The indexes in the Asian and Pacific region came in positive territory in today’s session amid reports that some prisons for tsunami and earthquake in Japan’s factories will soon resume its activities. The regional index MSCI Asia Pacific rose strongly by 1.3 percent to 134.84 points and is on track to finish today’s session at its highest level since the earthquake on March 11 onwards. The shares of Hitachi rose nearly 9% on the Tokyo Stock Exchange after it became clear that the main factory of the manufacturer of consumer electronics in the country will reopen in April. A strong presentation and the second largest construction company in Hong Kong – Cheung Kong Holdings, because of strong expectations of financial results for 2010 As a result, its shares rose 2.6 percent on the stock exchange in Hong Kong. The leading stock index in Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose strongly by 2.6% to 9 708.79 points, which helped and good data on the increase in industrial production in the country in February. The shares of the third-largest car company in the country Nissan Motor rose 3.8 percent after its management announced that by the end of June activities in its factories in Japan will return to their normal pace. The Hang Seng added 1.7% to 23 451.40 points, while South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.9 percent to 2 091.38 points. The Australian Index S & P / ASX 200 rose 1.4 percent to 4 822.20 points, led by mining companies, and broad Chinese Shanghai Composite Index ended the session almost unchanged.
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The trading session in the U.S. initially began with divergent movements of the indices under the influence of big sales in the Asian region today and discussions about bailout of Ireland. The strong decline in new construction in October and data understated inflation in the U.S. also contributed negatively to the index at the beginning of the session. An hour later, however, price-weighted Dow Jones IA index, increased by 0.1% to 11 034.86 points, while the broader stock market benchmark S & P 500 added 0.4 percent to 1,182 points, led by shares in the consumer sector. On the Nasdaq stock exchange Nasdaq Composite leading index increased by 0.5% to 2 482.91 points. For the predominance of purchasers of shares helped the news that carmaker General Motors increased by 31% the number of shares that will sell through its initial public offering (IPO). The investors will be offered 478 million shares in the carmaker to the originally planned 365 million shares, writes CNN. It is expected the IPO to bring it revenues of nearly $ 20 billion. Yesterday, General Motors and increase the price band of its IPO to 32-33 dollars per share, compared with the previously announced 26 to 29 dollars per share. Data on inflation in the U.S. today showed that consumer prices rose 0.2 percent on a monthly and 1.2% yoy in October, which was less than expected.
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The Swiss company Nestle lay a better than expected preliminary report, giving an argument of analysts who firmly pledged the company as a preferred investment in Europe. Revenues from sales of main products of the company rose by 4.1 percent in 2009, indicating stability amid the crisis. This is to bring Nestle revenue of 108 billion Swiss francs (99.91 billion dollars). Preliminary expectations of analysts was for sales growth of 3,9 percent to 105.9 billion francs, transmit CNBC. “The progress over the last year growth of 4,1 per cent against the backdrop of a complex environment shows that we are able to note an increase greater than that of the sector as a whole,” stated the CEO of Nestle Paul Balk. Operating profit of Nestle for the year 2009 amounted to 15.7 billion francs.
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