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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Clearing the loss of U.S. stocks Since the 2011 Lehman fuels Bulls

The breakthrough that raised 500 Standard & Poor's above its level before the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in September 2008 is an encouraging sign for the bulls, technical analysts said.

The benchmark for U.S. stocks rose 0.6 percent to 1254.6 yesterday, surpassing its closing level of 1251.70 on September 12, 2008, the last trading session before Lehman Brothers filed the largest bankruptcy in the world . After closing within 1 percent of the milestones in five of the six previous days, the index may now have room to rise, according to analysts' forecasts based price charts.

"It's a psychological and technical victory for the market," said Christopher Verrone, chief technical analyst in New York Strategas Research Partners. "It strengthens the case that 2011 might be better than a lot of people expect."

U.S. Government and expenditure of the Federal Reserve to stimulate the economy and 70 percent of S & P 500 surpassed profit forecasts for a record six consecutive quarters pushed the S & P 500, 85 per cent since March 2009. The final index from 2011 to 1374, according to the median projection of 11 strategists of the major Wall Street banks, which produces the largest rally of three years from 1997-1999.

The loss for the S & P 500 was 46 percent for the Lehman bankruptcy and March 9, 2009, as the worst recession since the 1930s intensified. The index began to recover three months before the contract ended in June 2009, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. You have to climb 25 percent to surpass its record of 1565.15 in October 2007.

'Kick-out'

In the week of the bankruptcy of Lehman, Bank of America Corp. took over Merrill Lynch & Co., as it teetered on collapse and the government seized American International Group Inc. The S & P 500 rose the last two days of the week after the government announced a plan to purge banks of toxic assets and crack down on short sellers.

"Lehman Brothers was really the kick-off to create this sense of fear, and we have not completely overcome that fear, but we are in a healing process," said Jeffrey Coons, president of Manning & Napier Advisors Inc. in Fairport, New York, which manages $ 35 billion. "The aggressive actions of the Fed right after Lehman continues today and has been an important engine for the stabilization of stock prices."

The S & P 500, up 13 percent in 2010, has advanced 6.3 percent in December after losing 0.2 percent in November and the publication of a total gain of 13 percent in September October, the largest increases in the months since 1998. The measure has risen 20 percent since the Fed chairman, Ben S. Bernanke suggested on Aug. 27 that he was willing to buy bonds to stimulate economic growth.

Tax cuts, GE

The MSCI World Index, a gauge of 1,660 stocks in 24 developed countries in the U.S. Hong Kong, is 1 percent of the liquidation of 46 percent drop since the collapse of Lehman. The index has gained 85 percent since March 2009, central banks around the world kept interest rates historically low and governments spent billions of dollars to stimulate growth.

If the MSCI World erase his loss, "would be a positive development and optimistic," said Christian Bendixen, director of technical research in the New York Bay Crest Partners LLC. "It has a psychological meaning and anecdotal."

The S & P 500 has climbed 13 of the last 16 weeks. The last time this happened was in 2004, according to Howard Silverblatt, New York, S & P index analyst for the elderly. The advance of December was driven by an agreement between President Barack Obama and Republican lawmakers to extend tax exemptions, and reports showing consumer confidence, retail and manufacturing surpassed economists' forecasts.

Priceline, Ford

Consumer stocks in the S & P 500 as the online travel agency Priceline.com, Inc. in Dearborn, Michigan, Ford Motor Co., had recovered all its losses from Lehman Brothers in New York on March 4. 500 The S & P consumer discretionary index has risen by 21 percent since then.

Priceline, based in Norwalk, Connecticut, has increased almost five times from September 2008 to $ 407, driven by a surge in hotel stays and international travel. Ford, most profitable automaker in the world and the only major U.S. car company to avoid bankruptcy last year, more than triple to $ 16.99 in demand for trucks and sport utility vehicles revived.

Analysts expect the S & P 500, earnings amount to $ 85.33 per share in 2010, up 38 percent from $ 61.77 per share in 2009. That's the biggest increase since 1988.

"The market is responding to earnings," said Hayes Miller, head of Boston's asset allocation in North America at Baring Asset Management Inc., which oversees about $ 50.6 billion U.S. dollars. "It is a commentary on business flexibility, the ability of companies to reduce costs and increase productivity. This seems likely to last until 2011."

U.S. stocks swung between gains and losses

U.S. stocks swung between gains and losses as government data showed the economy grew at a rate of 2.6 percent in the third quarter, faster than previously estimated, while less than expected by economists.

Nike Inc. fell 5.7 percent after it reported orders that missed some analysts' estimates. Xilinx Inc. fell 4.7 percent in the chip maker said third-quarter sales will be reduced more than it had previously forecast due to weak demand. Walgreen Co. rose 8.1 percent after the largest U.S. drugstore chain reported earnings that beat analysts' estimates.

500 of Standard & Poor's rose 0.1 percent to 1,256.22 at 9:32 am in New York. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 3.33 points, or 0.1 percent down at 11,536.49.

"The economy is on the right track, but people need to understand what is happening at a moderate pace," said Jeffrey Saut, chief investment strategist at Raymond James & Associates in St. Petersburg, Florida, who helps manage 240 billion dollars. "I'm going construction in 2011. However, with the feeling of being so optimistic for stocks that have the potential of an air pocket or withdrawn during the next month."

The S & P 500 ended yesterday his recovery from the decline of six months that followed the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. 's September 2008, extending its rally in a bear market low in March 2009 to 85 percent. The final index from 2011 to 1374, according to the median forecast of 11 strategists of the major Wall Street banks.

GDP data

The U.S. economy grew at a rate of 2.6 percent in the third quarter, marking a resumption of growth that can extend into 2011 as business and consumer confidence to win to pass. The revised gain in gross domestic product compares with an estimate of 2.5 percent issued last month .

preferred price indicator of the Federal Reserve, which is tied to consumer spending and excluding food costs and energy, rose at a rate of 0.5 percent per year, the slowest since records began in 1959 , today's report showed. Stocks rose more than initially reported, while the increase in household purchases was revised downward.

Another report may show sales of existing homes rose at an annual rate of 4.75 million, up 7.1 percent from October. Lower prices and mortgage rates have made houses more affordable, so you can keep the demand for support after the end of a tax credit the government brought down the industry. The National Association of Realtors is scheduled to release sales figures at 10 am in Washington.

Nike

Nike sank 5.7 percent to $ 87.02. The world's largest maker of athletic shoes orders from December to April rose 11 percent for a total of $ 7.7 billion, excluding currency fluctuations from one year ago. Who missed the 11.6 percent gain.

Xilinx lost 4.7 percent to $ 27.05. The company said third-quarter revenue will be reduced to 9 percent from the previous three months. Xilinx had previously said revenue would fall as much as 4 percent. The new forecast indicates that sales of only 563.9 million U.S. dollars in the quarter. Analysts had estimated revenues of 606.9 million U.S. dollars.

Walgreen gained 8.1 percent to $ 39.82. The largest chain of U.S. drug stores had fiscal first-quarter profit of 62 cents per share..

"Overbought"

The S & P 500 has become "overbought" levels after rising 6.3 percent this month and may be heading for losses early next year, according to technical analysts at UBS AG. The increase pushed the S & P 500 index, relative strength of 14 days, which continues the momentum by comparing the closing prices with daily trading ranges, above 70, indicating the box observers U.S. stockpiles of may be prone to falling.

"The market is overbought and we have early signs of deterioration of momentum," wrote analysts based in Zurich and Marc Riesner Michael Mueller in a report dated yesterday. "The air in the mouth is getting thinner and the market will be vulnerable to a setback early in the first quarter."

Asian stocks advanced after copper rose

Asian stocks advanced as commodity producers gained after copper rose to a record, oil rose and U.S. retail sales increased last week, adding to signs of economic recovery is underway.

Canon Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of cameras that receives about 28 percent of
sales

U.S., increased 1.9 percent in Tokyo. BHP Billiton Ltd., the world's biggest mining and Australia's largest oil and gas producer, rose 0.9 percent in Sydney. Mitsui & Co., with products as their main source of profit, gained 0.7 percent. Sanyo Electric Co., a maker of rechargeable batteries, fell 5.1 percent after his father Panasonic Corp. announced plans to bring the Company.

"The world economy is recovering moderately," said Naoki Fujiwara, who helps oversee $ 6 billion in Tokyo at Shinkin Asset Management Co. "Investors see the money is flowing into stocks and commodities, increased confidence the market. "

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.3 percent to 135.15 as of 19:48 in Tokyo, the highest since Nov. 9. About as many stocks advanced as declined as. The indicator rose to a five-week December 14 as U.S. reports increased economic reliance on a global recovery, easing concerns that Europe's crisis of debt and China's measures to curb inflation, will affect growth.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 0.2 percent, erasing gains of up to 0.2 percent after the government said it is increasingly pessimistic about exports and business confidence. The country's export growth accelerated for the first time in nine months in November, according to data released today show.

South Korea's Kospi Index, Australia's S & P / ASX 200 Index and New Zealand NZ 50 each Index advanced 0.1 percent. Taiwan's TAIEX index gained 0.4 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.2 percent. Shanghai, China Composite Index fell 0.9 percent as an increase in petrol and diesel prices sparked concern inflation will accelerate.

Recovery trend

Future over 500 of Standard & Poor's is little changed today, after Nike Inc., the world's largest maker of athletic shoes, said orders fell below analysts' estimates and the chip maker Xilinx Inc. sales forecast be reduced.

The measure rose 0.6 percent yesterday in New York at 1254.60, surpassing its closing level on September 12, 2008, the last trading day before Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed the largest bankruptcy in the world.

Same-store sales at selected U.S. retailers rose 4.2 percent last week, the biggest jump this holiday season, as more consumers are finished shopping, according to a survey released yesterday retailers.

"U.S. economic indicators continue to exceed expectations and the U.S. economy is in a recovery trend," said Hiroichi Nishi, an equity manager in Tokyo at Nikko Cordial Securities Inc. "The economic recovery Globally, the surplus money and confidence in government measures are driving the prices of commodities. "

Canon, HTC

Meters companies information technology and commodity producers led the advance among 10 industry groups in the MSCI index of Asia Pacific.

Canon rose 1.9 percent to 4.265 yen. HTC Corp., the Taiwanese mobile phone that has the U.S. as its largest market, increased 4.1 percent to NT $ 914. Hyundai Motor Co., the largest automaker in South Korea, gained 2.3 percent to ₩ 181 500 in Seoul.

BHP Billiton advanced 0.9 percent to A $ 45.82 in Sydney. Mitsui & Co. rose 0.7 percent to 1,325 yen in Tokyo. Noble Group Ltd., a Hong Kong provider of agricultural and industrial products, rose 1.9 percent to S $ 2.11 in Singapore.

Crude oil for February delivery gained 45 cents to $ 89.82 a barrel in New York yesterday, the highest close since Oct. 7, 2008. The London Metal Exchange index of six metals such as copper and aluminum rose 1.8 percent yesterday, rising for a third day. Copper, rubber and cotton prices rose to unprecedented levels during the night.

Rig orders

In Singapore, Sembcorp Marine Ltd., builder of the world's second most big oil, rose 2.6 percent to S $ 5.12. The company said it received an order to build two jack-up platforms, amounting to $ 400 million, Switzerland Noble Corp., the global deepwater oil and gas driller third largest.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 12 percent this year through yesterday, compared with gains of 13 percent in the S & P 500 and 11 percent in the Stoxx Europe 600 index. Stocks in Asia benchmark were valued at 14.8 times estimated earnings on average at the end of yesterday, compared with 14.7 times for the S & P 500 and 12.4 times for the Stoxx 600.

Among declining stocks, Sanyo Electric fell 5.1 percent to 130 yen in Tokyo, its lowest close since July 28. The controlling shareholders Panasonic Corp. said it will give minority shareholders 0.115 shares for each share of Sanyo, as part of plans to withdraw its 81 percent owned subsidiaries. Panasonic fell 1.5 percent to 1,152 yen.

Luxury Homes Australia

Australia's Lend Lease Group No. 1 developer, fell 1.1 percent to $ 8.65 in Sydney after Deutsche Bank AG cut its rating to "hold" from "buy."

The market also fell after the Real Estate Institute of Australia predicted that prices for luxury homes in the country will fall next year as homes worth at least $ 1 million ($ 1 million) ready for the increased sale. Leighton Holdings Ltd., the largest construction company in Australia, fell 2 percent to $ 31.52.

Wilmar International Ltd., the world's largest palm oil trader, fell by 5.1 percent to S $ 5.62 Singapore after saying it will invest 889.2 million yuan ($ 134 million) in a Kerry Properties company (China) Ltd. and Shangri-La China Ltd.. to develop a hotel in the Liaoning province of China.

"We believe the market can take this negative ad," wrote Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analyst Patrick Tiah and Nikhil Bhandari in a note to clients today. "This seems to be a sharp departure from Wilmar core business of processing agricultural products and there may be problems in the management of lost focus."

Hong Kong shares gained for a second day

Hong Kong shares gained for a second day to oil-related stocks rose after China raised prices of petrol and diesel, and U.S. retail sales rose last week, fueling optimism of economic recovery is underway.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., the nation's largest oil refiner, advanced 3.2 percent. Techtronic Industries Co., maker of Hoover vacuum cleaners and Ryobi power tools, rose 5.8 percent. Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd., Hong Kong No. 2 development by market value, rose 3.5 percent after the Hong Kong Economic Times said the company plans to Chairman Li Ka-shing to build trust firm's real estate investment.

The Hang Seng index rose 0.6 percent to 23,135.72 as of 12:07 pm local time. The Hang Seng China Enterprise Index called H shares of Chinese companies gained 0.7 percent to 12,691.04.

"H Shares are the best investment haven," said Liu Yang, president of Atlantis Investment Management Ltd., on Television. "I expect a better, brighter on the market that investors can make good money in the second half of next year, when the grounds become a reality to be recognized by the real long-term investors."

The Hang Seng index has rebounded 22 percent lower this year on May 25 on speculation that growth in income of companies to overcome concerns about the pace of U.S. economic recovery and China's measures to curb rising property prices. Participation in the trade of arms in an estimated average of 14.5 times earnings, compared with 12.7 times on 25 May.

Gas prices

China Petroleum, or Sinopec, rose 3.2 percent to HK $ 7.45, the third largest gain in the Hang Seng index. PetroChina Co., the largest oil refinery second largest, rose 0.9 percent to HK $ 10.

China raised prices of petrol and diesel today. The price of petrol will increase by up to 4 percent to 310 yuan (47 dollars) per ton and diesel by 300 yuan per ton, the National Development and Reform Commission, said.

Techtronic rose 5.8 percent to HK $ 10.62. Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings Ltd., which makes shoes for Nike Inc., rose 0.4 percent to $ 27.70 in Hong Kong.

Same-store sales at selected U.S. retailers last week posted the biggest jump this holiday season, increasing 4.2 percent as buyers completed the purchase of the gift, according to a survey released yesterday retailers.

Cheung Kong rose 3.5 percent to $ 120.40 in Hong Kong, the biggest gain in the Hang Seng index. The real estate trust investment is planning a share sale to raise over 10 billion yuan next year in the first yuan-denominated city of Hong Kong initial public offering, the Economic Times report said.

All but 11 stocks advanced among the 45 components of the Hang Seng index. His future was up 0.9 percent to 23,171.

China's stocks fell after the government raised fuel prices

China's stocks fell, led by producers of consumer staples and banks after the government raised fuel prices and concern grew about the profitability of lenders as the government tightens monetary policy.

Kweichow Moutai Co. sank to a one-month low amid speculation in energy costs for businesses will increase, dampening growth in earnings, after
China

increased the price of petrol and diesel for the third time this year. Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. lost 0.8 percent after Barclays Capital said that senior government requirements on loans to local lenders reduced rates of capital and profits.

"High oil prices can encourage the acceleration of inflation, adding to the concerns of investors about future policy tightening," said Zhang Kun, a strategist at Guotai Junan Securities Co. in Shanghai.

The Shanghai Composite Index fell 26.22, or 0.9 percent, to 2,877.90 at the close 3 pm, the fifth decline in six days. The index rose 1.8 percent last military tensions on the Korean peninsula relieved. The CSI 300 Index fell 1.1 percent, at 3,215.45.

The Shanghai Composite is the worst performing stock indicator Asia this year with a loss of 12 percent amid concern monetary tightening will slow economic growth and incomes of moisture. The government has ordered banks to set aside more money as reserves and raised interest rates to cool inflation and rising property prices were driven by record loan growth in 2009.

An indicator tracking consumer staples fell 1.3 percent, a fourth day of falls and loss in the second largest among the CSI 300's 10 industry groups.

Fuel prices

Kweichow Moutai, the largest Chinese manufacturer of alcoholic beverages by market value, fell 1.6 percent to 190.95 yuan, fixed to the lowest close since Nov. 23. Tsingtao Brewery Co., the second largest brewer by volume, fell 2 percent to 35.79 yuan. Shenzhen Agricultural Products Co. fell 3.6 percent to 18.46 yuan.

The gasoline will go up by 4 percent to 310 yuan per ton and diesel by 300 yuan per ton, the National Development and Reform Commission, said. New York crude has gained 9 percent since China's last price increase on 26 October.

"This is a movement long overdue since the government is worried about inflation, while refiners are suffering losses after crude costs soared," said Wei Hei, oil analyst at Bank of Communications Co. Holdings Beijing International. "We believe the increase of 4 percent is far from sufficient to compensate for oil profits."

two largest oil refineries in China invested in early returns. China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. fell 0.4 percent to 8.23 yuan after moving up 2.4 percent. PetroChina Co. deleted an increase of 2.2 percent to trade 0.7 percent to 11.44 yuan.

Food Prices

Inflation in China accelerated to 5.1 percent last month from a year earlier, the biggest jump in 28 months. Chinese consumers are more concerned about rising prices at any time in the last decade, the People's Bank of China said on December 15 in its quarterly survey of 20,000 households.

The extent of follow-up of producers of consumer goods has risen 17 percent this year, food prices rose and investors sought companies protected from inflation. Food inflation reached 10 percent in October, more than double the global rate of 4.4 percent.

China stocks are ready for a "very strong" 2011, food prices ease of April, said Donald Straszheim, China research director at International Strategy & Investment Group.

"In March or April, food prices in China will be off the front pages, and active monetary tightening will be off the front pages as well," he wrote in a report. "That set the shares of China, on the sides of the past, volatile and fear-title driven by a strong 2011."

The tracking index of financial companies fell 1.6 percent, the biggest drop in the CSI 300 and extends a loss of 24 percent this year, which was driven by stringent restrictions on lending.

Bank Loans

The China Banking Regulatory Commission may require lenders to assign risk weights 100 percent for loans fully covered by cash flows from the current 50 percent, and as much as 300 percent for loans uncovered, Barclays said in a note today, citing a China Business News report published yesterday. The risk weight rule has been made official, the note said, citing unidentified banks.

Agricultural Bank, the third largest by assets, lost 1.1 percent to 2.62 yuan, the biggest fall since 08 December. China Construction Bank Corp. fell 0.4 percent to 4.70 yuan, extending a decline of 22 percent in 2010.

Agricultural Bank will be most affected by the change, analysts at Barclays May and Zhang Yan Allen wrote. The government is trying to limit the risks of increased borrowing last year to vehicles of local government finances roads, bridges and railways. Chinese banks may have difficulties in recovering about 23 percent of credit 7.7 trillion yuan (1.2 billion) that have expanded, a person with knowledge of the data collected by the industry regulator, said in July.

German shares were little changed after the benchmark DAX index recovered all the losses

German shares were little changed after the benchmark DAX index recovered all the losses that followed the fall of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. 's September 2008 collapse.

Adidas AG, withdrew after rival Nike Inc. said orders fell short of some analysts' estimates. Pfleiderer AG rose to its highest level in more than a month after announcing it has signed a "standstill agreement" with the banks is valid until March 31, 2011.

The DAX index rose less than 0.1 percent, to 7,079.08 as of 14:52 in Frankfurt, having swung between gains and losses of more than 20 times today. The index has risen 19 percent this year, corporate profits rose, the Federal Reserve announced a program of 600 billion U.S. dollars of bonds with an option to purchase to help the recovery of U.S. economy and rescued the European Union, Greece and Ireland. HdaX The broader index added 0.1 percent today.

"Confidence will continue to hit for every development of the debt crisis in the euro area" in 2011, Michael McNaught-Davis, director of international equities at Scottish Widows Investment Partnership in Edinburgh, said in an e-mailed note today day. Still, the company "expects to market speculators are at the forefront as the basis attractive - especially cheap valuations, low interest rates and renewed growth - boosting shares higher," he said.

The DAX fell by 41 percent through March 2009 as the collapse of Lehman Brothers boosted its worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, as banks around the world to depreciation and loss of data from more than $ 1.8 billion.

U.S. Economy

The U.S. economy grew at a rate of 2.6 percent in the third quarter, marking a resumption of growth that can extend into 2011 as business and consumer confidence to win to pass. The revised gain in gross domestic product compares with an estimate of 2.5 percent issued last month , the Commerce Department figures showed today day.

Sales of existing homes in U.S. probably increased in November in the industry that caused the worst recession in seven decades struggled to recover, economists said before a National Association of Realtors report at 10 am in Washington.

Adidas, the global sportswear manufacturer second, fell 0.9 percent to 50.94 euros. Nike said orders from December to April rose 11 percent for a total of $ 7.7 billion, excluding currency fluctuations from one year ago. Who missed the 11.6 percent gain ..

Pfleiderer rose 9.2 percent to 2.80 euros after the maker of laminate flooring, lenders told not to exercise the rights to terminate its credit lines to the end of March.

Software AG fell 0.9 percent to € 106.65, ending the longest streak of gains since October, according to the software company was downgraded to "hold" from "buy" at Berenberg Bank.

The company said today that it has completed the merger with IDS Scheer AG.

ARM jumped 8.5 percent & Rising UK Stocks

UK stocks rose, extending the highest level for the FTSE 100 index since June 2008, shares of ARM Holdings Plc surged.

ARM jumped 8.5 percent after Microsoft Corp. said it was preparing a version of Windows to run on chips from the company in the UK for the first time. British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc rose 2.1 percent amid speculation that the acquisition of News Corp. 's company will continue. Petrofac Ltd. rose to a record after the provider of oilfield services began work on the second phase of its proposed 3.4 billion U.S. dollars in Turkmenistan.

The FTSE 100 gained 0.3 percent to 5,969.72 at 2:13 pm in London. The index has risen more than 10 percent this year, driven by higher company earnings, low interest rates and U.S. data better-than-estimated economic. The FTSE All-Share Index also rose 0.3 percent today, while Ireland ISEQ Index fell 0.3 percent.

The shares rose even though the British economy slowed more than originally forecast in the third quarter after revisions to production services, construction and business. Gross domestic product increased 0.7 percent from the previous three months. That compares with the median of analyst estimates of 0.8 percent.

"The FTSE seems determined to reach the level of 6000 before the end of the year," said Manoj Ladwa, senior trader at London-based ETX Capital. "Even a weak GDP number can not keep the indicator in negative territory."

New operating system

ARM, which designs semiconductors power the iPhone of Apple Inc. 's, rose 8.5 percent to 437.8 pence. Two people familiar with Microsoft's plans said the world's largest maker of software will run a new version of the Windows operating system on ARM chips.

The new product will debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, said the people, who declined to be identified because Microsoft's plans are confidential. Microsoft will adapt the operating system for battery-powered devices such as Tablet PCs and other handhelds, the people said.

BSkyB rose 2.1 percent to 743.5 pence, the highest since February 2004. British Business Secretary Vince Cable, was stripped of the responsibility of the media, broadcasting and telecommunications by the government after he was quoted as saying he had "declared war" on News Corp. 's Rupert Murdoch

Cable had the power to decide whether BSkyB's acquisition of News Corp. Murdoch would give too much media power. News Corp., which owns four newspapers in the United Kingdom's best-selling, is waiting for the government to consider the agreement.

Petrofac rallied 1.6 percent to 1,581 pence after the company began work on a new phase of its South Yolotan in Turkmenistan. The second part of the project should last more than two years and will bring gas exports to 20 million cubic meters a year, Petrofac said.

Northern Foods, Greencore

Northern Foods Plc rose 7 percent to 64.8 pence, the most celebrated Boparan Holdings Ltd. said it may bid for the maker of Fox's biscuits, interrupting a fusion of all actions with Greencore Group Plc. Boparan, the owner of the 2 Sisters Food Group, said it is in the preliminary stage of evaluating a possible cash offer for Northern Foods. Greencore shares fell 4.9 percent to 1.27 euros in Dublin.

Mouchel Group Plc rose by a record 27 percent to 93 pence on the road and the maintenance company infrastructure said its board rejected a proposal for acquisition of Costain Group Plc, as "significantly" undervalues the company. Costain fell 1 percent to 204 pence.

Allied Irish Banks Plc fell 4.5 percent to 40.2 cents in Dublin. the second largest bank in Ireland was fined € 2 million ($ 2.6 million) for not having "the internal control mechanisms to prevent and correct common cases and many of overloading," the central bank of Ireland, said in a e-mailed statement.

Indian stock purchases by foreign funds in 2011 could exceed this year , foreign inflows have risen to a record 1.3 trillion rupees

Indian stock purchases by foreign funds in 2011 could exceed this year's entries as the nation's record of economic expansion and strong corporate profits attract investors, according to local socio Ageas, the insurer groups the remains of Fortis.

"The stage is set for it," said Aneesh Srivastava, who manages about $ 352 million in assets as chief investment officer at Mumbai-based head of IDBI Federal Life Insurance Co., in an interview today. "The money chasing growth. Returns on foreign economies are small and have no other choice but to seek out growth opportunities."

foreign inflows into shares in India have risen to a record 1.3 trillion rupees ($ 28,800,000,000) this year, according to the website of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, driving the benchmark Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive Index, or Sensex, 15 percent in 2010, mostly in key rates by 10 largest stock markets in the world. "We are greatly underestimating the appetite and the desire of foreign investors to buy assets in India."

Srivastava, 41, predicts $ 1,300,000,000,000 India's economy growing at 8.5 percent for the year to March 2012, accompanied by an expansion of 20 percent of corporate profits. Gross domestic product grew 8.9 percent for a second consecutive quarter in the three months to September, maintaining the fastest pace among major economies in the world after China.

'Oil shock absorber "

Srivastava is a "high probability" that the Sensex will reach 23,000 in March 2012, up 14 percent from today, and is "optimistic" about banking and oil and gas.

"On average, our tendency will be building portfolios of banks and oil and gas reserves," he said.

Rising oil prices are the biggest risk to the markets, said Srivastava. India, which imports over 75 percent of its crude oil needs are expected to represent 15 percent of the worldwide increase in energy demand by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency.

"Oil is a shock. There is a severe winter in Europe, which is pushing up fuel demand, pushing prices higher," he said. If crude oil continues to rise, economies like India could suffer the securities markets and accurate as possible. "

Thousands of airline passengers and trains were abandoned throughout Europe during a storm system that produced the worst Britain's early snowfall in 17 years this week.

Crude oil in New York market reached $ 90.76 a barrel on 7 December, the highest since 2008. Oil has gained 13 percent this year.

Credit Expansion

A surge in demand from businesses and government spending will increase lending during the next 12 to 15 months, said Srivastava. Estimated that credit growth of 22 percent for Indian lenders in the financial year 2012.

"The best way to broach the subject of banking is through private sector banks, large and clean," Srivastava said, because they tend to do better in an environment of rising interest rates. He refused to comment on specific populations.

Srivastava is also investing in shares of oil companies on expectations of changes in government policy can allow fuel prices driven by the market. India liberalized gasoline prices in June State control, while setting the charges for fuel, including diesel. The national government decides on a policy of gas prices over the next six to eight months, oil secretary S. Sundareshan said on 30 October.

The U.S. economy grew at a rate of 2.6 percent in the third quarter>>

The U.S. economy grew at a rate of 2.6 percent in the third quarter, marking a resumption of growth that can extend into 2011 as business and consumer confidence to win to pass.

The revised gain in gross domestic product compares with an estimate of 2.5 percent issued last month , the Commerce Department figures showed today day. Stocks rose more than initially reported, while the increase in household purchases was revised downward.

revenue growth, continued tax cuts Bush-era and an improved labor market may encourage Americans to increase their spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the world's largest economy. Today's figures showed a measure of inflation rose at the slowest pace in more than 50 years, underscoring the Federal Reserve's strategy of expanding the monetary stimulus registration.

Today's figures provide the basis for "a steady pace of growth" in 2011, said Guy LeBas, chief fixed income strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC in Philadelphia. The lack of "inflation remains the biggest risk to the downside for the U.S. economy" and GDP growth at this rate "is not enough to move the unemployment significantly," he said.

economists' forecasts ranged from gains of 2.5 percent to 3.3 percent. Today's report is the third and last for the quarter after a 1.7 percent pace in the last three months.

The index futures fluctuated after the report. The March contract, 500 of Standard & Poor's raised less than 0.1 percent to 1,251 at 8:49 am in New York. Treasuries were little changed, with the note reference to 10 years producing 3.31 percent, the same as yesterday afternoon.

Promote forecasts

In the past two weeks, economists have raised forecasts for growth in the fourth quarter after the government reported better than projected retail sales in November and Obama's government reached agreement with Congressional Republicans extend the tax cuts implemented by former President George W. George W. Bush.

JPMorgan Chase & Co., chief U.S. economist Michael Feroli December 14 revised its estimate of fourth-quarter growth at a rate of 3.5 percent from a previous estimate of 2.5 percent.

The economy has been growing fast enough to reduce the unemployment rate, currently at 9.8 percent and a concern for policy makers at the Fed's central bank's Open Market Committee reiterated on 14 December his promise to leave interest rates low for a "prolonged period" and maintained a program of 600 billion U.S. dollars to buy Treasury until June.

Lower inflation

Inflation is also lower than expected policy makers in the long term. preferred price gauge the Fed, which is tied to consumer spending and excluding food costs and energy, rose at a rate of 0.5 percent per year, the slowest since records began in 1959, Today's report showed.

In his statement last week, Fed officials said that inflation measures "have continued the downward trend."

Today's report showed that consumer spending rose at a rate of 2.4 percent last quarter, the fastest since the first three months of 2007, while less than 2.8 percent estimated last month. The added expense 1.67 percentage points of GDP between July and September.

figures for household spending in November, for tomorrow, may show an increase of 0.5 percent after increasing 0.4 percent in October.

Ford sales

Ford Motor Co., most profitable automaker in the world, said Dec. 20 that sales of U.S. cars in December are running at a rate of 12 million units annually, the third consecutive month at that pace or faster.

Dearborn, Ford's sales in Michigan, provides an increase of nearly 13 million next year. Sales in U.S. rose 21 percent in the first quarter this year, 11 months, led by deliveries to fleet customers. The company expects retail customers to support next year's earnings, said George Pipas, Ford sales analyst.

"We have a high degree of confidence that 2011 will be a strong sales year," Pipas said in a briefing with reporters. "We are much better than they were a year ago."

A larger gain in inventories added more to growth than the Commerce Department estimated last month.

The need to replenish inventories, one of the main drivers of economic recovery, may decrease in coming months as companies seek to maintain the reserves more in line with demand. The value of unsold goods increased by 121.4 billion U.S. dollars in the third quarter, compared with a previously reported 111.5 billion U.S. dollars.

Trade deficit

The trade deficit was revised to 505 billion U.S. dollars to 506.7 billion U.S. dollars, today's report showed. The deficit subtracted 1.7 percentage points of growth.

Excluding trade and inventories, a measure of underlying demand, the economy would have grown at a rate of 2.6 percent after expanding 4.3 percent in the second quarter. The Commerce Department last month estimated a rate of 2.9 percent of final sales to domestic purchasers named in the third quarter.

business spending on new equipment as well as export demand to support production. Business purchases of equipment and software grew at a rate of 15.4 percent last quarter, revised from 16.8 percent and after a jump of 24.8 percent for the second quarter was the highest in 27 years. Spending on structures, including office buildings and factories fell 3.5 percent.

"We have now seen a long period of recovery in the components business," said Paul Reilly, CFO of Arrow Electronics Inc., earlier this month at a conference in New York. Melville, New York, Arrow is a distributor of electronic components and computer products to industrial customers.

Corporate profits rose 1.6 percent, revised gain of 2.8 percent estimated last month, today's report showed. They were 26 percent over the same period last year.

The dollar has fluctuated against the euro and the yen



The dollar has fluctuated against the euro and the yen after a report showed the U.S. economy grew at a slower pace than expected.

The U.S. currency mixed versus its major counterparts after the Commerce Department said gross domestic product grew at a rate of 2.6 percent in the third quarter. The euro rose that German import prices in November rose the most in a decade. The Swiss franc strengthened to a record against the common currency for a sixth day on the link in the demand for shelter to the crisis in the euro zone sovereign debt.

"GDP was stronger than before, but weaker than expected, so there was some disappointment in the market," said Fabian Eliasson, head of sales of U.S. currency Mizuho Financial Group Inc. in New York.

The dollar fell 0.2 percent to $ 1.3125 per euro at 8:40 am in New York from $ 1.3100 yesterday. It weakened 0.3 percent to 83.52 yen from 83.75 yen.

In a report to the 10 hours are expected to show that sales of existing homes rose in November. Increased purchases at an annual rate of 4.75 million, up 7.1 percent from October.

German prices

The euro rose after the import prices in Germany, Europe's largest economy, rose 10 percent in November from a year earlier, the highest in 10 years, after increasing 9.2 percent in October, the Office Federal Statistics said today. Retail sales in Italy rose 0.3 percent in October from the previous month.

The Swiss franc appreciated against the euro as concern lingered some countries will have difficulty borrowing money.

"The Swiss franc continues to perform very well," said Kathy Lien, director of currency research, in line with the currency trader GFT Forex in New York. "When we move to a stronger growth scenario, countries like Switzerland, which have very healthy balance over it."

Portugal bond rating may be downgraded one or two levels by Moody's Investors Service after the company warned yesterday of the concern that budget cuts will worsen the country's "slow" growth. Greece may have its credit rating cut to non-investment grade by Fitch Ratings within six weeks.

The annual patterns

The euro has dropped 10 percent so far this year, the biggest loss among the 10 developed nations is measured in foreign exchange rates. The dollar has lost 1.2 percent and the yen has added 11 percent.

The pound fell against the euro after a report showed Britain's economy grew at a slower rate than estimated in the third quarter.

Data from the National Statistics Office showed gross domestic product in the UK rose 0.7 percent in the third quarter. That compares with an initial estimate of 0.8 percent. Second quarter growth was revised to 1.1 percent from 1.2 percent.

Bank of England Minutes of December meeting showed policymakers remained divided in its decision to keep the benchmark interest rate at a record low of 0.5 percent and the asset purchase program unchanged at 200 million pounds .

The pound sterling depreciated by 0.4 percent to 85.02 pence per euro. Was little changed at $ 1.5461 from $ 1.5470 yesterday.

Russian ruble rose to its strongest level against the euro in 14 weeks, oil prices rose.

The currency advanced as much as 0.5 percent to 41.3137 per euro, the strongest since Sept. 16. Crude traded at 1 cent up to two years above $ 90 a barrel.

The U.S. currency fell against 13 of its 16 major counterparts "dollar weakened"

The dollar weakened before the forecast data to show the U.S. economy is gaining momentum, fueling investor demand for higher yielding assets.

The U.S. currency fell against 13 of its 16 major counterparts before reports expected to show U.S. GDP grew faster than estimated and the increase in home sales. The euro rose that German import prices in November rose the most in a decade. The pound fell after the British economy grew at a slower pace than previously estimated, while the Swiss franc strengthened to a record against the common currency for a sixth day.

"Home sales are the weakest element of the entire U.S. history and we are looking for a bounce back in sales of existing homes," said Jeremy Stretch, executive director of foreign exchange strategy at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in London. "If we get a positive number or something in line with expectations, then that would be helpful for risk appetite and probably would be favorable for the euro-dollar and the increased risk for other crossings."

The dollar weakened 0.4 percent to $ 1.3147 per euro from $ 1.3100 at 7:12 am in New York. Was 0.2 percent at 83.56 yen from 83.75.

U.S. home sales increased at an annual rate of 4.75 million in November, up 7.1 percent from October. The U.S. economy grew at a rate of 2.8 percent per year in the third quarter, according to the median estimate of economists polled before a Commerce Department report.

German imports

The euro rose after the import prices in Germany, Europe's largest economy, rose 10 percent in November from a year earlier, the highest in 10 years, after increasing 9.2 percent in October, the Office Federal Statistics said today. Retail sales in Italy rose 0.3 percent in October from the previous month.

The euro rebounded from near a three-week low against the dollar as the stochastic oscillator chart of 14 days was reduced to about 16, below the threshold of 20 that signals of an asset is ready to change direction.

The single currency also strengthened after stop losses triggered call near the level of $ 1.3115 to $ 1.3120, said Charles Han, director of Hong Kong's foreign exchange trading in financial Newedge HK Ltd.

"We have seen some buying in the euro and some stops were triggered, which also caused it to move a little higher," said Han. "There are probably many more risks out of Europe so it prefers to sell into any rallies towards $ 1.3160 area."

Lower concerns

A stop loss is an automatic instruction to buy or sell a currency at a certain level to limit losses if you bet the wrong way.

The euro has fallen 1.8 percent against the dollar since hitting a three-week $ 1.3499 on 14 December. Today it reached a record low against the Swiss franc to 1.2495 amid concerns of further credit downgrades in Europe.

Portugal bond rating may be downgraded one or two levels by Moody's Investors Service after the company warned yesterday of the concern that budget cuts will worsen the country's "slow" growth. Greece may have its credit rating cut to non-investment grade by Fitch Ratings within six weeks.

The pound fell against the euro after a report showed Britain's economy grew at a slower rate than estimated in the third quarter.

Split bench

Data from the National Statistics Office showed gross domestic product in the UK rose 0.7 percent in the third quarter. That compares with an initial estimate of 0.8 percent. Second quarter growth was revised to 1.1 percent from 1.2 percent.

Bank of England Minutes of December meeting showed policymakers remained divided in its decision to keep the benchmark interest rate at a record low of 0.5 percent and the asset purchase program unchanged at 200 million pounds .

The pound sterling depreciated by 0.4 percent to 85.02 pence per euro. Was little changed at $ 1.5461 from $ 1.5470 yesterday.

New Zealand dollar fell against 12 of its 16 most-traded counterparts. A government report tomorrow will show gross domestic product grew 0.1 percent in the third quarter from 0.2 percent in the previous three months.

"I am relatively bearish on the kiwi," said Masashi Murata, vice president of foreign exchange in Tokyo at BBH Investment Services Inc., a subsidiary of New York, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. The outlook for domestic consumption and interest rates rise have declined, he said.

New Zealand dollar was little changed at 74.41 U.S. cents.

New Zealand dollar traded near 10 years against the currency of Australia

New Zealand dollar traded near 10 years against the currency of Australia before a government report that economists said will show the economy of the smallest nation was almost stagnant in the third quarter.

The kiwi call weakened against all but one of its top 16 partners from the data today showed New Zealand's deficit on current account increased as exports declined. Australia's currency was near a seven-month high against the yen after an index of leading indicators for the economy of the South Pacific nation increased.

"I am relatively bearish on the kiwi," said Masashi Murata, vice president of foreign exchange in Tokyo at BBH Investment Services Inc., a subsidiary of New York, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. "New Zealand does not benefit from increased demand in emerging markets, which in turn diminishes the prospects for domestic consumption and rising interest rates. "

New Zealand dollar was trading at $ 1.3414 as of 16:22 Aussie NZ New Zealand in Sydney $ 1.3406 yesterday in New York, after falling to $ 1.3446 in New Zealand today, the most weakest since September 2000. New Zealand's currency was at 74.32 U.S. cents of 74.42 cents and bought 62.23 yen from 62.31 yen.

The Australian dollar was at 99.71 U.S. cents of 99.79 cents and was trading at 83.47 yen from 83.56 yen after rising to 83.69 yen on December 14, the strongest since May 13.

Growth slows

The gross domestic product of New Zealand rose 0.1 percent in the three months to September 31 the previous quarter. The economy grew 0.2 percent in the three months ended June 30. Statistics New Zealand said the current account deficit widened to 1.77 billion U.S. dollars New Zealand (1310 million dollars) in the last quarter, from NZ $ 987 000 000 the previous year.

Australia index of future economic growth rose 0.3 percent in October, Westpac Banking Corp. and Melbourne Institute said today.

The Aussie took a two-day advance against the dollar before a government report forecast to show the U.S. economy grew faster than previously reported, increased demand for assets in the U.S. economy.

"During the past week, we have seen the resistance comes in at around the level of parity for the Australian dollar against the dollar, said Jonathan Cavenagh, currency strategist with Westpac headquarters in Singapore, the second largest lender in Australia. "May the strength of the dollar will extend to the Australian-American to some extent and certainly raises the limit on the Australian-American."

U.S. Gross domestic product expanded at an annual rate of 2.8 percent in the third quarter faster than the 2.5 percent estimate issued last month. The report is due today.

The pound fell against the euro after growing UK economy at a slower rate

The pound fell against the euro after a report showed the UK economy grew at a slower rate than estimated in the third quarter.

The pound weakened against 11 of its 16 most actively traded counterparts as the data of National Statistical Office showed gross domestic product in the UK rose 0.7 percent in the three months to September. That compares with an initial estimate of 0.8 percent announced in October that was double the pace expected by economists. Second quarter growth was revised to 1.1 percent from 1.2 percent.

"The GDP data called the pound," said Jane Foley, currency strategist at Rabobank International in London. "The data fed worries that growth will slow in the fourth quarter, and only takes away some of the shine had been put to the pound for this stronger version in October."

The pound sterling depreciated by 0.3 percent to 85.21 pence per euro as of 10:50 am in London. The UK currency was little changed at $ 1.5475, $ 1.5470 yesterday.

The pound has lost 0.7 percent in the last week.

Since late 2009, the British currency has lost 6.1 percent, compared with a decline of 10.3 percent for the euro and a loss of 1.4 percent for the dollar.

Bank of England Minutes of December meeting showed policymakers remained divided in its decision to keep the benchmark interest rate at a record low of 0.5 percent and the asset purchase program unchanged at 200 million pounds .

Business Investment

ONS Separate reports today showed that business investment rose 3.1 percent in the third quarter of the last three months, while the current account deficit rose to 9.6 billion pounds from 5.2 million pounds. As a percentage of GDP, the deficit was 2.6 percent.

Government bonds were little changed, with the 10-year gilt yields dropping a basis point to 3.49 percent. The two-year yield was 1.20 percent.

Gilts returned 6.6 percent this year, according to indexes compiled by the European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies. Treasuries gained 5.8 percent and Germany's debt reference values of the euro zone, returned 5.9 percent, rates of EFFAS show.

The Canadian dollar traded near its lowest level in almost three weeks against its U.S

The Canadian dollar traded near its lowest level in almost three weeks against its U.S. counterpart as a report showing slower inflation overshadowed another, and said that retail sales rose more than expected.

Canadian currency, nicknamed the Canadian dollar fell against 11 of his 16 fellow seniors. It pared losses as stocks and crude oil, the main export of the country, rose. The consumer price index rose less than economists expected, bolstering bets that the central bank kept interest rates on hold.

"The CPI figure was not enough to change the perception that the Bank of Canada, and the number of retail, which could have caused a little more the strong Canadian dollar, actually had a bit of a soft tone "said David Watt, senior currency strategist at RBC Royal Bank of Canada Capital unit in Toronto. "We are weaker than yesterday's close, but it's pretty tight around that level of closure."

Canadian dollar depreciated by less than 0.1 percent to C $ 1.0171 per U.S. dollar at 5 pm in Toronto, compared with C $ 1.0168 yesterday, when it reached C $ 1.0209, the lowest since Dec. 1. Today withdrew as much as 0.4 percent to C $ 1.0207. One Canadian dollar buys 98.31 U.S. cents.

Consumer prices rose 2 percent in November from a year earlier after rising 2.4 percent in October, Statistics Canada said today in Ottawa.
'Slump'

"We are seeing signs that Canada had its own plot soft end of the third quarter to early in the fourth quarter," said Watt of RBC in a telephone interview. "We're seeing a reversal of the upward trend through the turn of the year, so it could be weighing on the currency."

Retail sales rose 0.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted C 36.6 billion U.S. dollars (35.9 billion), another report showed statistics agency. Economists expected a 0.5 percent increase, according to the median of 21 estimates.

"The data are offset somewhat today," said Michael Leavitt, an institutional agent derived based in Montreal, Canada, of MF Global Co., via e-mail. "Neither is showing a particular trend."

The yield on the June 2011 contract bankers' acceptances, an indicator of the confidence of the cost of short-term loans, fell three basis points, or 0.03 percentage point to 1.53 percent, indicating traders are reducing bets on future interest rate increases. The yield was 1.58 percent at the end of last week and 1.70 percent on Nov. 29.

The interest-rate bets

Bax called contracts averaged 20 basis points above the target overnight central bank. Hedge funds and money managers use contracts to hedge against changes in interest rates and betting.

"There's no rush for the bank to move in the short term," said Shaun Osborne, currency strategist at TD Toronto-Dominion Bank Securities Unit by telephone from Toronto. "Maybe I should undermine the Canadian dollar a little."

The Bank of Canada, which meets next on Jan. 18, left its target interest rate by 1 per cent on 7 December for the second time directly to measure the global economic recovery after three increases. U.S. Federal Reserve has kept its benchmark rate in a range from zero to 0.25 percent since December 2008.

funding rate Canada's central bank will remain stable until the end of March 2011 and then rise to 1.25 percent on June 30 and 1.5 percent in late September.

Approached parity

Canada's currency, called the Canadian dollar for the image of waterfowl in the C $ 1 coin, thanks to C $ 1.0001 on 15 December, the strongest level since trading on a one for one with the dollar U.S. in November 1911. It was within a cent of parity every day from December 2 through December 17.

"We had a narrow technical breakdown we've been negotiating in recent weeks between the pair on the downside and C $ 1.0140 at the top," said Osborne of TD. "In reality suggests it should be operated to the maximum that we had in late November, so that around C $ 1.0275."

Government bonds rose, pushing the yield on the 10 years for up to three basis points to 3.13 percent. Touched 3.125 percent yesterday, the lowest since Dec. 6. The price of the 3.5 percent security maturing in June 2020 rose 17 cents to C $ 102.91. Canadian government bonds have lost 0.2 percent this month, trimming its gains for the year to 5.9 percent, according to the rate of Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Crude oil for February delivery rose 1.3 percent to $ 89.99 a barrel in New York. 500 of Standard & Poor's rose 0.6 percent.

Toronto-Dominion Bank agreed to buy Chrysler Financial Corp. to Cerberus Capital Management LP for $ 6.3 billion in cash, adding a self-financing company in the U.S. acquisition second by a Canadian bank. Is behind the $ 8,330,000,000 of TD according to Commerce Bancorp Inc. in 2008.

growth will slow in 2011 as the yen's rise 11 percent this year against the dollar ,Japanese government

Japanese government said that growth will slow in 2011 as the yen's rise 11 percent this year against the dollar threatens recovery.

Gross domestic product probably increased 1.5 percent in the year beginning 1 April after rising 3.1 percent expected this year, the Cabinet Office said in Tokyo.

Shares of Toyota Motor Corp. and Panasonic Corp. fell after the government also downgraded its assessment of the nation's exports, which have been threatened by the advance of the coin to a maximum of 15 years. overseas shipments expanded by 9.1 percent in November, the lack of estimates of economists, a Finance Ministry report showed today.

"With the yen staying at these high levels, exports are likely to have difficulties to grow despite demand in advanced nations, especially the U.S., will recover," said Takuji Okubo, chief Japan economist Societe Generale SA in Tokyo.

The yen traded at 83.71 per dollar at 3:34 pm in Tokyo. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 0.23 percent, released earlier paring gains after a report showed exports accelerated for the first time in nine months in November.

"We have to keep a close eye on any possible slowdown in overseas economies and changes in the exchange rate," the government said. "We will continue to take bold action as an intervention currency when necessary, because an excessive yen strengthening and extension risk damaging the economic and financial stability."

Steam loss

Government data last month showed that industrial production fell the most since February 2009, the unemployment rate increased, and machinery orders fell more than economists forecast, indicating that the economy is losing steam.

"The economic recovery is clearly losing momentum while deflationary pressures remain strong," said Julian Jessop, economist at London-based Capital Economics, in a note highlighting the risk that the economy may contract this quarter and next. "The room for fiscal stimulus is also largely depleted."

Japan's economy will shrink at a rate of 1.9 percent annually in the three months to December, according to a survey of 42 economists released December 8 by the Economic Planning Association. The growth was 4.5 percent in the third quarter as incentives to buy automobiles and electronics spurred consumer spending.

Sony Corp., the largest television manufacturer in the world's third largest, may miss the goal of selling 25 million TVs this fiscal year, Vice President Hiroshi Yoshioka said Dec. 20.

Falling short

The company could fall below its target for the year ended March 31 by a "little," he said without elaborating. Sony said in October, the TV industry moves towards the "stiff competition", making it difficult to take advantage of the TV functions of this fiscal year.

The Japanese parliament last month approved an additional budget to fund a stimulus package to combat deflation and the fight against the stronger yen. To encourage growth, the Bank of Japan cut its benchmark interest rate and created a fund to buy assets in October.

Cabinet of Prime Minister Naoto Kan, last week approved a scheme of tax revision, including a cut in corporate tax rate, to bolster a slowing economy. His government is also preparing a budget for next fiscal year.

declining popularity of Khan and a hung parliament may complicate his efforts to implement new economic policies. The rating Kan Cabinet approval dropped to 21 percent, the lowest since he took office in June, according to a survey by the Asahi newspaper. The survey was conducted on December 11 and 12 and compared with a rating of 27 percent in November.

China raised prices of petrol and diesel today seeks to contain inflation

China raised prices of petrol and diesel today for less than half of what crude oil has gained in the last month as the fastest growing economy in the world seeks to contain inflation.

The price of petrol will increase by up to 4 percent to 310 yuan (47 dollars) per ton and diesel by 300 yuan per ton, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a statement on its website yesterday, the third increase this year in oil in the world's second largest consumer. New York crude has gained 9 percent since China's last price increase on 26 October.

"This is a movement long overdue since the government is worried about inflation, while refiners are suffering losses after crude costs soared," said Wei, oil analyst at Bank of Communications International Holdings Co. in Beijing. "We believe the increase of 4 percent is far from sufficient to compensate for oil profits."

Inflation in China accelerated to 5.1 percent last month from a year earlier, the biggest jump in 28 months, driven by food costs. Chinese consumers are more concerned about rising prices at any time in the last decade, the People's Bank of China said on December 15 in its quarterly survey of 20,000 households across the country.

The decision to raise petrol, diesel and kerosene prices was taken after "careful consideration" in light of rapidly rising prices in general in China, said the NDRC. The adjustment is added 0.07 percentage points in the monthly index of consumer prices, he said.

Increase Delayed

"Crude oil prices in international markets this month reached the highest since October 2008," the commission said. "However, taking into account the evolution of prices and supply of refined oil products, the government made slow rising prices and limited its scale," the NDRC said in a question and answer published on its website.

The retail price of N90-grade gasoline will be allowed to increase to 0.23 yuan per liter of diesel and N0 up by 0.26 yuan per liter, the commission said. The cost of aviation fuel factory No. 3 will rise by 300 yuan per ton to 5,990 yuan.

China National Petroleum Corp. and China Petrochemical Corp., the country's largest oil companies, refineries and others to ensure that prices are not increased by more than the ceiling set by the government, said the NDRC. Local departments of the Commission will intensify the monitoring of fuel prices and end the hoarding and price fixing, he said.

Shares Gain

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., the listed unit of China Petrochemical, rose 2.4 percent, the biggest increase since Dec. 13 to close at HK $ 7.39 in Hong Kong. PetroChina Co., whose parent is China National Petroleum, gained 0.3 percent to HK $ 9.94.

The government has made 13 adjustments since the introduction of a mechanism in December 2008 that allows the NDRC to review fuel prices when oil change costs more than 4 percent over 22 days. New York futures have risen 10 percent since Nov. 18 and were trading at $ 89.94 a barrel at 11:40 pm in Singapore.

High fuel prices may encourage refiners to increase production to alleviate a shortage of domestic supply. Chinese state oil companies are increasing the processing in an attempt to alleviate the shortage of diesel in the south and east as demand increases the farmers and factories.

Telus sell floating rate commercial paper to help refinance C $ 1 billion of bonds amid



Telus Corp., the third largest wireless carrier in Canada, you can sell floating rate commercial paper to help refinance C $ 1 billion (983 million U.S. dollars) of bonds amid speculation the Bank of Canada will not raise interest rates soon.

"The refinancing, in part, with floating commercial paper, which should have interest rates up a huge amount more than five to 10 years to lock-in the long term with regard to pay in the short term," Chief Financial Officer Bob McFarlane Telmex in a telephone interview.

About 87 percent of the Canadian company's debt is fixed rate wireless, McFarlane said. The central bank kept its benchmark interest rate overnight to 1 percent on 07 December, pause for a second time to assess the global recovery after three previous increases. The yields of future interest rates have fallen this month, which indicates expectations of reduction of higher borrowing costs.

This makes the Canadian market for commercial paper in an attractive location for foreign and local companies to refinance short-term debt. Bank of Canada rates a month commercial paper was 1.07 percent at the end of last week, little changed since October.

The market for short-term corporate debt is starting to recover after shrinking during the global recession, led by auto finance companies and oil and gas pipeline operators, according to the rating company DBRS Ltd. commercial paper worth C $ 812,000,000 was issued by companies in November, raising the volume of outstanding debt of 3 percent to C $ 28,100,000,000 in October and 8.5 percent from a year earlier, Toronto-based DBRS said.

Performance bonuses

Elsewhere in credit markets, the extra yield, or spread, investors demand to own the debt of Canadian companies rather than the federal government was reduced to 139 hours from 140 on December 20, according with the rate of Bank of America Merrill Lynch. The spread was as narrow as 114 basis points in March, according to the data. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.

The spread of U.S. corporate debt on Treasury bonds was 169 basis points from December 20, according to another Merrill Lynch index, unchanged from December 17. Treasuries have lost investors 2.1 percent this month from December 20, comparing his return for the year to 5.6 percent, Merrill Lynch data show. Canadian government bonds have fallen 0.2 percent this month yesterday, trimming the gain of 2010 to 5.9 percent.

Provincial Bond Markets

In the provincial bond market, the relative yields were 52 basis points yesterday, unchanged from December 20. It fell to 39 basis points in January, the closer this year.

The yield on the June 2011 contract bankers' acceptances, an indicator of the confidence of the cost of short-term loans, touched 1.53 percent yesterday, down three basis points, or 0.03 percentage points. The yield was 1.58 percent at the end of last week and 1.70 percent on Nov. 29.

Bax called contracts averaged 20 basis points above the target overnight central bank. Hedge funds and money managers use contracts to hedge against changes in interest rates and betting.

The spread on the Merrill index of Canadian industrial debt, which tracks 366 bonds, including Telmex, reduced it to 151 basis points yesterday from 152 on 20 December. He started the year at 154 basis points and fell at least 130 in March. relative yields in the Merrill index of Canadian bonds rated BBB, such as Telmex, was 188 basis points yesterday, compared with a low of 2010 from 161 in April. The spread started the year at 197 basis points.

Telmex debt refinancing

Encouraged by the arrival of four new telecommunications operators in the past year, aggressive cost reduction of Montreal-based rival BCE Inc., Telus is the reduction of pension costs and debt refinancing to plow money into your mobile phone business. In the last year, Telmex has refinanced C $ 2 billion from C $ 3 billion in debt left from its acquisition of 2,000 Clearnet Inc. at a lower rate of 5.05 percent. Will reduce borrowing costs by 16 cents per share in 2011, said McFarlane.

The financial director said he is weighing the amount of C $ 1 million set to mature in June to return to issue debt in the short or long term, the reimbursement of part of it from the projected cash flow or operating bank credit lines. The company, whose free cash flow amounted to C $ 339 000 000 last quarter, said it expects free cash flow to increase by 7 percent to 27 percent next year.

"We do not need to refinance the entire amount of the debt, because otherwise would be to build cash," he said. "It makes no sense to pay interest on the debt that is not necessary."

"The most advantageous"

Telmex is in no rush to refinance and can not act until June, said McFarlane. "We will see market conditions and leverage to make an issue that is most advantageous," he said.

The company said it was paying 0.93 percent on the holdings of commercial paper worth C $ 172 000 000 at the end of the third quarter. Gives space to raise their holdings of commercial paper to a range of C $ 400 million to C $ 500 million, Chris Diceman, an analyst at DBRS, said in a telephone interview.

"They're going to look at all options," said Toronto-based Diceman.

The extra yield investors demand to own Telmex 5.05 per cent bonds maturing in July 2020 instead of 10-year government debt was 182 basis points from December 20, compared with 178 basis points on 20 July when the debt was issued, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch index data.

The interest on the bonds of Telus is likely to continue, with Canada bond yields near record lows, Telmex said McFarlane. Increasing Canada's reference to 10 years old this year has driven the yield up 47 basis points to 3.14 percent.

Reissue

new issuance in the market for short-term corporate debt in 2010 was led by Honda Canada Finance Inc. and VW Credit Canada Inc., followed by pipeline operators Enbridge Inc. and TransCanada Keystone Pipeline LP, research shows DBRS. Issued by corporate debt accounts for about 9 percent of Canada's C $ 314 000 000 000 debt market in the short term, federal treasury bills that make up 55 percent of the total.

However, the market is off its peak of about C $ 60 billion in May 2007, according to DBRS.

"It's certainly seen better days in recent years, as foreign issuers left the market, Michael Ho, vice-president DBRS said in a telephone interview. "The commercial paper market in Canada must recover" the help of local issuers though it will be "very slow" he said.

More than 500 representatives from 27 nations met dozens of times this year to produce 440 pages of new rules to regulate banks in the world

More than 500 representatives from 27 nations, including top regulators and central bankers met dozens of times this year to produce 440 pages of new rules to regulate banks in the world.

What is not in the documents published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, and escape hatches that are, may have more impact on how financial institutions operate after a global credit crisis that led to $ 1.8 billion dollars in bank losses and provisions.

most significant achievement of the commission, members said, an agreement to increase the amount of capital that banks must hold, I will not come into full force for eight years. Other measures that regulators had hoped would prevent future crises - the rules of liquidity, capital surcharge in most of the lenders and a mechanism for global solution for companies not - were postponed, allowing the banks to escape the harsh rules that would force them to change the way we do business.

"There will be changes, but no fundamental changes in the banking model," said Sheila Bair, who as U.S. president Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is in the upper body of decisions of the Basel Committee. "We hope there will be some pressure for banks to become smaller and simpler."

Bair, 56, is one of five U.S. representatives on the board. She has attacked bankers for exaggerating the impact of the regulations provided in an effort to scare the public and politicians. In an interview in June, was asked "if regulators can put your trust in the industry analysis of the impact of proposals to strengthen capital standards."

Bank Lobbying

Banks conducted a campaign of one year to alleviate international standards, arguing that efforts to rein in lending to slow down and impede economic recovery. The lobbying effort was led by the Institute of International Finance, which represents more than 400 financial firms worldwide and is chaired by Josef Ackermann, chief executive of Deutsche Bank AG. Ackermann and other members of the IIF wrote hundreds of letters to the Basel Committee, met with regulators and went to the forums from Seoul to Washington.

In June, the group released a report that proposed capital rules would result in 9.7 million fewer jobs created and erasing a 3.1 percent global economic growth - estimated that the Basel Committee after challenge.

"There is no doubt that the increased costs to the banks core capital and financing will be largely over time, which inevitably will have a macroeconomic cost," said Ackermann, 62, when he presented the report .

Battle Lines

Banks also approached the home regulators, arguing that some rules would hurt them more than lenders in other countries. That helped draw the battle lines within the Basel Committee, according to an account pieced together from interviews with a half-dozen members who declined to be identified because the deliberations are not public. Germany, France and Japan led to pressure to soften the rules proposed last December and extending its application. The U.S., UK and Switzerland opposed to changes or delays.

The committee agreed in July to narrow the definition of what is considered the banking capital, focusing on common equity, which includes money received from sale of shares and retained earnings. During the crisis, other forms of capital allowed by the rules, such as the benefit of mortgage service and deferrals, offered no protection against losses. These are mostly not allowed by Basel III, as the rules published last week known.

Spain Change

Capital requirements could have been tighter if it were not for Greece. growing concern that the country would not be able to pay its debt, which culminated in a rescue plan by the EU in May and a rescue package of $ 1 billion for other Member States in need, darkened the prospects for recovery economic. That prompted some committee members to bend to pressure from the bank, according to policymakers, central bankers and others involved in the process.

In September, when the committee met to establish the real investment ratios, the U.S. was pushing to require banks to have common stock equivalent to 8 percent of risk weighted assets, the members said. He finished at 7 percent, after Canada changed sides at the meeting, tilting the balance towards the German camp. Canadian banks lobbied their regulators to reduce the relationship because they said they would be unfairly punished as healthy lenders that survived the crisis unscathed, told members.

Even after having been weakened, new relationships and definitions that require banks to have capital of $ 800 billion more, the committee said last week. Most lenders will raise the money by withholding benefits before the rules take effect.

Leverage Ratio

In addition to pushing for a higher capital ratio, Bair also called for an overall leverage ratio is to limit bank lending - something the U.S. has had on their books since 1980. In July, when the committee was debating how to define the capital, U.S. agreed to a relaxation in exchange for Germany and France to accept a leverage ratio, some members said.

Proponents of the leverage ratio, or equity as a percentage of liabilities, say it is an easier way to prevent lenders from becoming too indebted. Unlike capital ratios, which are based on risk weighting and can be manipulated, the leverage ratio has all assets, regardless of their risk.

The bankers can borrow more to maximize profit per share, a criterion for determining compensation. The more you borrow the higher the risk that a small decline in asset prices can wipe out the equity and make the bank insolvent.

No correlation

The Basel Committee has adopted a rule of 3 percent in July of leverage, which means that for every $ 3 of capital, a bank can borrow more than $ 97. While the figure is provisional and subject to revision before it enters into force, has since been attacked by banks in Europe and Asia, who say they restrict their ability to inhibit borrowing and lending.

The EU can not exclude the leverage ratio when it becomes law, the Basel rules next year. Several member countries have called for dropping the general rule, people close to the talks said last month. Most of the 27 EU countries oppose the adoption of the relationship, according to sources.

"The argument is that this will restrict lending - I hope our colleagues in Europe do not buy into this," Bair said in an interview earlier this month.

recent academic research supports Bair. A July paper by Jeremy Stein, professor of economics at Harvard University and two colleagues looked at data going back to the 1920s and found no correlation between higher capital ratios and more expensive to borrow from banks. A paper of October Anat Admati and three teachers at Stanford University found that higher levels of equity does not restrict lending.

"Fighting Continues'

"In the long term, the capital increase has little impact on the loans," Stein said in an interview. "But the banks do not like to go out and look. And regulators bought the banks' arguments in this regard. Could have been more difficult."

Bair, who first proposed the idea of a relationship of international influence in a speech to the committee members in Merida, Mexico, in 2006, said it still expects global adoption.

Barbara Matthews, director general of International Regulatory CBM Analytics LLC, a Washington-based company that advises on financial regulation, said the leverage ratio can not do at the end.

"Beyond meeting the definition of capital, nothing can be really count as having been reached," said Matthews, a former bank lobbyist, the Basel Committee's work this year. "There is further discussion on the schemes of liquidity and leverage. They are still too big to fail studying the problems, and may be too late to finish as events take care of them."

$ 6 billion

The Basel Committee, established in 1974, proposed level of liquidity in the first place, requiring that banks have enough cash or assets readily exchangeable to meet its obligations up to a year. Running out of cash was behind the 2008 collapse of Bear Stearns Cos. and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in the U.S. and Northern Rock Plc in the UK

After the banks showed they would have to raise up to U.S. $ 6 billion in new long-term debt is satisfied, the commission postponed a final decision on the rule, the creation of an "observation period" of four to six years. Is likely to be revised, according to members.

"Liquidity is very important and remains an open question," said Douglas Elliott, a type of economics at Washington-based Brookings Institution and a former banker at JPMorgan Chase & Co.. "They're trying to do in the next two years but could take many years. O never do and if it is too controversial."

Resolution Mechanism

Lehman's collapse also showed the need to relax cross-border mechanism failed banks that have a global reach. More than 80 cases against the company, with the participation of hundreds of affiliates around the world have complicated the recovery by creditors and destroyed much of the value of their assets.

The FSB, which includes most members of the Basel Committee, as well as finance ministers from the Group of 20, struggled to reach a settlement mechanism this year. The FSB deferred a decision until next year after the divisions between the nations was too wide to bridge, members said. The group could not agree on how to distribute the losses among countries as a global bank is not and how different jurisdictions may recognize a single authority to pay creditors, members said.

Too big to fail

The FSB is also responsible for determining which banks are systemically important and the ability to impose additional capital requirements on them. The group may propose the establishment of national authorities for a resolution, rather than an international organization, members said. Instead of a comprehensive agreement on a surcharge for larger banks, you can suggest a menu of options.

"Nobody has been able to set too big to fail around the world because nobody knows how," said Hal Scott, a Harvard Law School professor who is also director of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation, a group nonpartisan academics and business executives. "Even finding a way to solve the giant banks nationwide is difficult. How can you do it internationally? That was the biggest lesson of the crisis, systemic risk, but is still unresolved."

Many problems can not be said Frederick Cannon, co-director of research at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. in New York, a firm that specializes in financial firms. G-20 leaders meeting in Seoul last month sounded like they were claiming victory regulatory reforms, even if not completed, said Cannon.

"Before Seoul, I expected more reforms to be held next year," he said. "But now, increasingly, I think this is what we are getting, nothing more. They have a requirement to 7 percent of common shares - the rest is all uncertain to ever happen."

'Glass half full

Charles Goodhart, a former Bank of England policymaker and professor at the London School of Economics, said he is optimistic that the differences will be resolved in the coming years.

"There is still much to do, but we have not lost momentum," said Goodhart. "We're 50 percent of the way. We must see the glass as half full."

Bair, who is stepping down from his post when his term expires FDIC in June, said he hopes the reforms will continue after she leaves the Basel Committee. One of the challenges ahead, he said, is the reliance on banks' internal models to measure risk.

While smaller banks using standard risk-weighting prescribed by Basel, the largest banks use their own formulas to determine how much risk to allocate their assets in calculating capital ratios. This leads to wide variations in how risk-weighted assets are counted, said Bair.

"We must go beyond relying too heavily on internal models of banks, their own views on the risk," he said.

Speculation Argentina may earn a credit grade increase

Speculation Argentina may earn a credit grade increase after reaching a settlement of debt in default with the Paris Club is helping to reduce borrowing costs by more than 50 percent compared to countries with similar qualifications.

The extra yield investors demand to own Argentina's debt instead of bonds sold by the Dominican Republic, Belize, Jamaica, Ghana, Lebanon and Pakistan was reduced to 163 basis points, or 1.63 percentage points this week 331 June 30, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. Like Argentina, the countries are rated B3 by Moody's Investors Service and B by Standard & Poor's.

An agreement with the Paris Club group of creditor nations, whose members are Germany, Japan and the U.S., more than about $ 7 billion debt to Argentina would move closer to the restructuring of almost all obligations dating back to the default record in 2001. Exchange of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of $ 12.2 million in bonds earlier this year, in part, led S & P to boost Argentina's rating one level in September.

"An agreement with the Paris Club would be an event that could lead to an improvement in qualifying," said Igor Arsenin, head of Latin America strategy at Credit Suisse Group AG in New York, in a telephone interview. "There will be continued progress with the Paris Club."

Minister of Economy, Amado Boudou, met with representatives of the Paris Club last week as part of an effort to regain access to the financing of bilateral government agencies. Argentina is seeking a solution that will allow the country to maintain growth and the "reopening of the investment in the economy," Boudou said in Paris on 13 December.

Soybean harvest

the second largest South American economy grew by 8.6 percent in the third quarter after a record 55 million tons of soybean harvest metrics, statistics of the country and the National Census Dec. 17. Industrial production rose 12.8 percent in November from a year earlier, driven by a 36 percent jump in car production and 26 percent increase in vehicle exports, according to the Auto Manufacturers Association Argentina.

The central bank predicted the economy will grow by 9 percent this year, the fastest pace since 2005.

"Since September there has been an economic environment favorable for Argentina," said Sebastian Briozzo, director of Latin American S & P, in a telephone interview. "We are seeing a global positive external environment for commodity prices continue to rise and growth continues in Brazil, the main destination of the country's products."

Yield spread

The extra yield investors demand to hold Argentina's dollar bonds instead of U.S. Treasuries decreased 188 basis points from S & P raised the rating of the country from September 13-510, according to JPMorgan. The decrease in borrowing costs is the largest among emerging markets after Venezuela. Moody's last increase in the capacity of the country in June 2005.

"The perception in the market remains more conservative than our assessment is, despite the narrowing of spreads we've seen since the upgrade," said Briozzo. "The view is that Argentina is a relatively weaker credit than we think."

Moody's analyst Gabriel Torres did not return a phone call seeking comment.

An agreement with the Paris Club, would lead to increased ratings for Argentina, said Alberto Bernal, head of fixed income research at Bulltick Capital Markets, a brokerage firm based in Miami focusing on Latin America.

"A Paris Club agreement was always something to help the private sector in Argentina," he said in a telephone interview. "The ability to finance investments in infrastructure will be much better. If you see a higher level of investment in infrastructure, rating agencies will look at Argentina and see the prospects for sustainable growth."

The peso was little changed at 3.9753 per dollar.

Default Swaps

Guarantees linked to economic growth rose 0.2 percent to 14.5 cents.

The cost of insuring Argentine bonds against default for five years fell 13 basis points to 618, according to CMA DataVision. Swaps credit-default pay the buyer face value in exchange for the underlying securities or the cash equivalent of a government or a company fails to meet debt agreements.

Argentina's record 95 billion U.S. dollars debt default and the concern of the government's inflation underreports have damaged the country's credibility with investors. Fernandez says the government's inflation data is correct.

"Argentina has a lot of baggage," said Bernal. "It takes a lot of convincing, time, goodwill and new messages for you to start believing, and slowly people start to believe in Argentina."

The yield on the benchmark dollar bonds maturing in Argentina in 2017 fell 17 basis points yesterday to 8.15 percent. The notes produced 10.56 percent in September.

"The margins continue to fall," said Credit Suisse Arsenin. "It depends on how politics plays next year, but in the baseline scenario, the government will continue the same policies that have continued this year, and try to close the gap with the Paris Club."

Central banks outside the U.S. Treasuries sold in late November and December for the first time since June

Central banks outside the U.S. Treasuries sold in late November and December for the first time since June, stimulating the biggest monthly loss in a year for government bonds.

The Treasury letter graphics DAY held at the Federal Reserve and foreign central banks and governments. It also shows the yields of U.S. 10 years of climbing in December to a maximum of seven months. Called custody holdings rose to a record $ 2,611,000,000,000 Nov. 17, according to the U.S. central bank. The figure fell $ 2.25 billion in the last week of November, and official foreign holders have sold $ 1.5 billion of Treasuries in December.

"Foreign central banks have been drastically reduced their purchases of Treasury bonds, led analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. by Srini Ramaswamy in New York, wrote in a report of 17 December. "This sharp decline in external demand likely contributed to the selloff in Treasuries, "said JP Morgan, one of the 18 primary dealers required to bid in the sale of public debt.

Treasury bonds gave investors a loss of 2.0 percent this month, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch indexes. The last time the U.S. government debt fell more was in December 2009, when it fell 2.6 percent. Investors outside the U.S. are about half the nation's trade debt, which has grown by more than 50 percent since early 2009 to $ 8,750,000,000,000.

"This is terrifying,"said Tomohisa Fujiki, interest rate strategist at BNP Paribas Securities Japan Ltd. in Tokyo. "It was one of the major factors that massive selloff." U.S. unit of BNP is another primary dealer.

German bond yields to 10 years were near the lowest in a week

German bond yields to 10 years were near the lowest in a week after Fitch Ratings said it may cut Greece's credit rating to non-investment grade within six weeks, underlying demand for more active insurance.

Two-year German yields were within two points of least 12 days. Fitch said late yesterday that it expected a review of "fiscal sustainability"of Greece, to be completed in January and there is a "high probability"of a rebate. The European Central Bank plans to carry out a period of three months of operation of long-term refinancing to banks today.

"Downgrades can continue in the new year, " said Mohit Kumar, fixed income strategist at Deutsche Bank AG in London. "We need to see a concerted response from the euro area. Otherwise the negative sentiment is likely to continue."

German 10-year yields were little changed at 2.99 percent as of 10:09 am in London. The 2.5 percent security due in January 2021 traded at 95.81. Two-year yields were little changed at 1.04 percent.

Moody's Investors Service placed long-term A1 and Prime-1 ratings Portugal short-term government bond on duty yesterday, saying that the rating may be cut by a level or two "slow" growth of the economy. The same agency credit cut Ireland's five levels of classification on 17 December.

Greek government bonds were little changed 10 years, with the 10-year yield to 12.16 percent. Portuguese equivalent maturity bonds fell, pushing yields up to five basis points to 6.8 percent. Spanish 10-year bonds were little changed at 5.56 percent and Italian yields remained at 4.67 percent.

the holding company for bond insurer is not discussing with creditors and regulators of how to allocate $ 7.3 billion in net operating losses.

A lawyer for Ambac Financial Group Inc. told a bankruptcy judge that the holding company for bond insurer is not discussing with creditors and regulators of how to allocate $ 7.3 billion in net operating losses.

On the other hand, Daniel Filor, attorney for the U.S. attorney's office, told the judge that the government believes that a tax refund dispute Ambac Financial should be transferred from the bankruptcy court in New York federal court district.

Main Ambac insurance unit, Ambac Assurance Corp., was taken by regulators, the insurance commissioner's office in Wisconsin, known as the OIC, is overseeing the rehabilitation of 50 billion U.S. dollars in the portfolio of policies secure residential mortgage-backed securities.

"We are in tripartite negotiations with the committee and the OIC regarding a comprehensive settlement," lawyer Todd Padnos Ambac said U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Shelley Chapman in New York yesterday. He said an agreement could solve "the amount paid by Ambac Assurance to the holding of articles including tax refunds.

Ambac's holding company separately is seeking an injunction to temporarily prohibit the Internal Revenue Service to seize a refund of $ 700 million received to carry back losses in contracts for credit default swap. Also called for a sentence which has no tax liability for 2003 to 2008 and is entitled to maintain a full refund.

At the hearing yesterday, said the U.S. Filor is planning to request moving the competition to a district court, which Ambac may object.

'New and complex "

"New and complex problems of federal tax law are appropriate to go before a federal district court," said Filor.

Ambac has filed for bankruptcy Nov. 8, with liabilities of $ 1.68 million at June 30 on a consolidated basis.

Ambac said in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy was necessary to preserve about $ 7 billion in net operating losses. The IRS has challenged the claims of both companies tax deductions that are said to be generated by those losses.

The IRS has agreed not to take enforcement action against Ambac or its subsidiaries without giving five days' notice. The agreement will remain in effect until a hearing to decide whether Ambac can get a ruling.

The agreement requires the IRS to send a response to the motion of December 31 Ambac, and Ambac to meet again on January 18.

On the other hand, Chapman approved the hiring of Blackstone Advisory Partners LP as financial advisor, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP as bankruptcy counsel, and Togut, Segal & Segal as attorney conflicts LLLP. Morrison & Foerster LLP was also approved as counsel for the official committee of unsecured creditors, and Lazard Freres & Co. as financial adviser to the committee.

The case is In re holding company Ambac Financial Group Inc., 10-15973, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

UK house prices may extend their decline in 2011 before stabilization

UK house prices may extend their decline in 2011 before "stabilization" as a shortage of supply helps to limit falls, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said.

The indicators "point to the downward trend in the stabilization of the spring with prices starting to creep up again before the end of the year," the group said in a statement today in London. Prices in the fourth quarter of 2011 may be a "negligible" 2 percent compared with current levels.

The demand for housing has weakened as banks restrict credit and the British are prepared to cut public spending and raising taxes to reduce the budget deficit. While RICS said there is a "risk" of the tax burden could be more damaging than expected, "even in this environment, our view is that the lack of new supply is likely to prevent the fall that amounts to much more than 5 percent "in 2011.

The group also said there was "little reason" to believe that easier access to mortgages early next year, citing the Bank of England Credit Conditions Survey.

At the same time, the need for lenders to refinance loans that the Bank of England ends some of its liquidity programs could mean higher costs, which in all probability, is likely to be passed to borrowers. "

"The alternative outcome would be for banks to reduce the balance and control the availability of credit to an extent even greater than is currently the case," said RICS.

At least seven measures of housing prices, recent data have painted a mixed picture of the UK market. Acadametrics Ltd. and LSL Property Services Plc said on 10 December that the price of housing rose to the highest in more than two years in November. Mortgage lender Halifax said prices fell 0.1 percent, while indicator RICS held near the lowest in 18 months.

Housing standards-transaction "falls flat as mortgage lending remains low for another year," said RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn in today's report. However, "reducing the gap between supply and demand is the gentle downward trend in prices is taking place at least partially reversed in the year carries on."

Japan's banks are selling bonds for the first time this year

Japan's banks are selling bonds for the first time this year, prices are falling.

Lenders cut public debt holdings 142.2 billion Japanese yen ($ 1,700,000,000,000) of 31 October from a record 143.2 trillion yen a month earlier, the Bank of Japan data show. Added bonuses in each of the last nine months, as outstanding loans fell 2.1 percent to 391.9 trillion yen, the lowest since May 2008. Government bonds lost 1.5 percent since Sept. 30, set for worst quarter in seven years, the indexes compiled by Merrill Lynch Bank of America shows.

"Banks can make some changes in their strategies as the decrease in bond prices cut operating profits," said Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a Tokyo-based analyst at Deutsche Bank AG. Loans extended its biggest drop since 2005 as "the weak economic outlook, companies are building reserves and preventing capital spending and manufacturing is hollowing and move abroad," he said.

The double whammy means earnings at major Japanese banks, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Mizuho Financial Group Inc. and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. will be reduced at least 4.3 percent, while earnings will increase in EE. UU. rivals such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc. Japanese government bonds being made worse this year than all European countries, but dragged down by the sovereign debt crisis among developed nations.

Shinya Matsumoto, a spokesman for Mitsubishi UFJ, said the bank regularly monitors all risky assets, declining to give details of transactions. Kyosuke Hattori, a spokeswoman for the banking unit of Sumitomo Mitsui, declined to comment, as Masako Shiono, a spokeswoman for Mizuho. Companies based in Tokyo.

Bond sales

The largest banks in the second largest economy in the world sold a net ¥ 3000000000000 Japanese government bond in November, excluding short-term securities, the Securities Dealers Association of Japan reported on its website.

Investors in Japanese government bonds gained 3.3 percent in the first nine months of 2010, according to Merrill indexes. The securities have already compared this year's gain to 1.8 percent from December 20, just ahead of Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Italy among the 20 developed countries followed by the indices. U.S. Treasury Bonds returned 5.6 percent. Denmark's debt rose 8.4 percent to provide the most benefit.

The decrease in loans

"The banks may have sold more debt in November as part of a strategy to ensure decent profits from sales of bonds and loans to deal with weak demand," said Takehito Yamanaka, a Tokyo-based analyst at MF Global FXA Securities Ltd. "Some may have begun to offer loans to companies with lending margins narrow to capture the largest cake in a declining market."

The yield on the 10-year bonds in Japan rose 22 basis points this quarter, the biggest increase since the second quarter of 2008. ten-year yields, which fell 1 basis point to 1.15 percent as of 11:45 am in Tokyo, will go to 1.25 percent in late 2011
.

Increased yields of Japanese government bonds and U.S. Treasuries can have an impact on bank earnings in the second half of the year ended March 31 Masayuki Oku, head of the Japanese Bankers Association, told reporters in Tokyo yesterday. Oku, who is also president of Sumitomo Mitsui, said the performance is unlikely that the "drastic change."

Bank lending fell for the 12th month of November, extending the longest losing streak since 2005, central bank figures show. Corporate loan demand has fallen for six quarters as companies compare investment, according to a Bank of Japan survey of loan officers.

Spending cuts

Loans outstanding at 83 lenders in the Topix Banks Index fell 2.5 percent to 5.44 trillion yen on average in the year to 30 September. Capital spending for 1664 companies in the Topix index declined in the last three months of 2010.

Debt declined even after the Bank of Japan lowered interest rates to zero and started three programs of credit totaling about 40 trillion yen to support the economy. Gross domestic product is likely to shrink this quarter for the first time in over a year due to the strong yen and deflation, according to a survey of 42 economists released December 8 by the government-affiliated Economic Planning Association.

"The biggest challenge facing Japanese lenders is how to improve their profitability," said central bank deputy governor Hirohide Yamaguchi at a forum in Tokyo on 10 December.

Smaller gains

Profit at Mitsubishi UFJ, the country's largest bank, was reduced by 4.3 percent to 509 billion yen in the year from April 1 of a projected 532 billion yen this fiscal year. Sumitomo Mitsui's net income fall 24 percent to 410 billion yen and Mizuho will slide 26 percent to 368 billion yen, estimates showed.

two Mitsubishi UFJ's main banking unit reported an average loan margin of 1.43 percent in the quarter ended September 30, the lowest since March 2007. Interest rates on deposits stood at 0.13 percent, also the lowest since March 2007.

The cost of protecting bank debt in the event of default is rising in this quarter, even as prices fall on average for the contracts that the rest of the investment-grade borrowers in the nation.

credit default swaps covering Mitsubishi UFJ subordinated bonds for five years rose to 103 basis points yesterday, most of the nearly five months, from 97 to 30 September, CMA prices show. The subordinated debt swaps Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd., a unit of Mizuho, rose to 120 from 113.

Wall Street profits

The Markit iTraxx Japan index of credit-default swaps on 50 investment grade borrowers dropped four basis points this quarter to 102. The contracts pay the buyer face value in exchange for the underlying securities or the cash equivalent of a government or a company fails to meet its obligations.

the biggest Wall Street banks are about to make their second highest earnings ever this year. JPMorgan earnings rise 15 percent to $ 19 billion in 2011 and earnings of Citigroup is expected to gain 26 percent to $ 14.6 billion, according to polls.

Credit Suisse Group AG analyst Shinichi Ina Mizuho and Mitsubishi UFJ downgraded to "neutral" on 29 November, citing the deterioration of bond trading profits. Ina Tokyo-based Sumitomo Mitsui maintains "outperform", estimating a return on capital greater than their next fiscal year.

Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho and Sumitomo Mitsui all raised their earnings forecasts for the year in November, as trading gains and reduce cost of loans in the first half offset reduced net interest income.

Banks Underperform

Topix banks index has fallen 2 percent this year compared with an increase of 0.1 percent in the benchmark Topix. Mitsubishi UFJ rose 1.4 percent at 11 am Break in Tokyo, compared the loss this year to 1.8 percent. Mizuho gained 2.7 percent, trimming its decline in 2010 to 6.6 percent. Sumitomo Mitsui added 1 percent, extending its gain to 11 percent.

In the U.S., the KBW Bank Index rose 20 percent this year, outpacing an increase of 13 percent for Standard & Poor's 500. Citigroup is up 43 percent, while JPMorgan fell 1.6 percent.

The Bank of Japan, which held yesterday in interest rates between zero and 0.1 percent, has said that remain unchanged until inflation reaches 1 percent. Consumer prices excluding fresh food fell 0.6 percent in October from a year earlier.

Investors keep betting the central bank will not end a decade of deflation that the government says it is curbing economic growth. The difference between yields on Japanese government notes and five-year inflation-indexed debt, a gauge of expectations operator of consumer prices was less than 0.65 percentage points today. The five-year average is less than 1.11 percentage points.

The yen gained 11 percent against the dollar this year, reaching a maximum of 15 years of 80.22 per dollar on November 1. The currency traded at 83.81 as of 12:02 pm in Tokyo.