Hong Kong H-Shares Gain Before HSBC China Manufacturing Report

---

Mainland Chinese stocks traded in Hong Kong rose as investors awaited the release of a private-sector gauge on manufacturing in the world��s second-biggest economy.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, also known as the H-share index, climbed 0.5 percent to 9,853.51 as of 9:32 a.m. in Hong Kong. The Hang Seng Index, the benchmark gauge of the city��s equities, added 0.1 percent to 22,276.87.

The Hang Seng Index fell 4.5 percent this year through last week and the H-share gauge sank 9.4 percent amid mounting concern China won��t meet its 7.5 percent target for economic growth. The Hang Seng Index traded at 10.3 times estimated earnings on May 2, compared with 16 for the Standard & Poor��s 500 Index.

The final reading of a survey from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics due today is expected to signal Chinese factory activity contracted in April for a fourth month, with economists projecting a level of 48.4.

Copy Source : Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Fluctuate as Ukraine Tensions Overshadow Jobs Report

---

U.S. stocks fluctuated, after an earlier rally that sent the Standard & Poor��s 500 Index above its closing record, as concern about escalating tension in Ukraine overshadowed data showing payrolls rose the most in two years.

Health-care stocks dropped 0.8 percent, as Merck & Co., Pfizer Inc. and Johnson & Johnson lost more than 1.3 percent. LinkedIn Corp. declined 6.4 percent after giving a quarterly sales forecast that missed analysts�� estimates. Casino stocks rallied as Macau revenue topped forecasts.

The S&P 500 rose 0.1 percent to 1,884.71 at 12:17 p.m. in New York, after rallying 0.4 percent to climb above its highest closing level reached April 2. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 9.85, or 0.1 percent, to 16,549.02. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 0.2 percent. Trading in S&P 500 stocks was 7.6 percent below the 30-day average at this time of day.

The United Nations Security Council was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting at Russia��s request. Tensions rose in Ukraine as the country sent armored vehicles and artillery to retake Slovyansk, a stronghold for pro-separatist forces, defying President Vladimir Putin��s demand to pull back troops with Russia��s army massed across the border.

Source : Bloomberg

European Stocks Drop as Ukraine Clashes With Russian Separatists

---

European stocks declined, paring their third weekly gain, as Ukrainian forces clashed with pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country.

Software AG slid 2.1 percent after first-quarter sales missed analysts�� estimates. Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc rallied the most since January 2012 after saying quarterly profit tripled and impairments fell. Deutsche Telekom AG, which owns two-thirds of T-Mobile US Inc., added 1.1 percent as people familiar with the matter said Sprint Corp. may bid for the American mobile-phone operator.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index retreated 0.2 percent to 337.76 at the close of trading, paring its advance this week to 1.3 percent. The benchmark briefly rose as much as 0.2 percent today as a report showed the U.S. economy created jobs at a faster-than-estimated rate last month. Western-European markets, with the exception of the U.K., Ireland and Denmark, were closed yesterday for the May Day holiday.

European equities fell as Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov said that forces loyal to the acting government in Kiev have killed, wounded or captured many pro-Russian separatists during an operation in the east of the country.

Copy Source : Bloomberg

Asian Stocks Advance for Second Day After U.S. Payrolls Surge

---

Asian stocks rose for a second day amid low trading volumes after data showed U.S. payrolls climbed the most in two years last month and the jobless rate fell.

The MSCI Asia Pacific excluding Japan Index gained 0.1 percent to 476.10 at 9:31 a.m. in Hong Kong, following three weeks of losses. Markets in Japan and South Korea are closed today and tomorrow for holidays.

Australia S&P/ASX 200 Index and Hong Kong Hang Seng Index were little changed. New Zealand NZX 50 Index slid 0.5 percent. Futures on the Standard & Poor 500 Index were little changed.

U.S. employers added 288,000 workers in April, marking the biggest upside surprise in the payrolls data since February 2012. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg predicted an increase of 218,000.

The jobless rate dropped to 6.3 percent, the lowest level since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008.

The HSBC Holdings Plc/Markit Economics Ltd. gauge of China manufacturing will probably confirm a final April reading of 48.4, up from a preliminary reading of 48.3, while still signaling contraction.

An official gauge of April factory output released last week came in at a lower-than-projected level of 50.4, from 50.3 in March.

Source : Bloomberg

U.S. Stocks Retreat as Ukraine Tensions Overshadow Jobs Report

---

U.S. stocks fell, after an earlier rally sent the Standard & Poor��s 500 Index above its closing record, as concern about escalating tension in Ukraine overshadowed data showing payrolls rose the most in two years.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.1 percent to 1,881.07 at 4 p.m. in New York, after rallying 0.4 percent earlier to climb above its highest closing level reached April 2. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 46.3 points, or 0.3 percent, to 16,512.57. The Nasdaq Composite Index was little changed. Trading in S&P 500 stocks was 11 percent below the 30-day average at this time of day.

The United Nations Security Council was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting at Russia��s request. Tensions rose in Ukraine as the country sent armored vehicles and artillery to retake Slovyansk, a stronghold for pro-separatist forces, defying President Vladimir Putin��s demand to pull back troops with Russia��s army massed across the border.

Source : Bloomberg