Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 20-08-2014.

Stock indices closed lower. Market participants are awaiting the release of the FOMC's minutes later in the day.

The Bank of England (BoE) released the minutes of its August meeting. Two members of the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee unexpectedly voted to hike interest rate to 0.75% from 0.5% in August. Other seven members voted to keep interest rate on hold. That was the first split in more than three years.

German producer price index decreased 0.1% in July, missing expectations for a 0.1% rise, after 0.0% in June.

On a yearly basis, German producer price index fell 0.8% in July, after a 0.7% drop in June.

Balfour Beatty Plc shares dropped 6.3% after rejecting a bid by Carillion Plc.

Carlsberg A/S shares fell 3.6% after the company lowered its full-year earnings forecast.

Heineken NV shares rose 7.9% after reporting the better-than-forecasted first-half profit.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,755.48 -23.83 -0.35%

DAX 9,314.57 -19.71 -0.21%

CAC 40 4,240.79 -13.66 -0.32%

U.S. stock futures were little changed as Lowe's and Target Corp. reduced its revenue projection for this year and investors awaited minutes from the Federal Reserve's last meeting.

Global markets:

Nikkei 15,454.45 +4.66 +0.03%

Hang Seng 25,159.76 +36.81 +0.15%

Shanghai Composite 2,240.21 -5.12 -0.23%

FTSE 6,750.06 -29.25 -0.43%

CAC 4,226.33 -28.12 -0.66%

DAX 9,270.52 -63.76 -0.68%

Crude oil $95.23 (+0.84%)

Gold $1297.20 (+0.03%)

(company / ticker / price / change, % / volume)

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Home Depot (HD) target raised to $100 from $95 at Argus

Stock indices traded lower ahead of the FOMC's minutes. Market participants are awaiting the release of the FOMC minutes later in the day.

The Bank of England (BoE) released the minutes of its August meeting. Two members of the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee unexpectedly voted to hike interest rate to 0.75% from 0.5%. Other seven members voted to keep interest rate on hold. That was the first split in more than three years.

German producer price index decreased 0.1% in July, missing expectations for a 0.1% rise, after 0.0% in June.

On a yearly basis, German producer price index fell 0.8% in July, after a 0.7% drop in June.

Balfour Beatty Plc shares dropped 7.2% after rejecting a bid by Carillion Plc.

Heineken NV shares rose 7% after reporting the better-than-forecasted first-half profit.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,751.1 -28.21 -0.42%

DAX 9,300.61 -33.67 -0.36%

CAC 40 4,241.91 -12.54 -0.29%

Most Asian stock indices closed higher due to yesterday's strong U.S. housing market data. Housing starts in the U.S. jumped 15.7% to 1.093 million units in July from 945,000 units in June. That was the strongest rate since November.

The number of building permits rose by 8.1% to 1.052 million units in July from 973,000 in June.

Japan's adjusted trade deficit declined to 1,023.8 billion yen in July from a deficit of 1,067.8 in June, missing expectations for a fall to a deficit of 770 billion yen. June's figure was revised up from a deficit of 1,080.8 billion yen.

Japan's all industry activity index fell 0.4% in June, missing expectations for a 0.2% decline, after a 0.6% increase in May.

BHP Billiton Ltd. shares dropped 3.9% after announcing a spinoff and refraining from a share buyback.

Indexes on the close:

Nikkei 225 15,454.45 +4.66 +0.03%

Hang Seng 25,159.76 +36.81 +0.15%

Shanghai Composite 2,240.21 -5.12 -0.23%

Asian stocks fell after valuations reached the highest level this year and as BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) slumped, dragging materials shares to the largest decline on the regional gauge.

U.S. inflation weakened to the slowest pace in five months in July, holding below the Federal Reserve's target. Minutes of the Fed's July 29-30 meeting, when the stimulatory bond-buying program was reduced by $10 billion for a sixth time, are released today and Fed Chair Janet Yellen will speak to global central bankers later this week.

QBE climbed 5.6 percent to A$11.31, the most since May 2013. The Australian insurer's share sale and debt refinancing will raise about $1.5 billion, Chief Executive Officer John Neal said on a call with reporters yesterday.

BHP Billiton lost 3.9 percent to A$38.13 after yesterday announcing it's poised for the biggest spinoff in the mining industry, separating aluminum, coal and silver assets to create a company valued around $15 billion after it begins trading next year. BHP's London-listed shares fell the most in almost three years. A decision to skip a widely anticipated share purchase will disappoint investors, who had expected a $3 billion buyback, Citigroup Inc. said.

Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd. lost 2.1 percent to A$9.54 in Sydney after flagging a second consecutive drop in full-year earnings amid weak consumer confidence and rising costs in Indonesia.

Nikkei 225 15,454.45 +4.66 +0.03%

Hang Seng 25,137.26 +14.31 +0.06%

S&P/ASX 200 5,634.6 +10.83 +0.19%

Shanghai Composite 2,240.21 -5.12 -0.23%