Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 27-04-2012.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose toward the best week in a month, as retailers surged to a record, after improving corporate earnings and consumer confidence tempered lower-than-forecast economic growth.

Equities rose even after data showed the U.S. economy expanded at a 2.2 percent annual rate in the first quarter, less than the 2.5 percent increase forecast by economists. Confidence among U.S. consumers climbed in April to the highest level in a year, according to a separate report.

DOW 13,260.00 +55.33 0.42%

S&P 500 1,406.38 +6.40 0.46%

NASDAQ 3,072.79 +22.18 0.73%

Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) slumped 4 percent to $64.22 for the biggest loss in the Dow. The world’s largest consumer-products company reduced its full-year earnings forecast amid higher costs for raw materials.

Amazon surged 17 percent to $228.59. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos is looking to add customers by pouring money into new versions of the Kindle and warehouses that are equipped to send out products faster. In the quarter when it was introduced last November, the Kindle Fire tablet rocketed to No. 2 in the market behind Apple Inc.’s iPad, according to IDC.

Expedia soared 27 percent to $41.50. “Gross bookings and revenue growth were again driven by strength in our hotel business with global room-nights growing 24 percent, a nice acceleration from the 19 percent we saw for the fourth quarter,” Dara Khosrowshahi, the company’s chief executive officer, said on a conference call yesterday.

European stocks climbed for a fourth day, for the longest stretch of gains in six weeks, as results from Vinci SA to Sandvik AB topped estimates, outweighing slower-than-forecast U.S. economic growth.

Spain’s sovereign credit rating was cut for the second time this year by Standard & Poor’s on concern that the country will have to provide further fiscal support to banks as the economy contracts. S&P lowered the long-term grade to BBB+ from A, with a negative outlook and reduced the short-term rating to A-2 from A-1.

Italy sold 5.95 billion euros ($7.9 billion) of bonds today, less than the maximum for the auction, as the country paid 60 basis points more than a month ago to sell 10-year debt.

National benchmark indexes gained in 14 of the 18 western- European markets. France’s CAC 40 rose 1.1 percent, while the U.K.’s FTSE 100 increased 0.5 percent and Germany’s DAX added 0.9 percent.

Vinci jumped 4.2 percent to 35.56 euros after posting a 6 percent increase in the first-quarter sales, beating estimates. The construction company reported a revenue of 8.1 billion euros, compared with analysts’ forecasts for 7.64 billion euros.

CRH Plc, the world’s second-biggest building-materials maker, gained 3.9 percent to 1,268 pence. The stock was raised to overweight, the equivalent of buy, from underweight at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Sandvik advanced 12 percent to 104 kronor, the biggest jump since November 2008. The company reported first-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates and posted record order intake as demand grew in the Americas.

Nobel Biocare, the world’s second-biggest dental implant maker, rose 4.2 percent to 11.15 Swiss francs after it said first-quarter profit rose 9.5 percent on growth in North America as Europe continued to falter along with the economy.

Resistance 3:1420 (area of high of March) 

Resistance 2:1414 (area of Apr 3 high)

Resistance 1:1402 (session high)

Current price: 1394,75

Support 1:1380 (Apr 26 low)

Support 2:1372 (Apr 25 low)

Support 3: 1360 (Apr 24 low)

U.S. stock futures were little changed, with the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index poised for the biggest weekly rally in a month, as data showing the economy expanded less than forecast tempered earnings optimism.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 225 9,520.89 -40.94 -0.43%

Hang Seng 20,722.75 -86.96 -0.42%

S&P/ASX 200 4,362.1 -13.10 -0.30%

Shanghai Composite 2,396.32 -8.38 -0.35%

FTSE 100 5,698.77 -20.12 -0.35%

CAC 40 3,195.05 -38.41 -1.19%

DAX 6,652.94 -51.56 -0.77%

Crude oil: $104.49 (-0.06%).

Gold: $1664.30 (+0.23%).

Merck & Co (MRK): pharmacist Merck & Co reported a quarterly profit that exceeded analysts' forecasts, but sales do not have lasted up to expectations due to increased competition in the production of generics. Thus, in the first quarter net profit rose to $ 1.04 billion, or 34 cents per share a year earlier to $ 1.74 billion, or 56 cents a share.Excluding special items profit was 99 cents per paper, analysts on average expected 98 cents on the paper. Revenue in the period under review totaled $ 11.73 billion with an average forecast of analysts at $ 11.82 billion. MRK in premarket rose to $ 38.80 (+0.86%).

Procter & Gamble (PG): consumer goods manufacturer Procter & Gamble recorded lower profits in the third quarter of fiscal year due to additional costs on the background of business restructuring, as well as rising prices for raw materials. Thus, the company's profit was $ 2.41 billion, or 82 cents per share, compared with $ 2.87 billion, or 96 cents a year earlier paper. In fact, core profit reached 94 cents a share, while analysts expected 93 cents. Sales for the period under review increased by 2% to $ 20.19 billion. PG in premarket fell to $ 65.25 (-2.42%).

European stocks pared their losses as mining companies and carmakers rallied and as investors awaited an American report on first-quarter economic growth.

Spain’s sovereign credit rating was cut for the second time this year by S&P on concern that the country will have to provide further fiscal support to banks as the economy contracts. S&P lowered the long-term grade to BBB+ from A, with a negative outlook. Spain’s short-term rating was reduced to A-2 from A-1.

FTSE 100 5,757.61 +8.89 +0.15%

CAC 40 3,238.54    +9.22 +0.29%         

DAX 6,739.24         -0.66 -0.01%

Banco Santander fell 1.3 percent to 4.69 euros. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA dropped 1.6 percent to 5.07 euros.

Nobel Biocare Holding AG, the world’s second-biggest dental implant maker, rose 6.5 percent to 11.40 Swiss francs after it said first-quarter profit rose 9.5 percent on growth in North America as Europe continued to falter along with the economy.

Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index snapping a two-day gain, as a cut in Spain’s credit rating overshadowed better-than-expected earnings by companies including Samsung Electronics Co. and the Bank of Japan’s move to expand economic stimulus.

Nikkei 225 9,520.89 -40.94 -0.43%

Hang Seng 20,722.75 -86.96 -0.42%

S&P/ASX 200 4,362.1 -13.10 -0.30%

Shanghai Composite 2,396.32 -8.38 -0.35%

Nippon Sheet Glass Co., which depends on Europe for about 39 percent of its sales, fell 1.9 percent in Tokyo.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Japan’s biggest lender, slid 0.3 percent, erasing gains of as much as 3.1 percent immediately after the BOJ statement was released.

Nintendo Co. sank 5.5 percent as the Japanese maker of Wii game consoles forecast profit that missed analysts’ estimates.

Samsung Electronics, Asia’s largest maker of consumer electronics, climbed 2.5 percent in Seoul.

Japanese shares climbed on Thursday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said he’s prepared to do more to stimulate U.S. growth if needed.

Gains were limited after ruling party powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa was found not guilty of violating campaign finance laws, raising concern gridlock may make it difficult to pass new consumption taxes.

Honda Motor Co., a carmaker that gets almost 45% of its sales in North America, added 0.9%.

Fujitsu General Ltd. soared 11% after the air-conditioner company beat earnings estimates. Fanuc Corp.  sank 6.1% after the factory-robotics manufacturer forecast lower operating profit.

The Topix Index rose 0.1% to 810.10, with about three shares advancing for every two that declined. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average was little changed at 9,561.83 after swinging between gains of 0.7% and losses of 0.3%. Volume on the gauge was more than a fifth below the 30-day average before a Bank of Japan meeting tomorrow when additional monetary easing is expected to be announced.

Change % Change Last

Nikkei  9,561.83 +0.82 +0.01%

Hang Seng 20,809.71 +163.42 +0.79%

Shanghai Composite 2,404.7 -2.12 -0.09%

FTSE  5,748.72 +29.83 +0.52%

CAC  3,229.32 -4.14 -0.13%

DAX 6,739.9 +35.40 +0.53%