World Stock Markets News Page 4

As reported by the BBC, German retail giant Metro has announced a sharp drop in profits, as European consumers cut back on spending in the thick of the economic crisis. Net profits dropped 26% to 631 million euros ($833 million; £525 million) in 2011. No improvement is expected this year, said Metro. The firm had previously hoped to...

As reported by the BBC, Apple has announced its plans to start paying shareholders a dividend to buy back many of its shares. The tech giant stated that it would offer a quarterly dividend to investors of $2.65 per share. The firm will purchase up to $10 billion (£6.3 billion) of its own shares during the next financial year, starting on...

As reported by the BBC, Libya has re-launched its stock exchange for the first time since Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime fell. The exchange includes 10 firms, while the first day of trade was worth 3.9 billion Libyan dinars ($3 billion; £2 billion), said its general manager. Nearly all the nation’s publicly traded companies are...

As reported by Reuters, the U.S. stock market has posted its best day for 2012, with JP Morgan Chase & Co bringing on Tuesday's late spark after it announced it would raise its dividend. The news from JP Morgan preceded the Federal Reserve's announcement of figures from its most recent stress tests of American banks. The majority of...

According to Reuters, stocks that looked like they would shrink this week, to the surprise of many analysts, did not. With more signs of a growing economy, stocks may be running higher during the upcoming week. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index saw another positive week last Friday, defying once again calls for a turnaround in five...

As reported by the BBC, stock markets have dropped sharply with concerns of an impending deadline to secure Greece's financial future in the euro. Investors now have until Thursday to agree to exchange Greek government bonds for debt paying a lower rate, a deal which has helped secure another bailout. Greece would likely default on its...

As reported by Reuters, market shares in BP increased less than many analysts had expected after the oil giant finalised a settlement worth around $7.8 billion with firms and individuals hit by the oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico. Investors said the legal settlement was generally lived up to expectations, but the reduced legal...

As reported by the BBC, US insurance giant AIG, who was bailed out in 2008 by the US government, is auctioning off shares worth $6 billion of the Hong Kong-based AIA Group, in order to help repay its debt to the US government. AIG is selling 1.7 billion shares for a price range of 27.15-27.50 HK dollars per share, say Bloomberg and...

As reported by the BBC, the Indian government's efforts to sell a 5 per cent share in the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation slightly missed the set target amid fears that stakes were over-priced. It put up for sale 428 million shares at 290 rupees each, expecting to raise 124 billion rupees ($2.5bn; £1.6bn). However, it received offers for...

As reported by the BBC, shares in clothing company Gap went up 7% after reporting strong sales for February. Abnormally warm weather has persuaded American shoppers and the company said its spring items have been selling very well. With sales growing 12%, the firm’s Banana Republic chain also had a particularly strong month. After a...