Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 30-04-2014.

European stocks traded mixed ahead of Fed monetary policy decision. A slowdown had a negative effect on the European stock markets. U.S. Gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.1% in the first quarter. This slow growth is a result of a cold winter in the USA. The U.S. economy climbed 2.6% in the previous quarter. Analysts forecasted the increase of 1.1%.

Alstom SA shares increased 9.8% after Alstom confirmed that the company is discussing an acquisition of its energy business, by General Electric.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc was up 3.1% after announcing the lower-than-expected fall of its profit in the first quarter.

Osram Licht AG dropped 6.7% caused by the worse results.

Indexes on the close:

Name                                   Price                                    Change                 Change %

FTSE 100                              6,780.03                              +10.12                     +0.15%

DAX                                      9,603.23                              +19.11                     +0.20%

CAC 40                                 4,487.39                              -10.29                     -0.23%

U.S. stock futures fwll slightly as data showed growth in the world’s largest economy stalled before a Federal Reserve decision on monetary policy.

Global markets:

Nikkei 14,304.11 +15.88 +0.11%

Hang Seng 22,133.97 -319.92 -1.42%

Shanghai Composite 2,026.36 +6.02 +0.30%

FTSE 6,779.7 +9.79 +0.14%

CAC 4,475.51 -22.17 -0.49%

DAX 9,594.01 +9.89 +0.10%

Crude oil $100.36 (-0.90%)

Gold $1293.10 (-0.25%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

eBay (EBAY) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Atlantic Equities

Other:

Merck (MRK) target raised to $66 from $62 at Argus

Apple (AAPL) target raised to $635 from $620 at Goldman

European stocks traded mixed ahead of Fed monetary policy decision. Market participants are expecting the Fed will taper its asset purchase program at the usual rate of US$10 billion per month to US$45 billion per month.

The inflation in the Eurozone in April was better than in the previous month. The harmonised consumer price index climbed 0.7% in April (March: 0.5%). Analysts expected a rise of 0.8%.

Alstom SA shares increased 9.5% after Alstom confirmed that the company is discussing an acquisition of its energy business, by General Electric.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc was up 4.0% after announcing the lower-than-expected fall of its profit in the first quarter.

Current figures:

Name                                   Price                                    Change                 Change %

FTSE 100                              6,783.95                              +14.04                     +0.21%

DAX                                      9,589.14                              +5.02                     +0.05%

CAC 40                                 4,483.79                              -13.89                     -0.31%

Asian stock markets showed a mixed trend ahead the publication of Fed’s policy statement. Market participants are expecting the Fed will continue to taper its asset purchase program at the usual rate of US$10 billion per month.

The Bank of Japan refrained from implementing additional quantitative stimulus measures. The Bank of Japan decided to keep monetary policy steady as expected. The target of an annual increase in the monetary base is between 60 trillion yen and 70 trillion yen.

Indexes on the close:

Nikkei 225                    14,304.11     +15.88     +0.11%

Hang Seng                   22,133.97     -319.92     -1.42%

Shanghai Composite    2,026.36       +6.02        +0.30%

Kyocera shares increased 3.4% caused by the 34% rise of full-year profit.

NEC declined 5.3% after missing its forecasts.

(index / closing price / change items /% change)

Nikkei 225 closed

Hang Seng 22,410.97 +278.44 +1.26%

S&P/ASX 200 5,486.58 -49.50 -0.89%

Shanghai Composite 2,020.34 +16.85 +0.84%

FTSE 100 6,760.29 +60.13 +0.90%

CAC 40 4,494.06 +33.53 +0.75%

DAX 9,586.44 +140.08 +1.48%

Dow 16,535.37 +86.63 +0.53%

Nasdaq 4,103.54 +29.14 +0.72%

S&P 500 1,878.33 +8.90 +0.48%