Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 27-03-2012.

European stocks declined for the first time in three days, erasing an earlier advance, as confidence among U.S. consumers dropped and shares of energy companies retreated.

In the U.S., the Conference Board’s consumer confidence index dropped to 70.2 in March from a revised reading of 71.6 in February that was higher than initially reported. The median forecast of economists had called for a decrease to 70.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said after stock markets closed yesterday that euro-area governments should continue to take “decisive measures.” The ECB has injected more than 1 trillion euros ($1.3 trillion) into the banking system since December.

National benchmark indexes fell in 13 of the 18 western European markets. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index slipped 0.6 percent, while France’s CAC 40 Index declined 0.9 percent. Germany’s DAX Index was unchanged.

Total fell 6 percent to 38.56 euros, its biggest decline since December 2008, as the oil company assessed how to stop a leak from its Elgin platform in the U.K. North Sea. The rig supplied more than 1 percent of the U.K.’s gas last year, according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Hochtief AG, Germany’s largest construction company, slid 5.3 percent to 50.27 euros as trading in its Australian subsidiary Leighton was halted before a quarterly review.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG added 2.2 percent to 10.70 euros. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its recommendation on the company to overweight from neutral, meaning that investors should own a larger proportion of the shares than are represented in benchmark indexes.

Kazakhmys Plc, Kazakhstan’s biggest copper producer, rose 2.1 percent to 944.5 pence after saying that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding special items, rose 3.2 percent to $2.93 billion in 2011. The company also posted a decline in profit for the year.

U.S. stocks were little changed, following a rally that drove the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to the highest level since 2008, as confidence among American consumers in March held close to the highest level in a year.

Equities were little changed today after yesterday erasing last week’s loss. The index rose 3.7 percent in March through yesterday, poised for a fourth straight monthly gain, the longest winning streak since 2009. It trades for 14.6 times reported earnings, the highest valuation level since July while still below the average since 1954 of 16.4.

The Conference Board’s confidence index dropped to 70.2 from a revised 71.6 reading in February that was higher than initially reported. The S&P/Case- Shiller index of property values in 20 cities fell 3.8 percent from a year earlier, after decreasing 4.1 percent in December.

Dow 13,243.33     +1.70   +0.01%, Nasdaq      3,130.49       +7.92   +0.25%, S&P 500   1,417.04       +0.53         +0.04%

All 11 stocks in a measure of homebuilders in S&P indexes gained. Lennar rallied 4.7 percent to $27.64. Net income for the three months ended Feb. 29 fell to $15 million, or 8 cents a share, from $27.4 million, or 14 cents, a year earlier. Lennar was expected to earn about 5 cents a share, the average estimate of 20 analysts.

Bank of America (ВАС) dropped 1.7 percent to $9.76 after being downgraded to neutral at Robert W. Baird. The 12-month share- price estimate is $10.

Apollo Group slumped 7.9 percent to $39.81. Co-Chief Executive Officer Gregory Cappelli told investors in a conference call that new enrollments will continue to be “volatile.” Credit Suisse Group AG cut its recommendation for the shares to neutral.

U.S. stock futures were little changed as investors awaited data forecast to show consumer confidence slipped this month.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  10,255.15 +236.91 +2.36%

Hang Seng 21,046.91 +378.05 +1.83%

Shanghai Composite 2,347.18 -3.42 -0.15%

FTSE  5,895.39 -7.31 -0.12%

CAC  3,487.66 -14.32 -0.41%

DAX 7,110.15 +30.92 +0.44%

Crude oil $107.16 (+0.1%).

Gold $1692.40 (+0,4%).

Asian stocks rose, snapping a two- day loss, after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said accommodative monetary policy is still needed and a report showed German business confidence unexpectedly gained, improving the earnings outlook for Asian exporters.

Nikkei 225 10,255.15 +236.91 +2.36%

Hang Seng 21,010.96 +342.10 +1.66%

S&P/ASX 200 4,301.33 +38.53 +0.90%

Shanghai Composite 2,347.18 -3.42 -0.15%

Honda Motor Co., a Japanese carmaker that gets 83 percent of its sales abroad, added 2.5 percent.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc., Japan’s second-biggest lender by market value, added 2 percent after German Chancellor Angela Merkel signaled she stands ready to do more to tame Europe’s debt crisis.

Korea Gas Corp., the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas importer, jumped 8.9 percent in Seoul after its Italian partner found reserves in Mozambique.

Asian stocks fell for a second day, extending last week’s loss, amid concern exporter earnings are deteriorating and after a report Chinese banks have understated the risks of loans to local governments.

Nikkei 225 10,018.24 +6.77 +0.07%

Hang Seng 20,668.86 +0.06 0.00%

S&P/ASX 200 4,262.8 -7.59 -0.18%

Shanghai Composite 2,350.6 +1.06 +0.05%

BYD Co., the Chinese carmaker partly owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., slumped 5 percent in Hong Kong after saying first-quarter profit may fall as much as 95 percent.

Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. led mainland lenders lower in Hong Kong.

Leighton Holdings Ltd. rose 2.7 percent after Australia’s largest builder said it won $400 million in new contracts.

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 10,018.24 +6.77 +0.07%

Hang Seng 20,668.86 +0.06 0.00%

S&P/ASX 200 4,262.8 -7.59 -0.18%

Shanghai Composite 2,350.6 +1.06 +0.05%

FTSE 100 5,902.7 +47.81 +0.82%

CAC 40 3,501.98 +25.80 +0.74%

DAX 7,079.23 +83.61 +1.20%

Dow 13,241.63 +160.90 +1.23%

Nasdaq 3,122.57 +54.65 +1.78%

S&P 500 1,416.51 +19.40 +1.39%