Lack of important economic data in the early weeks of the new exchange led to the tentative start of today’s session on Wall Street. All three major indexes found themselves in positive territory in early trade but shortly thereafter changed direction and gravitate around the neutral zone. Dow Jones Industrial Average, which brings together 30 most actively traded stock in U.S. companies with the highest market capitalization remains unchanged at 10 570.51 points by one hour after the start of trade. Broader index S & P 500, meanwhile rose by 0,1 percent to 1 138.68 points. On the Nasdaq stock exchange, however, the main Nasdaq Composite index rose by 0.2% to 2 330.15 points, which is its highest level since early September 2008, technology companies are among the most profitable today, but those in the health sector is ranked among the top losers in the trade. The last session last week led to significant increases in the indexes after the data on the labor market showed that unemployment in the United States remains at a level of 9.7 percent for the second consecutive month in February, but the cuts in non-agricultural sectors of the economy fell more than expected. Trading last week was volatile because of the key data on employment in the sectors of U.S. economy and may continue to be volatile in coming days and because of scarce economic data.
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The Consumer loans in the United States in January unexpectedly increased by $ 5 billion or an annual rate of 2.4 percent. With the largest contribution to growth is the increase in loans to buy cars. The data of the Federal Reserve (U.S. central bank) for December were revised down. In the last month of last year loans fell 4.6 billion dollars instead of the original estimate of a decline of 1,7 billion. After initial assessment in December, economists predicted a decline in January amounted to 4,5 billion dollars. This is the first increase in loans last year and shows that consumer confidence in the U.S. economy growing. “This is a sign that the economy is on the bottom and consumers begin to spend again,” said Chris Rapkey, an economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi. “The increase in loans kicks prospects for the economy this year.” Consumer spending represents 70% of GDP.
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Germany’s chemical-pharmaceutical company, Merck has entered into an agreement to buy U.S. biotech group Millipore, the value of the transaction amounted to 5,3 billion euros, says a joint release of both companies. In the value of the transaction are included and obligations of the acquiree. Agreement was approved by the boards of the groups. Merck will fund the purchase as its own cash and a loan from a consortium of banks including the U.S. Bank of America, France’s BNP Paribas and Germany’s Commerzbank. It is expected that approval of the transaction by shareholders of companies, as well as U.S. and European antitrust authorities. According to the Merck acquisition will be finalized in the second half of 2010. Communication for the purchase of Millipore comes less than a week after the company announced that its looking for a new owner. For 2009, the U.S. company has a net profit of 177 million and sales of 1.65 billion dollars. Group employs approximately 6100 people worldwide.
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Plenty of economic news, quarterly financial reports and data on the labor market in the U.S. made investors on Wall Street to take a cautious stance at the beginning of today’s trading session. The U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed that the creation of new jobs in the United States will be a major priority of the government this year in his statement before Congress. Meanwhile, in the Swiss resort town of Davos to hold the World Economic Forum, and today French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for a thorough rethinking of capitalism and criticized the scheme for payment of bonuses, which have no relation to the quality of management. Participate in the forum and renowned investor George Soros, who called for reducing the size of banks. Before the start of the session weekly data on new applications for unemployment benefits showed that initial unemployment in the United States remains relatively high during the past week. Moreover, the data were disappointing for the orders for the production of durable goods, whose value increased four times less than expected by 0.3 percent on a monthly basis in December. Among the most important quarterly results are those of carmaker Ford Motor, which came to an annual profit for the first time since 2005 and those of the communication company Motorola, which returned to profit in the fourth quarter of 2009, Procter & Gamble, involved in the index Dow Jones IA, turn out a profit of 4.66 billion dollars for the last three months of 2009
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The U.S. economy has a serious request to exit the severe economic crisis, it became clear from data on gross domestic product in the last quarter of 2009. It grew by 5,7 per cent in seasonally adjusted and aligned on an annual basis. This is the sharp rise in U.S. GDP by the end of 2003 onwards. The increase comes after the U.S. economic growth of 2,2 per cent in the third quarter of 2009. Analysts’ estimates were for growth of 5.4 per cent. Despite the high score, however it is too early for definitive evaluations Since several revisions to the data. Although over the last two quarters of 2009 to the U.S. economy grew for the whole last year reported a decline of 2,4 per cent. This is the worst performance of the U.S. economy from 1942 onwards, when it was registered a decline of 10.9 percent. Among the positive data make a bad impression with business investment, which suffered its biggest decline from 1942 to date, writes Market Watch. About two-thirds achieved in the last quarter of the year growth was due to selling of stocks in the economy. If they are removed from the calculations, the estimated growth of 2,2 per cent annually, which is a signal of continued weakness in the U.S.
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Throughout 2009., Sales of existing homes in the United States amounted to 5.16 millions units, up by 4.9% annually from 4.91 millions units reported for 2008. This is the first increase in sales of existing homes in the U.S. for 2009. since 2005. here, but is largely supported the initiative, which supports the purchase of a first home in the country and in the amount of 8 thousand dollars for every buyer. In December sales decreased by 16.7 percent on a monthly basis until season middle 5.45 million units. with expectations for a drop of 10.0 percent on a monthly basis. In November, data showed an increase by 7.4% on a monthly basis to 6.54 millions units.
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The U.S. government securities (GS) recorded its worst year since 1978, after the government expedite the issuance of new debt to help restore the economy from the deepest recession in six decades. According to the index of Bank of America Merrill Lynch government securities have lost 3.6 percent this year – the worst performance for at least 1978, when he began calculating the index. Holders of U.S. debt, however, have achieved returns of 81% in the last decade, according to this index, while the index for the same period Standard & Poor’s 500, including dividends and has lost 8 percent of its value. President Obama takes unprecedented amounts of funding for different programs. Only last week the Treasury sells government bonds worth 118 billion dollars. The issued government debt outstanding reached a record 7.17 trillion. dollars in November after the end of last year was a level of 5.80 trillion. “This is the largest increase in budget deficit for one year, excluding periods of wars and depressions. Realistic expectations for economic recovery and the accompanying increase in interest rates increased the yield of government securities, which automatically means lower prices, “says Christian Kari, a senior analyst at Societe Generale SA, Tokyo. According to him, prices could fall even more.
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The price of oil fell to 76 dollars a barrel during electronic trading today in Asia after the data for unexpected contraction in the services sector in the United States darken depreciation of the dollar. This week it became clear that lower demand has increased oil reserves of the largest energy consumer in the world more than expected. U.S. light crude for delivery in January to 0.4% cheaper to 76.15 dollars a barrel during electronic trading on the New York oil exchange. Oil futures ended Tuesday’s session to drop the price of 14 cents to 76.46 dollars per barrel, the lowest level last week. Compared to last Friday U.S. crude oil has dropped by 0.2 percent, but the beginning of the year its price was raised by 70%. He may continue to become cheaper now, if the data for unemployment in the U.S. market in November, disappointed analysts. They expect it to remain at a level of 10.2 percent for the second month. In the hours electronic trading on the international petroleum exchange in London Brent crude oil traded slightly decrease the price by 0.2 percent to 78.17 dollars per barrel.
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Most large U.S. banks will soon have to take public offerings if the Treasury require repayment of funds lent to them by the program to buy troubled assets (TARP), Reuters said banking analyst Richard Bouv. Earlier this month asked the Federal Reserve Banks, subject to “stress test” to come forward with plans to repay the amounts allocated in exchange for the issued preference shares in them. “In fact, all banks can easily redeem these securities of its cash balances, but only 3 of the top 30 banks would be left with adequate Tier if they do,” explains Bouv. It is believed that the Treasury aims ratio Tier assets to 12 percent, which means that banks will be forced to raise capital without government assistance before they are allowed to repay the funds under the program continues Bouv. “It stirs the thought that some banks would rather have public offerings, although their profits are in doubt.” Rochdale Securities analyst said that the swell of the U.S. budget deficit, which is expected to reach 9.5 percent of GDP in this fiscal year and the drop-down dollar, forcing the government to obtain funds where possible. Collection of funds awarded through the TARP program is one of the possible sources, according Bouv. Many banks want to return the funds received under the program, which was worth 700 billion dollars as participation in it is associated with restrictions on expenditure on salaries, dividends and redemptions.
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The United States will ultimately be necessary to introduce a national value added tax to reduce its budget deficit, told CNBC on Thursday, Paul Donovan, chief executive and deputy chief economist at UBS. Taxing consumption has never been on the agenda of the United States. “The United States is the only OECD member state without value added tax, but I think I will need to change that at some point,” said Donovan. “This is a cheap way to raise funds, but is not particularly fair since it falls disproportionately on groups with lower income. So perhaps it will require some changes in tax legislation to avoid it. But overall this is a good way to collect money, “continues the economist. Proposals to close the loophole allowing international companies to avoid U.S. income tax at the time of her repatriation, were overshadowed by the U.S. government attempts to stabilize the economy. According to Donovan such proposals have a single effect. They do not contribute to sustainable increases in tax revenues. “We all know that taxes in the United States will increase, but it is frustrating to say the consumer. It is better to leave them to shop with the thought that so far their incomes will be affected, “he reflects. “There is no dispute, however, that consumers will have to reduce their costs, and it in all directions.”
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