq   3,049.96    +9.23  +0.30%, S&P 500 1,400.20     +5.92  +0.42%

Bank of America (ВАС) gained 3.4 percent to $9.14. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) increased 2.8 percent to $44.78. GE added 1.9 percent to $20.17.

Technology shares rallied as IBM (IBM) advanced to a new record, adding 0.6 percent to $205.97. Apple rose 0.2 percent to $590.96 after climbing above $600 for the first time. The world’s largest technology company had its share price estimate lifted to $718 from $670 at Piper Jaffray Cos.

Scholastic Corp. surged 13 percent to $36.52. The children’s book publisher boosted its full-year forecast, saying it now expects to earn at least $2.60 a share from continuing operations. The company had projected $2.10 at most.

EBay Inc. slumped 1.9 percent to $36.92. The largest Internet marketplace was downgraded to neutral from outperform at Credit Suisse Group AG.

Guess? Inc. tumbled 11 percent, the most in the Russell 1000 Index, to $32.50. The clothing retailer forecast fiscal 2013 earnings of no more than $2.65 a share, below the average analyst estimate of $3.16 a share.

Resistance 3:1410 (Jun’2008 high)

Resistance 2:1400 (psychological level)

Resistance 1:1394 (Mar 14 high)

The current price: 1391,50

Support 1:1384 (Mar 14 low)

Support 2:1375 (high of the Asian session on Mar 13)

Support 3:1370 (intraday low on Mar 13)

Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures expiring in June added 0.3 percent to 1,392.60 at 8:34 a.m. New York time. Dow futures rose 25 points, or 0.2 percent, to 13,155 today.

U.S. stock futures advanced, indicating the Dow Jones Industrial Average will rally for a seventh day, after reports showed a drop in jobless claims and manufacturing in the New York region expanded.

Equity futures rose as claims for jobless benefits dropped last week in the U.S., matching the lowest level in four years, more evidence the labor market is improving. Manufacturing in the New York region expanded in March at the fastest pace since June 2010, indicating factories are still driving the expansion.

Nikkei   10,123.28 +72.76 +0.72%

Hang Seng 21,353.53 +45.64 +0.21%

Shanghai Composite 2,373.77 -17.46 -0.73%

FTSE 100 5,932.94 -12.49 -0.21%

CAC 40 3,562.34 -2.17 -0.06%

Xetra DAX 7,099.7 +20.28 +0.29%

Nymex WTI $106.05 0,59%

GOLD $1645.30 0,17%

European stocks fluctuated as investors awaited reports on American jobless-benefit claims and manufacturing. Asian shares and U.S. index futures gained.

FTSE 5,944.74 -0.69 -0.01%

DAX 7,098.74 +19.32 +0.27%

CAC 3,568.71 +4.20 +0.12%

HeidelbergCement AG advanced 3.9 percent after predicting that operating profit and sales will climb this year. Pernod- Ricard SA declined 2.7 percent as shareholder Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA sold a 499 million-euro ($651 million) stake in the producer of wines and spirits. Hikma Pharmaceuticals Plc dropped 3.8 percent as JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded the shares.

Asian stocks rose for a second day after U.S. retail sales jumped and the Federal Reserve raised its assessment of the world’s biggest economy.
Shares pared gains after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said home prices are still too high.
Toyota Motor Corp. rose 2.1 % in Tokyo.
BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s biggest miner, gained 1.3 % in Sydney after metal prices advanced.
Samsung Electronics Co. climbed 2.4 % in Seoul after saying it will supply screens for Apple Inc.’s new iPad.
Evergrande Real Estate Group Ltd., a mainland developer, fell 3.2 %.

European stocks advanced to the highest level since July as the Federal Reserve raised its economic assessment of the world’s largest economy.
The Federal Open Market Committee said late yesterday that strains in global financial markets have eased and the labor market is gathering strength. At the same time, it said that the unemployment rate is “elevated” and “significant downside risks” remain. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke is holding to his plan to the keep benchmark interest rate close to zero through at least 2014.
Greece’s credit rating was lifted out of the default category by Fitch Ratings on optimism that a debt swap will reduce the risk that the country eventually reneges on its obligations. Greece was raised four levels to B- from restricted default and given a stable outlook by Fitch. New government bonds have a B- rating, while debt that is not governed by Greek law has a C rating pending settlement on April 11, Fitch said.
Italy sold 6 billion euros of bonds today, with borrowing costs on its three-year debt falling to the lowest since October 2010 as European Central Bank loans helped boost demand. The Treasury sold 5 billion euros of a new three-year bond to yield 2.76 % and 1 billion euros of seven-year bonds at 4.3 %, meeting the 6 billion-euro maximum set for the sale.
National benchmark indexes rose in 15 of the 18 western European markets.
EON AG, Germany’s biggest utility, gained 7 % after it reported 2011 earnings that topped analysts’ estimates.
Gauges of European banks and insurers pulled the Stoxx 600 higher, with Credit Suisse rallying 5 % to 26.3 Swiss francs, and Legal & General advancing 7.2 % to 134.3 pence. Natixis SA added 5.2 % to 2.95 euros and Deutsche Bank AG gained 3.4 % to 38.17 euros.
Arkema fell 5 % to 69 euros. Investor Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA is offering 6.2 million shares of the company for as much as 450 million euros. The shares are being sold for about 69.90 euros each, according to a term sheet.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell, snapping a five-day advance, after the benchmark gauge for U.S. equities rallied to the highest level since June 2008.
After the close of trading yesterday, the Fed said 15 of 19 banks would be able to maintain capital levels above a regulatory minimum in an “extremely adverse” economic scenario, even while continuing to pay dividends and repurchasing stock.
Gold producers tumbled on speculation that an economic recovery will curb demand for the metal. Gold has surged since December 2008 as the Fed held U.S. borrowing costs at a record low and bought $2.3 trillion in housing and government debt during two rounds of so-called quantitative easing.
Citigroup slumped 3.4 % to $35.21. MetLife fell 5.8 % to $37.16. Bank of America (ВАС) added 4.1 % to $8.84. Zions Bancorporation soared 11 %, the most in the S&P 500, to $21.58. Regions Financial Corp. jumped 6.9 % to $6.17.
Newmont Mining Corp., the largest U.S. gold producer, dropped 1 % to $54.30. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. retreated 2.5 % to $38.12.
Apple climbed 3.8 % to a record $589.58, rising for a sixth day. The world’s largest technology company had its share price estimate raised to $720 from $515 at Morgan Stanley.
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. rose 7.1 % to $69.50. The largest U.S. iron-ore producer more than doubled its dividend and said it’s refocusing on the execution of expansion projects.

(index/close/change, point/change, %)

Nikkei 225 10,050.52 +151.44 +1.53%
Hang Seng 21,307.89 -31.81 -0.15%
S&P/ASX 200 4,287.18 +39.56 +0.93%
Shanghai Composite 2,391.23 -64.57 -2.63%
FTSE 100 5,945.43 -10.48 -0.18%
CAC 40 3,564.51 +14.35 +0.40%
DAX 7,079.42 +83.51 +1.19%
Dow 13,194.10 +16.42 +0.12%
Nasdaq 3,040.73 +0.85 +0.03%
S&P 500 1,394.28 -1.67 -0.12%