Nikkei Futures Rise After U.S. Stocks Rebound on Earnings, Data

---

Japanese stock-index futures jumped after the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index rebounded from the worst weekly loss in two years on better-than-estimated retail sales and earnings from Citigroup Inc.

Nikkei 225 Stock Average futures were indicated higher in Osaka as of 8:12 a.m. in Tokyo after rising 0.9 percent overnight. Futures on the S&P 500 were little changed after the U.S. benchmark rebounded 0.8 percent yesterday. The yen was little changed against the dollar. Palladium futures slipped 0.2 percent in light trade after the metal advanced to the highest since August 2011 amid concern that violence in eastern Ukraine may lead to supply problems from Russia, the biggest producer.

China is due to release lending and money supply figures today before economic growth and industrial-production data tomorrow. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart will address a financial markets conference as manufacturing and inflation reports are released. Citigroup, the third-biggest U.S. bank, reported an unexpected profit increase in the first quarter, while retail sales increased in March by the most since September 2012.

Copy Source : Bloomberg

U.S. Stock Rally on Citigroup, Data as Treasuries, Ruble Drop

---

The Standard & Poor 500 Index rebounded from the worst weekly loss in two years, weathering a selloff in the final hour, after retail sales rose the most since 2012 and Citigroup Inc.™s earnings unexpectedly rose. Treasuries fell with the ruble and commodities advanced on concern the situation in Ukraine is worsening.

The S&P 500 gained 0.8 percent to 1,830.61 at 4 p.m. in New York, after briefly erasing gains in the final hour. Citigroup jumped 4.4 percent. The 10-year Treasury yield rose two basis points to 2.64 percent. The ruble slid 0.9 percent against the dollar after clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian gunmen turned deadly. The S&P GSCI gauge of 24 raw materials rose 0.9 percent to the highest level since March 4. Palladium advanced to the highest since August 2011, wheat rallied 2.8 percent and nickel jumped to the highest since February 2013.

Citigroup, the third-biggest U.S. bank, reported an unexpected profit increase in the first quarter after disappointing results from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and a selloff in technology stocks sent the S&P 500 to its biggest weekly loss since June 2012. Retail sales increased in March by the most since September 2012, Commerce Department figures showed. European officials weighed expanding sanctions against Russia over Ukraine

Copy Source: Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Climb on Citigroup, Retail Sales as Ruble Declines

---

The Standard & Poor 500 Index gained, following the worst week since 2012, after Citigroup Inc. earnings beat estimates and U.S. retail sales increased more than forecast. Treasuries fell with the ruble and commodities rose amid worsening violence in Ukraine.

The S&P 500 gained 1 percent to 1,833.55 at 12:41 p.m. in New York, after last week 2.7 percent loss, as Citigroup jumped 4.4 percent. The 10-year Treasury yield rose two basis points to 2.65 percent. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.3 percent, erasing earlier declines. The ruble slid 0.8 percent against the dollar after clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian gunmen turned deadly. The S&P GSCI gauge of 24 raw materials rose 0.9 percent to the highest level since March 4. Palladium advanced to the highest since August 2011, wheat rallied 3.3 percent and nickel jumped to the highest since February 2013.

Citigroup, the third-biggest U.S. bank, reported an unexpected profit increase in the first quarter after disappointing results from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and a selloff in technology stocks sent the S&P 500 to its biggest weekly loss since June 2012. Retail sales increased in March by the most since September 2012, Commerce Department figures showed.

Copy Source : Bloomberg

European Stocks Advance After Worst Week in a Month; Miners Gain

---

European stocks pared earlier losses and rebounded from their worst week in a month, led by a rally in miners, while investors weighed violence in Ukraine.

A gauge of basic-resources companies in the region climbed 1.9 percent, with Polymetal International Plc gaining 4.7 percent and Randgold Resources Ltd. adding 3.6 percent. ThromboGenics NV surged 17 percent after people familiar with the matter said Novartis AG and Shire Plc are among drugmakers weighing offers for the Belgian eye-medicine company. PSA Peugeot Citroen slid 6.3 percent after saying it will cut its model lineup by almost half.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.3 percent to 329.79 at the close in London, paring earlier declines of as much as 1 percent. The gauge lost 3.1 percent last week.

Europe™s VStoxx Index, a gauge of Euro Stoxx 50 Index options prices, rose 1.1 percent to 18.5 today, the highest level since March 24.

Sumber: Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Rally After Retail Sales Increase, Citigroup Profit

---

U.S. stocks rebounded from the worst weekly losses in two years after data showed retail sales increased the most since 2012 and Citigroup Inc. earnings unexpectedly rose.

Citigroup advanced 4.2 percent as the company recouped funds previously set aside for bad loans and cut losses at a division holding unwanted assets.

The Standard & Poor™s 500 Index rose 0.6 percent to 1,827.10 at 9:30 a.m. in New York. The U.S. equity benchmark slid 2.6 percent last week, the biggest drop since June 2012. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 100.25 points, or 0.6 percent, to 16,127 today. The Nasdaq Composite Index and Russell 2000 Index climbed 1 percent.

Retail sales increased in March as Americans bought more cars, clothing and garden supplies, helping the economy recover from a weather-depressed start to the year. The 1.1 percent advance exceeded the median projection in a Bloomberg survey and followed a 0.7 percent gain in February that was bigger than previously reported, Commerce Department figures showed.

Copy Source : Bloomberg

Topix Caps Longest Losing Streak Since October on Yen

---

Japanese shares fell, with the Topix index erasing gains in the final minutes of trading to cap its longest losing streak since October, as shippers slumped and the yen gained.

Nippon Yusen KK, Japan™s biggest shipper, lost 3.1 percent to lead declines in the marine-transport sector after a measure of commodity shipping costs tumbled 17 percent last week. Sharp Corp., a supplier of displays for Apple Inc.™s iPhone and iPad, sank 8.7 percent on saying it™s considering ways to raise capital. Toyota Motor Corp., which sank 8.3 percent last week, rebounded 1.8 percent today after Mizuho Financial Group Inc. said valuations are œrelatively cheap. Oil explorer Inpex Corp. gained 2.6 percent as crude prices rose.

The Topix fell 0.1 percent to 1,132.76 at the close of trading in Tokyo, its seventh straight daily decline. The measure reversed early losses to rise as much as 0.9 percent and maintained its advance for most of the afternoon session, only erasing gains in the final minutes. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 0.4 percent to 13,910.16. The yen gained 0.1 percent to 101.57 per dollar after strengthening 1.6 percent last week.

The Topix tumbled 6.7 percent last week to extend its 2014 decline to 13 percent, the steepest among 24 developed markets tracked by Bloomberg. The Japanese measure™s 14-day relative strength index dropped to 33 today, near the 30 threshold that some traders view as a signal the index has dropped too far.

Source : Bloomberg

Hong Kong Stocks Swing as HKEx Extends Gain

---

Hong Kong stocks swung between gains and losses, after the benchmark index capped a three-week climb, as Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. led the advance while China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. fell the most.

Hong Kong Exchanges gained 2.3 percent, extending last week™s 12 percent surge on plans for cross-border equity trading with China. Great Wall Motor Co. advanced 2.1 percent, leading gains on the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index. China Petroleum, also known as Sinopec, dropped 2.9 percent after its unit forecast a loss. HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe™s biggest lender, slid after JPMorgan Chase & Co. reported a drop in profit.

The Hang Seng Index rose 0.1 percent to 23,015.46 at the break in Hong Kong after falling as much as 0.4 percent. The gauge gained 2.2 percent last week with brokerages climbing after China announced the tie-up between the Hong Kong and Shanghai bourses. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, also known as the H-share index, dropped 0.4 percent to 10,189.26.

Source : Bloomberg

Topix Climbs After Worst Week Since June

---

Japan™s Topix index rose, after capping its worst week since June, as gains for automakers and oil producers countered a decline by shippers.

Toyota Motor Corp., which sank 8.3 percent last week, rebounded 3.3 percent today after Mizuho Financial Group Inc. said valuations are œrelatively cheap. Oil explorer Inpex Corp. gained 2.3 percent as crude prices rose. Nippon Yusen KK, Japan™s biggest shipper, lost 2.8 percent to pace declines in the marine transport sector after a measure of commodity shipping costs tumbled 17 percent last week. Sharp Corp., a supplier of displays for Apple Inc.™s iPhone and iPad, sank 8.4 percent after saying it™s considering ways to raise capital.

The Topix added 0.5 percent to 1,139.41 at the break in Tokyo after falling as much as 0.5 percent. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average slipped 0.1 percent to 13,944.43. The yen gained 0.1 percent to 101.53 per dollar after strengthening 1.6 percent last week.

Source : Bloomberg

China Stocks Fall as Sinopec Shanghai Leads Energy Shares Lower

---

China™s stocks fell for a second day as Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Co. led a drop for energy companies after forecasting a loss, overshadowing gains by consumer companies.

Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical sank 4.6 percent after forecasting a loss in the first quarter. Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. jumped by the 10 percent daily limit after the company said first-quarter net income may have risen by as much as 274 percent.

The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.2 percent to 2,127.28 at 9:48 a.m. local time. The gauge surged 3.5 percent last week after a deal to link Shanghai and Hong Kong markets that gives Chinese investors unprecedented access to Macau casino stocks and Tencent Holdings Ltd. The CSI 300 Index retreated 0.2 percent to 2,265.63. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index advanced 0.2 percent. The Bloomberg China-US Equity Index, the measure of the most-traded U.S.-listed Chinese companies, fell 1.2 percent in New York.

Source : Bloomberg

Hong Kong Stocks Fluctuate on Developers

---

Hong Kong stocks swung between gains and losses, after the benchmark index capped a three-week advance, as developers slid and energy producers climbed.

The Hang Seng Index was little changed at 23,011.14 as of 9:34 a.m. in Hong Kong after rising as much as 0.2 percent and sliding 0.4 percent. The gauge gained 2.2 percent last week after China said it would allow cross-border equity trading. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, also known as the H-share index, added 0.2 percent to 10,246.03

The Hang Seng Index is down 1.3 percent this year as China weathers its worst economic slowdown since the global financial crisis. The gauge traded at 10.5 times estimated earnings on April 11, compared with 15.5 times for the Standard & Poor™s 500 Index. The H-share gauge has rebounded 11 percent through last week since entering a bear market on March 20.

China™s economy is growing at an acceptable pace, central bank Deputy Governor Yi Gang said in an interview with Bloomberg News in Washington, adding to signals policy makers will avoid broad stimulus to counter the slowdown. The nation will this week release data including first-quarter gross domestic product and industrial production.

Source : Bloomberg