Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 20-08-2012.

European (SXXP) stocks fell as Germany’s Bundesbank criticized a European Central Bank plan to lower the region’s sovereign yields through bond purchases, highlighting the rift among policy makers over ways to end the debt crisis.

Lonmin Plc (LMI) slid 4.6 percent on reports it may raise $1 billion in a rights issue after operations at its biggest mine were halted amid deadly violence, the Sunday Times reported. Bankia (BKIA) SA fell 4.6 percent. Heineken NV (HEIA) climbed 1.6 percent after it raised its offer for Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd. Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA led gainers, jumping 5.1 percent.

The Stoxx 600 dropped 0.5 percent to 271.50 at the close of trading.

National benchmark indexes fell in 16 of the 18 western European markets.

FTSE 100 5,824.37 -28.05 -0.48% CAC 40 3,480.58 -7.80 -0.22% DAX 7,033.68 -7.20 -0.10%

Lonmin lost 4.6 percent to 610 pence, dropping for a sixth day. The world’s third-biggest platinum miner may raise $1 billion in a rights issue as soon as next month after operations at its biggest mine were halted amid deadly violence citing people close to the situation it didn’t name.

Xstrata Plc (XTA), which owns a 25 percent stake in Lonmin, has signaled that it’s ready to cover its part of the deal, the newspaper said. Xstrata fell 3.4 percent to 907.5 pence. Separately, Deutsche Bank downgraded Lonmin shares to sell from neutral.

Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. (ENRC), a producer of metals in Kazakhstan, fell 3.4 percent to 357 pence. The stock was cut to neutral from outperform at Credit Suisse Group AG.

Credit Agricole SA (ACA) dropped 4.9 percent to 4.10 euros as a gauge of bank shares led declines on the Stoxx 600.

Michael Page International Plc (MPI), a U.K. recruitment company, lost 3.2 percent to 371.1 pence. The stock was cut to sell from neutral at Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Heineken gained 1.6 percent to 43.84 euros. The world’s third-largest brewer raised its offer for a controlling stake in Asia Pacific Breweries to S$5.6 billion ($4.5 billion).

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena jumped 5.1 percent to 22.7 euro cents, paring gains of as much as 17 percent. The world’s oldest bank may become the first Italian lender since the 1990s to have the government as a shareholder as the company weighs further goodwill writedowns.

Home Retail Group Plc (HOME), the owner of Argos stores, gained 3.6 percent to 96.3 pence. The shares were upgraded to hold from sell at Deutsche Bank.

Amlin Plc (AML) climbed 2.1 percent to 389.1 pence. The insurer reported a first-half pre-tax profit of 184.5 million pounds ($289 million) compared with a 192.3 million pound loss in the same period last year.

European stock indices show an increase in the upcoming meetings pridverii eurozone leaders. The head of the Eurogroup Jean-Claude Juncker, August 22, visited Athens, where he will discuss with the Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras Greek government's request for an extension to the two year extension of the program of fiscal austerity in the country.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande will meet in Berlin on 23 August, and then - 24 and August 25 - will meet with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in Berlin and Paris.

Today published data on the level of construction output in the euro zone in June year on year figure fell by -2.8%.

The focus of the market are the data on the index of economic activity from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in the U.S., which will be published at 12:30 GMT.

To date:

FTSE 100 5,852.09 -0.33 -0.01%

CAC 40 3,501.91 +13.53 +0.39%

DAX 7,081.33 +40.45 +0.57%

Asian stocks fell on concern China won’t ease monetary policy even as corporate earnings deteriorate amid slowing economic growth, offsetting optimism for the global outlook after U.S. consumer confidence improved.

Nikkei 225 9,171.16 +8.66 +0.09%

S&P/ASX 200 4,364.3 -5.80 -0.13%

Asian stocks rose, with the region’s benchmark index set for a third weekly gain, after U.S. housing permits rose to a four-year high, helping temper concerns about the strength of a global recovery.

Nikkei 225 9,162.5 +69.74 +0.77%

S&P/ASX 200 4,370.1 +39.93 +0.92%

Shanghai Composite 2,114.89 +2.69 +0.13%

Santos Ltd. climbed 3.2 percent after the Australian energy explorer said it will begin sales from a shale gas project in October.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Japan’s largest publicly traded lender, rose 2.2 percent as German Chancellor Angela Merkel backed the European Central Bank’s conditions for assisting indebted countries.

Samsung Electronics Co., an electronics exporter, fell 3.7 percent in Seoul after resting its case in a patent-infringement trial with Apple Inc.