Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 28-08-2013.

European stocks dropped to the lowest level in six weeks as concern grew that the U.S. will take military action against Syria.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index lost 0.4 percent to 297.88 at 4:30 p.m. in London, its lowest level since July 17. The gauge fell as much as 1.1 percent in intraday trading. It has still advanced 8.1 percent since this year’s low on June 24 as the European Central Bank pledged to keep interest rates low. The Stoxx 600 slid 1.8 percent yesterday after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. will hold Syria accountable for using chemical weapons against its own people. The attack near Damascus last week killed as many as 1,300 people, according to opposition groups.

In the U.K., Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said the central bank is prepared to boost stimulus if the U.K.’s economic recovery is hampered by investors’ expectations of high interest rates.

National benchmark indexes retreated in 11 of the 18 western European markets today.

FTSE 100 6,430.06 -10.91 -0.17% CAC 40 3,960.46 -8.27 -0.21% DAX 8,157.9 -84.66 -1.03%

Accor (AC) dropped 4.2 percent to 27.58 euros, the biggest loss since June 2012. Europe’s largest hotel operator posted first-half earnings before interest and taxes of 198 million euros ($265 million), missing the average analyst projection of 212 million euros. The company predicted 2013 Ebit of between 510 million euros and 530 million euros, compared with the average 534 million-euro analyst estimate.

A gauge of European travel companies slumped to a two-month low, for one of the worst performances among the 19 groups in the Stoxx 600. Air France-KLM slid 2.8 percent to 5.75 euros and Lufthansa fell 3.1 percent to 13.50 euros.

Polymetal International Plc (POLY) lost 5.7 percent to 699 pence as the Russian gold and silver miner posted a first-half net loss of $255 million, compared with a $157 million profit a year earlier.

Bouygues rallied 11 percent to 25.41 euros, the biggest gain since February. The French building, telecommunications and television company’s operating profit increased to 432 million euros from 394 million euros a year earlier. Analysts had forecast 358 million euros, according to the average of three estimates. Separately, Bouygues cut its sales target for the full year to 33.2 billion euros to 33.4 billion euros. That compared with a previous forecast of 33.45 billion euros.

Statoil ASA (STL) rose 4.2 percent to 137.60 kroner. Norway’s biggest energy company made its third oil discovery off the coast of Canada in the Flemish Pass basin. Bank of America Corp. raised the stock to buy from neutral.

Vestas Wind Systems A/S advanced 5.5 percent to 104.90 kroner as Stoxx Ltd. said the company is among the 12 stocks that will be added to the Stoxx 600 as of Sept. 23.

U.S. stock-index futures were little changed before data on pending home sales and amid concern over a possible military strike against Syria.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  13,338.46 -203.91 -1.51%

Hang Seng 21,524.65 -350.12 -1.60%

Shanghai Composite 2,101.3 -2.27 -0.11%

FTSE 6,409.17 -31.80 -0.49%

CAC 3,948.58 -20.15 -0.51%

DAX 8,120.19 -122.37 -1.48%

Crude oil $110.63 +1.49%

Gold $1428.40 +0.58%

European stocks dropped to an almost six-week low as concern grew that the U.S. will take military action against Syria. U.S. equity-index futures were little changed, while Asian shares fell.

The U.S., France and Britain are moving closer to military action against Syria, laying out the justification, putting forces into place and rounding up allies in the region.

The confrontation with Syria will be at the forefront when U.S. President Barack Obama, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande join other leaders of the Group of 20 nations next week in St. Petersburg, Russia. The host for the summit is Russian President Vladimir Putin, an ally of Assad who has thwarted previous action against Syria at the UN and questioned the evidence about whether a chemical attack took place.

Accor dropped 3.2 percent to 27.88 euros. Europe’s largest hotel operator said first-half earnings before interest and taxes fell to 198 million euros ($265 million) from 212 million euros a year earlier. That missed the average analyst projection that called for 212 million euros. The company predicted 2013 Ebit of between 510 million euros and 530 million euros, compared with the average 534 million-euro analyst estimate.

Ryanair Holdings Plc declined 1.1 percent to 6.45 euros. The U.K. antitrust regulators ordered the discount carrier to cut its stake in Aer Lingus Group Plc to no more than 5 percent to address competition concerns. Ryanair said it will appeal against the ruling.

A gauge of European travel companies slumped to a two-week low, for the worst performance among the 19 groups in the Stoxx 600. All 21 shares in the industry gauge fell. Thomas Cook Group Plc slid 2 percent to 133.4 pence and EasyJet Plc retreated 2.2 percent to 1,207 pence.

Bouygues rose 5.4 percent to 24.17 euros, for its biggest increase in five weeks. The French building, telecommunications and television company’s operating profit increased to 432 million euros from 394 million euros a year earlier. Analysts had forecast 358 million euros, according to the average of three estimates.

FTSE 100 6,402.58 -38.39 -0.60%

CAC 40 3,953.09 -15.64 -0.39%

DAX 8,154.23 -88.33 -1.07%

Asian stocks slumped, with the regional benchmark index heading for the lowest close in two months, on concern the U.S. will take military action against Syria for using chemical weapons.

Nikkei 225 13,338.46 -203.91 -1.51%

Hang Seng 21,524.65 -350.12 -1.60%

S&P/ASX 200 5,087.16 -54.05 -1.05%

Shanghai Composite 2,101.3 -2.27 -0.11%

Honda Motor Co., which gets 83 percent of its revenue abroad, lost 2.4 percent in Tokyo after the yen gained.

PetroChina Co., the nation’s biggest energy producer, dropped 4.7 percent in Hong Kong after saying senior managers had been removed amid an investigation by authorities.

New China Life Insurance Co., the country’s third-largest life insurer by premium income last year, fell 3.3 percent in Hong Kong after first-half profit missed analyst estimates.

Nikkei 225 -0,69 -93,91 13,542.37%

Hang Seng 21,927.89 -77.43 -0.35%

S & P / ASX 200 5,141.22 +5.81 +0.11%

Shanghai Composite 2,103.57 7,09 0,34%

FTSE 100 6,440.97 -51.13 -0.79%

CAC 40 3,968.73 -98.40 -2.42%

DAX 8,242.56 -192.59 -2.28%

Dow -169.87 14,776.59 -1.14%

Nasdaq -79.05 3,578.52 -2.16%

S&P -26.32 1,630.46 -1.59%