** MORNING WRAP **
** US MARKETS **
Dow 0,14%; Nasdaq 0,62%; S&P 0,41%; Soxx 3,22%; Russel2k 0,57%; DJAIG -2,27%;
10yr Bond 0,06%; 10yr Yield 5,06%; Crude future 68,53; Gold 657,6
| Telecom 1,35%| Utilities 0,85%| ConsDisc 0,76%| Energy 0,66%| Technology
0,58%| Industrials 0,46%| Financials 0,45%| Materials 0,29%| ConsStaples 0,06%|
Healthcare -0,43%
** US HEADLINES **
- NYSE to Submit $21 Billion Euronext Merger Proposal Today, Telegraph Says
- Bush Bond Market Favors Companies, Homeowners; Clinton Rewarded Traders
- Dollar Posts Gain Against Euro on Speculation of Increase in Interest Rate
- U.S. Stocks Rebound, Trimming Worst 2-Week Drop Since 2003; Goldman Gains
- Sony’s `Da Vinci Code’ Makes $77 Million in Debut, Exceeding Estimates
- Commodities, Led by Metals, Post Their Biggest Weekly Decline in 25 Years
- Crude Oil Drops After Iran Signals More Access for UN Nuclear Inspectors
** US: IN PLAY TODAY **
Today’s macro calendar is empty and only two notable names are reporting
earnings: Lowe’s Cos (LOW) and Campbell Soup (CPB).
** ASIAN MARKETS **
Nikkei -1,71%; Kospi -2,37%; HSI -1,16%; Taiwan -1,92%; China 0,33%; India
-4,48%; Thailand -2%; Australia -1,49%
** ASIAN HEADLINES **
- Asian Stocks Fall; PetroChina, BHP Billiton Fall on Cheaper Oil, Metals
- Yen May Advance as Japanese Growth, Inflation Push Interest Rates Higher
- China May Raise Banks’ Reserve Ratio as Part of Effort to Curb Loan Growth
- Jollibee Says China Expansion Is Held Back by Higher Rents and Redesign
- State Bank of India to Raise $400 Million in Debt Sale to Expand Overseas
- Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho to Post Fourth-Quarter Profit as Bad Loans Decline
- Thailand Posts Biggest Trade Deficit in 10 Months on Costlier Oil Imports
- Hong Kong’s Economic Growth Probably Accelerated in First Quarter on Trade
- Japan Stocks May Trail Asia as Commodity Costs, Stronger Yen Hurt Profit
** EUROPEAN MARKETS **
S&P future -0,01%; Bund future 0,21%; Crude future 68,1; €/$ 1,2724; Gold 644,2
** EUROPE: IN PLAY TODAY **
- DaimlerChrysler AG: The carmaker may face a $640
million fine to settle a U.S. government investigation of alleged
bribery, the magazine Der Spiegel said, citing unidentified
people at the company.
- Xstrata Plc: The company’s hostile C$16.1 billion
($14.3 billion) for Falconbridge Ltd. “undervalues” the
Canadian miner, whose profit is soaring on higher metal prices,
Falconbridge Chief Executive Officer Derek Pannell said.
- NYSE Group Inc. is close to making a bid to merge with Euronext NV, Europe’s
second-largest stock exchange, to create a transatlantic securities market,
three people with direct knowledge of the situation said.Just now NYSE announced
its offer to buy Euronext for 0.98 new shares and EUR 21.32 in cash.
- Credit Agricole SA is considering making a bid for Alliance & Leicester Plc,
the U.K.’s eighth- largest bank, French daily Le Figaro reported, without citing
anyone.
** EUROPE: UPS & DOWNS **
+ LUKOIL RAISED TO `BUY’ FROM `HOLD’ AT CITIGROUP
+ QIAGEN PRICE EST. RAISED TO $16.25 VS $14.90 AT MORGAN STANLEY
+ ERSTE RAISED TO `OVERWEIGHT’ FROM `NEUTRAL’ AT HSBC
+ BNP PRICE ESTIMATE RAISED TO EU88 FROM EU83 AT CITIGROUP
- BELGACOM PRICE ESTIMATE CUT TO EU27 FROM EU28 AT HSBC
- ZURICH FINANCIAL PRICE EST. CUT TO SF330 VS SF345 AT CITIGROUP
- SABMILLER PRICE EST. CUT TO 1,130P FROM 1,220P AT UBS