Every morning ValueWalk puts out a news report with the latest 
news in global stock markets, company news, and global economic news.
Market Levels
- US: Dow Futures: 12766.00 (0.68%), S&P 500 Futures: 1367.30 (0.75%), NASDAQ Futures: 2715.75 (0.70%)
- Europe: CAC: 3255.18 (1.17%), DAX: 6678.95 (1.10%), FTSE: 5625.94 (0.54%).
- Asia-Pacific: Australia: 4246.10 (-1.08%), China: 2308.92 (0.13%), Hong Kong: 20140.67 (-1.07%), India: 5226.85 (-0.32%), Japan: 9458.74 (-0.84%).
- Metals: Gold: 1659.10 (-0.10%), Silver: 31.66 (-0.06%), Copper: 3.65 (0.08%)
- Energy: Crude Oil: 101.42 (0.40%), Natural Gas: 2.05 (0.84%)
- Commodities: Corn: 6.38 (-1.85%), Soya Bean: 14.26 (-0.21%), Wheat: 6.39 (-0.46%)
- Currency: EUR/USD: 1.3132 (0.38%), GBP/USD: 1.5902 (0.25%), USD/JPY: 80.8600 (0.24%)
- 10 year US Treasury: 2.026% (0.040)
Financial, Economic and Political News Update
U.S. stock-index futures point to a higher open: U.S. markets are poised to open higher today, after recording their steepest one-day decline this year on Tuesday. The Dow Jones industrial average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures were all trading higher ahead of the opening bell.
European markets move higher: European markets posted decent gains on Wednesday, rebounding from a two-month low, boosted by the beaten-down banking and mining stocks. The German DAX (INDEXDB:DAX) and the CAC 40 (INDEXEURO:PX1) were trading more than a percent higher, while the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) gained half a percent.
U.K. retail sales rise in March: The British Retail Consortium said U.K. retail sales rose for the first time in three months in March, adding to signs that the economy is slowly gathering steam. Retail sales in March were lifted by an unusually warm weather that prompted Britons to shop for clothing and outdoor gear.
Spanish industrial output shrinks in February: Data from the National Statistics Institute showed that Spain’s industrial output slumped in February at the second fastest pace in more than two years. Industrial output fell 5.1 percent year-on-year in February, following a 4.3 percent drop in January. After recording a meagre growth of 0.7 percent in 2011, the country is slipping back into recession this year, with the government projecting a 1.7-percent contraction in gross domestic production.
Asian markets end in the red: Asian markets fell on Wednesday on rising concerns about the European debt crisis. Japan’s NIKKEI 225 (INDEXNIKKEI:NI225) closed down for the seventh straight trading day, and is in its longest losing streak since 2009. The Shanghai Composite Index (SHA:000001) reversed early losses and ended the day flat. The HANG SENG INDEX (INDEXHANGSENG:HSI) fell for the third consecutive day with financial and resources-related stocks leading the market lower. The S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) index recorded its fourth straight down day, extending the longest losing streak in more than four months.
Tsunami alerts sounded across Asia after massive earthquake near Indonesia: An 8.7 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Indonesia, prompting tsunami alerts in 28 countries across the Indian Ocean region, which only eight years back saw more than 220,000 people dead, after a magnitude-9.1 earthquake unleashed massive waves.
Japanese machinery orders rise in February: Japan’s machinery orders unexpectedly rose in February in a sign that capital expenditure is increasing as the country tries to rebuild its earthquake-ravaged northeast coast. Core machinery orders rose 4.8 percent in February, after rising 3.4 percent the previous month. Economists were expecting a decline of 0.8 percent.
Economic Calendar for Wednesday, April 11, 2012:
07:00 A.M. ET: MBA Purchase Applications (Week ending Friday, April 06, 2012)
08:20 A.M. ET: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Pres. Dennis Lockhart speaks.
08:30 A.M. ET: Import and Export Prices (March)
10:30 A.M. ET: EIA Petroleum Status Report (Week ending Friday, April 06, 2012)
10:30 A.M. ET: Boston Federal Reserve Bank President Eric Rosengren speaks.
01:00 P.M. ET: 10-Yr Note Auction
02:00 P.M. ET: Fed’s Beige Book (April)
02:00 P.M. ET: Treasury Budget (March)
04:00 P.M. ET: St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard speaks.
