Nikkei Futures Fall on Yen Gains as Citigroup Slips After Market

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Japanese index futures declined with U.S. stocks as the yen traded near a one-week high amid concern western nations will step up pressure on Russia, while crude oil weakened. Citigroup Inc. dropped in extended trading after failing the Federal Reserve™s stress test for banks.

Nikkei 225 Stock Average futures fell 0.4 percent in Chicago as the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index closed 0.7 percent lower after losses accelerated in the last hour of trading. Japan™s currency was little changed at 102.08 per dollar by 6:44 a.m. in Tokyo following yesterday™s 0.2 percent gain. Citigroup lost more than 5 percent after hours, while JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America Corp. rose after saying they™ll boost dividends. Oil in New York jumped 1.1 percent as gold fell.

U.S. stocks erased earlier gains fueled by better-than-estimated durable goods data after President Barack Obama said there were consequences for being complacent over Russia™s annexation of Crimea. Citigroup™s capital plan was among five that failed the Fed™s tests. Bank of America increased its quarterly payout after the Fed™s statement, which said the lender -- along with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. -- only passed after cutting requests for buybacks and dividends.

Copy Source : Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Fall as Obama Comments Raise Concerns Over Crimea

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U.S. stocks fell, erasing gains that sent the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index to within three points of a record, on concern the situation in Ukraine may escalate after President Barack Obama said the international order is being tested.

The S&P 500 fell 0.7 percent to 1,852.6 at 4 p.m. in New York, with declines accelerating in the final hour of trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 98.89 points, or 0.6 percent, to 16,268.99. The Russell 2000 Index sank 1.9 percent for its biggest drop in almost two months.

The Nasdaq Internet index retreated 2.5 percent for a sixth day of losses and is down 11 percent since a high on March 6. The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology exchange-traded fund lost 1.8 percent, sliding to the lowest since Jan. 9.

European Stocks Advance for a Second Day as Carmakers Lead Gains

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European stocks rose for a second day, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index posting its biggest two-day gain in three weeks, as auto companies climbed.

PSA Peugeot Citroen increased 2.8 percent, leading a gauge of auto-related stocks higher, as La Tribune newspaper reported the carmaker got more than 120,000 orders in a year for its 2008 crossover model. Standard Life Plc jumped 7 percent after saying a unit is buying Ignis Asset Management Ltd. from Phoenix Group Holdings. Lloyds Banking Group Plc slid the most since May 2012 as the U.K. government sold a stake in the lender.

The Stoxx 600 added 0.7 percent to 330.93 at the close of trading. The benchmark index has rallied 2 percent in the past two days, after falling 4 percent through March 24 as tension grew between the West and Russia over Ukraine. The measure is still heading for a 2.1 percent drop this month, its biggest monthly decline since June.

Copy Source : Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Rise, Led by Health-Care Shares While Facebook Drops

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U.S. stocks rose for a second day, led by health-care stocks, as data showed the economy is expanding at a rate that investors speculated won™t spur faster interest rate increases. Technology shares slipped.

Quest Diagnostics Inc. and Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings jumped at least 5 percent to a rally among health-care stocks. PVH Corp. jumped 5.4 percent after earnings exceeded its forecast. Facebook Inc. lost 2.1 percent after buying virtual-reality headset maker Oculus VR Inc. King Digital Entertainment Plc, the maker of the œCandy Crush smartphone game, slumped 9.1 percent on the first day of trading.

The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index added 0.2 percent to 1,869.40 at 12:23 p.m. in New York. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 22.13 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,390.01. Trading in S&P 500 stocks was 6 percent lower than the 30-day average during this time of the day.

The S&P 500 has advanced 1.2 percent this year through yesterday, putting it on course for a fifth consecutive quarterly gain. The index has accomplished that feat just seven times since its creation in 1957.

Copy Source: Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Advance as Investors Weigh Report on Durable Goods

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U.S. stocks climbed for a second day, as investors gauged the strength of the world™s largest economy after a report showed durable-goods orders advanced more than forecast while investment in business equipment fell.

The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index added 0.3 percent to 1,870.91 at 9:30 a.m. in New York. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 34.23 points, or 0.2 percent, to 16,402.11.

The S&P 500 has advanced 0.9 percent this year through yesterday, putting it on course for a fifth consecutive quarterly gain. The index has accomplished that feat just seven times since its creation in 1957.

The gauge rose 0.4 percent yesterday after data showed confidence among American consumers at a six-year high, adding to reports indicating the economy is pulling out of a slowdown linked to unusually harsh winter weather.

Demand for durable goods items meant to last at least three years climbed a more-than-forecast 2.2 percent, reflecting the biggest gain in automobile demand in a year, a Commerce Department report showed today.

Orders for U.S. business equipment fell in February for the second time in three months, signaling corporate investment will be slow to gain momentum following the severe weather that put a damper on demand.

A report at 9:45 a.m. New York time will probably show that activity in the services sector has increased this month. Markit Economics Ltd.™s purchasing-managers index rose to 54 in March from 53.3 in February, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

Source : Bloomberg