Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 28-04-2014.

European stocks increased due to mergers and acquisitions plans in the pharma sector. Pfizer has renewed its offer for AstraZeneca. A worth of the deal could be more than $100 billion. European stock markets remained unimpressed by the new sanctions on Russia.

But investors still monitor closely tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

AstraZeneca shares were up 14% because of the renewed offer of Pfizer.

Bayer AG shares jumped 3.3% caused by the better-than-expected first quarter earnings.

Siemens AG shares declined 2.7% after announcing the plan to buy Alstom. The Siemens’ plan is an asset swap. Siemens wants to acquire Alstom’s power and grid business in exchange for its transport assets and some cash. Alstom shares are suspended until Wednesday.

Indexes on the close:

Name                                   Price                                    Change                 Change %

FTSE 100                              6,700.16                              +14.47                     +0.22%

DAX                                      9,446.36                              +44.81                     +0.48%

CAC 40                                 4,460.53                              +16.90                     +0.38%

U.S. stock futures rose amid an increase in mergers-and-acquisition activity. Shares of Pfizer Inc.(PFE) rose more than 3% after proposing to buy AstraZeneca Plc (AZN) for about $98.7 billion.

Global markets:

Nikkei 14,288.23 -141.03 -0.98%

Hang Seng 22,132.53 -91.00 -0.41%

Shanghai Composite 2,003.49 -33.03 -1.62%

FTSE 6,692.26 +6.57 +0.10%

CAC 4,448.34 +4.71 +0.11%

DAX 9,415.68 +14.13 +0.15%

Crude oil $101.08 (+0.50%)

Gold $1301.90 (+0.11%)

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

Upgrades:

Ford (F) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Craig Hallum

Downgrades:

Other:

Bernstein reiterated Amazon.com (AMZN) at Outperform, target lowered to $360 from $420

European stocks climbed caused by mergers and acquisitions plans of some companies in the pharma sector. Pfizer has renewed its offer for AstraZeneca. A worth of the deal could be more than $100 billion.

Investors still monitor tensions between Russia and Ukraine. New sanctions on Russia are expected.

AstraZeneca shares were up 15% because of the renewed offer of Pfizer.

Bayer AG shares jumped 4.6% caused by the better-than-expected first quarter earnings.

Siemens AG shares declined 2.2% after announcing the plan to buy Alstom. The Siemens’ plan is an asset swap. Siemens wants to acquire Alstom’s power and grid business in exchange for its transport assets and some cash. Alstom shares are suspended until Wednesday.

Current figures:

Name                                   Price                                    Change                 Change %

FTSE 100                              6,703.51                              +17.82                     +0.27%

DAX                                      9,474.39                              +72.84                     +0.74%

CAC 40                                 4,462.75                              +19.12                     +0.43%

Asian stock markets showed a mixed trend. The Japanese stock market was closed for a public holiday. The Chinese stock indexes were up due to speculation that the government will take steps to boost the economy.

Indexes on the close:

Nikkei 225                    closed

Hang Seng                   22,453.89     + 321.36        +1.45%

Shanghai Composite    2,020.34       +16.85        +0.84%

Newcrest Mining dropped 3.1% caused by the price decline of the bullion.

Samsung Electronics declined 2% after reporting its weaker-than expected quarter results.

Asian stock markets were down due to rising concerns over tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The Japanese index Nikkei 225 declined caused by a strong yen and the weaker-than-expected earnings of some companies. The Japanese stock market will be closed for a public holiday tomorrow.

The stock indexes in China and Hong Kong dropped amid increasing concerns over new initial public offering listings.

Indexes on the close:

Nikkei 225                    14,288.23      -141.03      -0.98%

Hang Seng                   22,132.53     -91.00        -0.41%

Shanghai Composite    2,003.49       -33.03        -1.62%

Honda Motor Co. shares declined 4.5% because of the worse-than-expected earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015.

Nippon Sheet Glass was down over 8%.

Newcrest Mining increased 5.7%.

Yahoo Japan Corp. dropped 6.2% after announcing earnings missed the company’s own forecast.

Japan Display Inc. shares, supplies screens to Apple Inc., were down 16% after reporting earnings missed the company’s own forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014.