STOCKS: Monday's review

Majors close
Nikkei 225 +122.69 +1.37% 9,086.41
FTSE 100 +30.55 +0.57%     5,350.58
CAC 40     +25.18     +0.78%     3,239.06
DAX +24.50 +0.41% 6,022.24
Dow     +213.88 +1.90% 11,482.90     
Nasdaq     +47.22     +1.88% 2,555.20
S&P 500 +25.68     +2.18% 1,204.49
10 Year Yield     2.28%     +0.05     --
Oil     $87.95     +0.07     +0.08%
Gold     $1,766.90     +8.90     +0.51%

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose the most in more than six weeks after gross domestic product shrank less than economists expected, signaling the country is rebounding from March’s earthquake disaster.
Gross domestic product shrank at an annualized 1.3 percent rate for the quarter ended June 30, Japan’s Cabinet office said today. The contraction was less than the median estimate of a 2.5 percent drop
Toyota Motor Corp. (7203), the world’s largest carmaker, climbed 2.9 percent after Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda pledged to take “bold action” to curb gains in the yen.
Exporters including Sony Corp. (6758) also got a boost after U.S. retail sales gained the most in four months.
Nintendo Co. surged 9.8 percent on speculation the gamemaker may be included in the Nikkei 225 if Osaka Securities Exchange Co. merges with the Tokyo bourse.

European stocks rose, extending the biggest three-day rally for the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index in 15 months, after last week sliding to the cheapest valuation in more than two years.
Nokia Oyj jumped 9.1 percent after Google Inc. agreed to buy U.S. rival Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. for about $12.5 billion.
Swatch Group AG (UHR) paced gains among Swiss exporters as the franc headed for its largest three-day decline on record against the euro.
Michael Page International Plc (MPI) tumbled 8.1 percent after the recruiter’s earnings missed analyst estimates.

U.S. stocks rose, erasing last week’s drop, as $21.5 billion in takeovers and valuations near the cheapest level in two years helped the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index extend its best three-day rally since 2009.
Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. soared 56 percent as Google Inc. (GOOG) agreed to buy the company for about $12.5 billion in cash.
Bank of America Corp. (BAC) rallied 7.6 percent on plans to exit the international credit-card business by selling its $8.6 billion card business in Canada to TD Bank Group and leaving the U.K. and Irish markets.
Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) and Chevron Corp. (CVX) advanced at least 2.6 percent, pacing energy-company gains, as oil rose.