IBTimes.com : Global Markets

Weekly Roundup: Asian Markets Fall On Weak China Data And Euro Zone Debt Concerns

Sat, 26 May 2012 05:17:54 GMT

Asian markets fell in the week on increasing concerns about China's economic slowdown and Greece exiting the euro zone.

The Pain In Spain: Bankia Bailout, 5 Credit-Rating Downgrades

Sat, 26 May 2012 03:30:19 GMT

Spain's Bankia S.A. requested the country's government provide it with a bailout worth €19 billion ($24 billion) on Friday, the same day Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it lowered its ratings on five financial institutions based in the Iberian nation.

US Stocks - Time To 'Sell In May And Go Away'?

Fri, 25 May 2012 21:37:15 GMT

You can't blame investors for feeling a bit squeamish regarding deploying new money in the U.S. stock market these days, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s (DJIA) recent slide from 13,300 to 12,450 unnerving even the most experienced institutional investors. Where’s the market headed in the next six months?.

Investors Love Rio: Why Foreign Companies Are Buying Into Brazil's Real Economy

Fri, 25 May 2012 21:28:23 GMT

Investing in Brazil's booming economy has turned another page as foreign companies, especially Japanese firms, move from putting money into the nation's financial industry to putting it into the real economy of South America's largest nation.

US Stocks Close Mostly Up Week With Mostly Down Day: Daily Markets Wrap

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:27:15 GMT

U.S. equities closed a moderately green week with a moderately red day on Friday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 74.92 points, or 0.60 percent, to 12,454.83, the S&P 500 index dropped 2.86 points, or 0.22 percent, to 1,317.82, and the Nasdaq Composite index dipped 1.85 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,837.53.

French, Germany Consumer Confidence Holding Up -- A Dangerous Sign of Euro Zone Crisis Fatigue?

Fri, 25 May 2012 18:33:27 GMT

French and German consumer confidence showed unexpected strength, reports showed Friday. While the market is cheering about the "good news," some economists view this as a warning sign of a euro zone crisis fatigue - something that is as dangerous, if not more so than the crisis itself.

EU Sues Argentina For 'Protectionism' As Trade Row Deepens

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:42:50 GMT

The European Union has filed a suit with the World Trade Organization against Argentina’s import restrictions, raising the dispute between the EU and the South American nation only weeks after Buenos Aires nationalized Spanish oil firm Repsol’s subsidiary in the country.

Facebook Shares Drop Again On New Probes Despite Morgan Stanley Investor Pledges

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:19:16 GMT

Shares of Facebook (Nasdaq: FB), the No. 1 social network, fell 3.4 percent again Friday, a week after their disastrous debut in their initial public offering.

US Treasury Declines To Call China A Currency 'Manipulator'

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:59:07 GMT

The U.S. Treasury declined Friday to name China as a currency manipulator, a move that is likely to intensify an already hot debate in the U.S. presidential campaigning.

Quest Software Jumps On Dell Purchase Report

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:55:06 GMT

Shares of Quest Software (Nasdaq; QSFT) jumped 5 percent Friday after a report it would be acquired by Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), for as much as $2 billion.

Facebook Shares Fall In Early Trading

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:22:37 GMT

Shares of Facebook (Nasdaq: FB), the No. 1 social network, fell in early activity Friday, a week after their disastrous debut in their initial public offering.

Spain's Bankia Suspends Shares On Bailout Rumors

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:44:53 GMT

Bankia, Spain's fourth largest bank, reportedly asked for the suspension ahead of a board meeting on Friday afternoon aimed at redrawing its accounts for 2011 and submitting a plan to bolster its finances.

Pre-Market Movers (Frontline, EMC Corporation, Deutsche Bank, SAP, Carnival Corporation, Wells Fargo & Company and BHP Billiton Limited)

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:32:38 GMT

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade Friday are: Frontline Ltd, EMC Corporation, Deutsche Bank AG, SAP AG, Carnival Corporation, Wells Fargo & Company and BHP Billiton Limited.

After Greece Exits The Euro, What's Next? An Illustrated Guide To 5 Possible Scenarios

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:52:02 GMT

Moving swiftly from the realm of tin foil-hat conspiracy to a bullet point being openly talked about as fait accompli by international financiers, an exit by Greece from the European common currency dominated conversation this week. But what would actually happen once Greece left the euro?.

Facebook, ‘Titanic' Of IPOs, Could Poison Tech Company Pipeline

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:49:51 GMT

Faced with the disastrous fallout from the initial public offering of Facebook (Nasdaq: FB), the No. 1 social network, other technology companies that had been waiting to go next may reconsider.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 5/25/2012

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:45:26 GMT

The Australian sharemarket lost ground for the third consecutive day and week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) down 0.6 pct or 25 pts to 4081.2 today. Nine out of 12 sectors finished in the red today and the broader market hit a fresh six-month low. On June 17, the Greeks will need to return to the polls to vote for a President for the second time.

US Stock Futures Point To Higher Opening Friday

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:29:24 GMT

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a higher opening Friday ahead of the Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index and Inflation Expectation survey.

BSE Sensex, NSE Nifty Hover Between Red And Green; Oil, Auto And IT Shares Worst Hit

Fri, 25 May 2012 08:12:43 GMT

Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex started on a negative note Friday and was trading in the red in the morning session.

Asian Markets Fall On China And Euro Zone Concerns

Fri, 25 May 2012 04:59:45 GMT

Asian markets fell Friday on increasing concerns about China’s economic slowdown and Greece exiting the euro zone.

Prada Embarks on Ambitious Expansion Plan

Fri, 25 May 2012 03:53:58 GMT

Italian fashion brand label Prada SpA is about to embark on an ambitious expansion rollout in the next three years mainly to pursue the promising income from the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) as well as from countries in the Persian Gulf.

China’s First Commercial Plane Hampered with Approval Delays

Fri, 25 May 2012 03:52:42 GMT

The flight of China's first commercial plane has been delayed owing to the rescheduling done by Chinese authorities of its final airworthiness test certification.

$8.5B Budget Approved For Origin and Conoco Australia's LNG Project

Fri, 25 May 2012 03:51:44 GMT

A group of domestic and international banks has granted in principle the $8.5 billion in project financing needed to finally drumroll the $20 billion Australia Pacific liquefied natural gas (LNG) project of Origin Energy Ltd. and ConocoPhillips.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 5/25/2012

Fri, 25 May 2012 03:32:34 GMT

Yesterday the Australian share market kicked off the session a little higher for the third time this week, only to start losing ground following some disappointing economic data out from China. The latest HSBC Flash Manufacturing PMI came in at 48.7 down from 49.3 points the month before. By the close of trade the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) fell 12 points to 4,106 points.

Swan Dashes Hope of Tax Relief for World’s Wealthiest Woman, but Govt Allows Rinehart’s Company to Bring in Foreign Workers

Fri, 25 May 2012 03:27:35 GMT

Earning $1 million every 30 minutes has its disadvantages too. For Gina Rinehart who was named this week by BRW Magazine as the world's wealthiest woman with $29 billion to her name, it meant more public scrutiny of her companies as well as her private life, particularly the ongoing family court feud.

Greece's Predicament: Lessons From Argentina

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:09:07 GMT

By Peter Kretzmer and Mickey LevyGreece's economic and financial crisis is quickly deteriorating and there is no strategy ? or even a coalition government ? to figure out what to do next.