Japan Topix Index Retreats After Yen Gains on Ukraine Tensions

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Japanese shares fell, with the Topix index heading for a fourth decline this week, after the yen gained yesterday amid escalating tensions in Ukraine.

The Topix lost 0.1 percent to 1,164.22 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, poised for a 0.8 percent loss this week and a 0.7 percent drop on the month. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average sank 0.3 percent today to 14,360.99. The yen held at 102.29 per dollar after rising 0.2 percent yesterday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Ukraine against continuing an anti-separatist offensive. The agreement to disarm rebels signed last week in Geneva by Ukraine, Russia, the European Union and the U.S. is on the brink of collapse. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry cautioned that Russia was running out of time to comply with the accord, as Russian forces began new military exercises on the border of Ukraine.

Data today showed inflation in Tokyo jumped the most since 1992, pumped up by a sales-tax increase and a year of unprecedented stimulus from the Bank of Japan. Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 2.7 percent in April from a year earlier, less than the 2.8 percent median estimate of 27 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Nationally, the same gauge rose 1.3 percent in March, the same as the previous month, statistics bureau data showed today. The yen erased gains against the dollar after the figures were released.

Futures on the Standard & Poor 500 Index were little changed today. The measure closed near a record yesterday as technology companies rallied after Apple Inc. results topped estimates to offset a slump in phone shares.

Source : Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Rise on Earnings as Yen Climbs; Russian Shares Drop

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U.S. stocks rose, pushing the Standard & Poor��s 500 Index near a record, after better-than-estimated earnings from Apple Inc. and Caterpillar Inc. The yen climbed, while Russian equities slid a fourth day as the conflict in Ukraine escalated.

The S&P 500 added 0.2 percent to 1,878.61 as of 4 p.m. in New York. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 0.5 percent. The yen strengthened against all but one of its most-traded counterparts. Copper, silver and wheat advanced. Spain��s borrowing costs declined to a record at an auction. The yield on 10-year Treasuries slipped one basis point to 2.69 percent. Russia��s Micex Index slid 2.2 percent.

More than 60 companies in the S&P 500 release quarterly results today, making it the busiest day of the season. Apple led gains in technology stocks after iPhone sales beat projections. President Vladimir Putin warned Ukraine against continuing its anti-separatist offensive after government troops killed five rebels and prompted Russia��s military to begin new drills on the two nations�� border.

Copy Source : Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Rise as Apple Leads Tech Shares Higher on Earnings

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U.S. stocks rose, with the Standard & Poor 500 Index near a record, as better-than-forecast earnings from Apple Inc. and Facebook Inc. boosted technology shares.

Apple jumped 8.1 percent after selling more iPhones than analysts predicted. Zimmer Holdings Inc. surged 12 percent after it agreed to buy rival orthopedic-device maker Biomet Inc. in a deal valued at $13.4 billion. 3M fell 1.1 percent after profit missed estimates, while Verizon Communications Inc. dropped the most in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on concerns about a shift in revenue. Qualcomm sank 3.4 percent as results fell short of forecasts.

The S&P 500 rose 0.3 to 1,881.76 at 1:08 p.m. in New York, bringing it to about nine points from a record. The Dow average added 20.68 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,522.33. The Nasdaq 100 Index, which includes Apple, climbed 1.1 percent.

Copy: Bloomberg

European Stocks Rise as Alstom, Telekom Austria Rally Amid M&A

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European stocks rose, rebounding from yesterday��s loss, as companies from Alstom SA to Telekom Austria AG rallied on mergers-and-acquisitions activity, while Russia resumed military drills along its border with Ukraine.

Alstom climbed 11 percent after people familiar with the matter said General Electric Co. has held talks to buy the French train maker. Telekom Austria jumped 6.3 percent after America Movil SAB said it will buy out the company��s minority shareholders. Technip SA added 8.8 percent after posting profit that beat projections. Konecranes Oyj slid 3.5 percent after reporting first-quarter sales that missed analysts�� estimates.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.3 percent to 336.13 at the close of trading after rallying as much as 0.8 percent and sliding as much as 0.5 percent. The benchmark fell yesterday for the first time in four days as new-house sales in the U.S. unexpectedly plunged. The gauge remains 0.9 percent away from the six-year high it reached on April 4.

Copy Source : Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Climb as Apple, Facebook Lead Earnings Surprises

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U.S. stocks advanced, pushing the Standard & Poor��s 500 Index to near a record, as earnings from Apple Inc. to Facebook Inc. and Caterpillar Inc. topped estimates.

Apple jumped 8.2 percent after after selling more iPhones than analysts predicted. Facebook gained 3.2 percent after net income almost tripled on of a surge in mobile-advertising revenue. Caterpillar Inc. added 2.6 percent after raising its forecast for 2014 profit target.

The S&P 500 climbed 0.4 percent to 1,882.20 at 9:31 a.m. in New York, leaving it eight points below its all-time high set on April 2. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 18.44 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,520.09. The Nasdaq 100 Index, which includes Apple and Facebook, climbed 1.5 percent.

The S&P 500 fell 0.2 percent yesterday, snapping a six-day rally, as companies including Amgen Inc. reported worse-than-estimated results and sales of new houses unexpectedly dropped.

Source : Bloomberg