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Politics : Sioux Nation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SiouxPal who wrote (162186)	3/4/2009 12:41:34 AM
From: Sea Otter	Read Replies (6) \| Respond to of 361469

excellent. you need any more grooming tips, Sioux, you just let me know!

To: SiouxPal who wrote (162186)	3/4/2009 3:45:10 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 361469

Stocks in Europe, Asia Advance, Led by BHP; U.S. Futures Gain By Adam Haigh March 4 (Bloomberg) -- Stocks in Europe and Asia advanced, pushing the MSCI World Index higher for the first time in six days, and U.S. index futures rose on speculation governments will broaden efforts to revive the economy. BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group added more than 4 percent as copper rallied on optimism metals consumption in China will increase. Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. jumped 9 percent in Shanghai as a former statistics chief said Premier Wen Jiabao will announce a new stimulus package. France Telecom SA, Europe’s third-largest phone company, gained 1.3 percent on a dividend increase. The MSCI World Index added 0.3 percent to 707.50 at 8:07 a.m. in London. The deepening global recession, a third government rescue for Citigroup Inc. and dividend cuts at companies from General Electric Co. to JPMorgan Chase & Co. have sent the index of 23 developed countries to a 23 percent drop this year, the worst start since the gauge was created in 1970. Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.6 percent. The benchmark index for American equities slid below 700 for the first time since October 1996 yesterday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the banking system still hasn’t stabilized. Europe’s Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index climbed 1.5 percent, rebounding from the lowest level since 1996. Zurich Financial Services AG climbed after JPMorgan said Switzerland’s biggest insurer’s “solvency position is strong.” The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.8 percent on speculation Chinese Premier Wen will announce new stimulus measures tomorrow, adding to a 4 trillion yuan ($585 billion) spending plan as the government tries to revive the world’s third-biggest economy. Stimulus Packages Governments from the U.S. to China and Australia have sought to introduce policies this year to bolster their economies. Wen will announce a new stimulus package tomorrow, former Statistics Bureau head Li Deshui said today, without elaborating. BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company, added 4.8 percent to 1,088 pence. Rio Tinto, the third biggest, gained 5.2 percent to 1,703 pence. Copper futures jumped by the 5 percent daily limit in Shanghai on optimism metals consumption in China may pick up as the stimulus package takes effect. France Telecom gained 1.3 percent to 17.65 euros after the phone company raised its full-year dividend to 1.40 euros a share from 1.30 euros paid for 2007. Full-year gross operating profit, a measure comparable to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, rose 2.8 percent to 19.4 billion euros ($24.29 billion). Analysts had predicted 19.1 billion euros. European Earnings Earnings for 242 companies in the Stoxx 600 that have reported earnings since Jan. 12 have dropped 93 percent, according to Bloomberg data. That compares to a 58 percent contraction in profit for the 463 companies that have reported results in the S&P 500 during the same period. Zurich Financial gained 2.4 percent to 155.1 Swiss francs as the insurer was raised to “overweight” at JPMorgan. “Zurich is now our top pick for three reasons: cost cutting, uplift to operating profit from reinsurance earnings, and strong non-life,” the bank wrote in a report. Metro AG added 2.9 percent to 21.42 euros. Bank of America Corp. boosted its recommendation on Germany’s largest retailer to “buy,” saying concern over its operations in eastern Europe is “overdone.” In Shanghai, Aluminum Corp. jumped 9 percent to 9.61 yuan and Jiangxi Copper Co. surged 10 percent to 16.73 yuan. China’s Purchasing Manager’s Index, a manufacturing gauge, climbed for a third month. Output and new orders expanded for the first time in five months, signaling that government stimulus is taking effect. A recovery in the first half is “very likely,” central bank Vice Governor Su Ning said yesterday. Credit Agricole, Holcim Credit Agricole SA fell 1.3 percent to 7 euros. France’s second-largest bank reported a fourth-quarter loss on writedowns and its unprofitable Greek division. Holcim Ltd. slid 2 percent to 35 francs. The world’s second- biggest cement maker said fourth-quarter profit fell 54 percent as it booked 300 million francs ($254 million) in costs to close factories as it combats slumping demand. Adecco SA slid 6.9 percent to 31.52 francs. The world’s largest supplier of temporary workers reported a fourth-quarter loss as it wrote down the value of goodwill on its Tuja acquisition in Germany and assets in the U.K. Seven & I Holdings Co., Japan’s largest retailer, climbed 2.9 percent to 2,100 yen in Tokyo. Bank of Japan board member Miyako Suda said today the central bank should signal that it’s prepared to take “bold” measures to counter the recession. Japan’s lower-house of parliament approved a bill that will free up about 5 trillion yen ($50 billion) for economic stimulus. To contact the reporter on this story: Adam Haigh in London at ahaigh1@bloomberg.net. Last Updated: March 4, 2009 03:18 EST