- 123jump.com Staff
- 20 Mar, 2007
- New York City
U.S. stocks rose led by tech companies and steelmakers, on prospects demand for computer chips would grow and steel prices would increase. The Federal Reserve''s Open Market Committee began a two-day meeting on interest rates and the economy. A government report showed housing starts rebounded in February. Halliburton sank 7.5% on lowered earnings and Systemax plunged 21%. Oracle reported 27% rise in revenue and 35% increase in profit. Claires Store agrees to be sold to Apollo for $2.8 billion.
- 123jump.com Staff
- 20 Mar, 2007
- New York City
Stocks rose after housing data as the Federal Reserve began its two-day meeting on rates. Stocks also won some support from talk of possible acquisitions. An investment group said it is offering $5.93 billion in cash to take Affiliated Computer Services Inc. private, while speculation arose over media reports on several other deals, that Palm Inc. is a takeover target by not only Nokia Corp. Hancock Fabrics drops 28%.
- Elena
- 20 Mar, 2007
- New York City
European stocks closed on a positive note Tuesday, reversing from earlier losses. Markets were given a boost by gains in the U.S. markets, strength in the financial sector and bid speculation. Dutch banking group ABN Amro shares gained 3.5% after confirming the takeover talks. Barclays shares were also higher, up 3.7%. U.K. insurer Prudential climbed 3.3% to 731.50 pence amid merger consolidation. The U.K. FTSE 100 added 0.5%, the German DAX 30 gained 0.4%, and the French CAC 40 rose 0.8%.
- Elena
- 20 Mar, 2007
- New York City
U.S. stocks traded modestly higher, awaiting the Fed Reserve''s interest-rate decision. Investors received well the Commerce Department''s report that construction of new homes and apartments rose by 9%. However, homebuilders declined on the prospect of fewer permit applications. Toll Brothers, D.R. Horton, Centex, KB Home and Hovnanian Enterprises moved to the downside. Some deal talk also generated positive sentiment.
- Ivaylo
- 20 Mar, 2007
- New York City
Whitbread is viewed as a potential private equity break-up candidate on account of its diverse portfolio of assets. The financials sector are still in the spotlight after Barclays bank confirmed it was in merger talk with ABN Amro of the Netherlands. Prudential gained on broker comment, while Friends Provident slumped on poor annual results. In mid-morning trade, the FTSE 100 was down 7.5 points to 6,181.7.
- Ivaylo
- 20 Mar, 2007
- New York City
Asian stocks mostly ended higher Tuesday, with the Nikkei 225 average in Tokyo advancing for the second day in a row, led by export-related shares such as Toyota Motor after the yen dipped again against the U.S. dollar and the euro. The markets in Japan were lifted by news that the Bank of Japan voted to leave monetary policy unchanged. Most markets in the region finished in positive territory with only Taiwan and New Zealand closing slightly lower.
- Elena
- 20 Mar, 2007
- New York City
U.S. stock markets began trading in a mixed fashion on Tuesday, with investors cautious ahead of the Fed Reserve''s decision on interest rates, but relieved that the house construction increased. Housing starts rose 9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.525 million in February from a revised 10-year low of 1.399 million in January, beating the expectations for an increase to 1.46 million.
- Ivaylo
- 20 Mar, 2007
- New York City
The benchmark index opened with a positive bias but trading was volatile and the market gyrated until afternoon trade, when gathered momentum and finished in positive territory. IT stocks ended lower on stronger rupee. Banks and cement shares advanced. Ranbaxy led the advancers, while BHEL and Infosys led the decliners. Strong capital inflows drove the Indian rupee to an 18-month high against the dollar.
- Ivaylo
- 20 Mar, 2007
- New York City
European markets traded in a tight range on Tuesday with gains from ABN Amro and from car-makers canceled out by worries ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve next interest-rate decision and ill-received earnings from companies such as Deutsche Post. Investors took a breather after the previous session strong gains. By mid morning, Frankfurt Xetra Dax fell 0.2%, the CAC 40 in Paris was off 0.4 % and London FTSE 100 edged 0.1 % higher.
- Ivaylo
- 20 Mar, 2007
- New York City
Platinum made a significant advance Monday as speculative buying continued in otherwise quiet trading conditions. Gold and silver futures consolidated in relatively narrow ranges. The metals advanced modestly much of the session after Asian stocks rose overnight. The U.S. stock market was also stronger as the gold pits were closing. Energy stocks finished mostly lower with gasoline bucking the trend. Arabica coffee futures ended weaker as well as raw sugar futures.
- 123jump.com Staff
- 19 Mar, 2007
- New York City
Market averages rebounded after a week of sideways trading. Barclays PLC and ABN Amro Holding are in preliminary merger talks. European stocks got a lift on the news. In the U.S. ServiceMaster agreed to go private for $4.5 billion and Triad Hospital acquired Community Health Systems for $5.1 billion. Oil field service company Hurluleus paid $2.3 billion in cash to purhcase Todco. Petrobras of Brazil purchased second largest fuel disctibutor Ipiranga for $4.1 billion.
- 123jump.com Staff
- 19 Mar, 2007
- New York City
After a week of loss stocks regained their upward march on merger news. Community Health fell 4.2%, while Triad rose 5.4%. Drilling contractor Todco rose 19% when oil field-services company Hercules Offshore Inc. agreed to acquire the company for $2.3 billion in cash and stock. Hercules fell 6.1%. Barclays is reporteed to be in exclusive talks to buy ABN Amro Bank.
- Elena
- 19 Mar, 2007
- New York City
European stocks finished Monday trading session on a positive note, boosted by deal speculation in various sectors. Dutch banking group ABN Amro led the financial sector higher, rising 9.5% amid speculation that it had received a bid offer for 81 billion-pound from Britain''s Barclays. Brokers also helped the sector, with Deutsche Bank rising 1.7% on upgrades. The U.K. FTSE 100 rose 1%, the German DAX 30 climbed 1.4%, and the French CAC-40 gained 1.4%.
- Elena
- 19 Mar, 2007
- New York City
U.S. stock averages traded sharply higher on Monday, with the Dow up 100 points, lifted by overseas gains and a series of deal announcements including merger talk between two European banks. Dutch banking group ABN Amro jumped 9% amid reports that it is in merger talks with the U.K.''s Barclays. The offer is likely to spark a bidding war. Todco soared 17% after Hercules Offshore agreed to buy it for $2.3 billion. Triad Hospitals rose 5% on $5 billion offer from Community Health.
- Ivaylo
- 19 Mar, 2007
- New York City
London equities rose on Monday as a flurry of M&A activity restored some momentum to the market. Barclays was in focus as it was revealed the British bank was among several European lenders that has made approaches to ABN Amro of the Netherlands. Mid-cap company Mothercare was also in demand as well as Laird Group. The FTSE 100 was up 28 points at 6,158.6.