US MArket Closed almost flat with Small caps lagging, consumer discretionary (+0.4%) and utilities (+0.3%) outperformed throughout the session, with the utilities sector extending its 2014 advance to 14.0%, the discretionary sector was boosted by media names amid reports indicating AT&T (T 35.58, -0.12) approached DirecTV (DTV 80.76, +3.16) about a potential $40 billion acquisition...volume were below average @682mil shares..VIX @13.25 -1.19%...Kraft reported after closed stock-0.7%, LNKD -4.4% after H. on earnings, Unemployment rate in Japan remained steady inv March at its 6-year low of 3.6%, prompting Chief Cabinet Sec Suga to remarkvthat labor situation is steadily improving. Separately, local press indicatedvJapan govt will consider a corporate tax cut from FY15/16, in line with recentvremarks from cabinet officials. Sony opened on lows after cutting guidance but recover during session...Ukraine attacked on pro-russian rebels put some pressure on mkt...Nikkei -0.27%...Hang Seng +0.66%...Shanghai +0.30%
Eur$1.3857 S&P Fut +0.04% European fut. +0.20%
Keep an eye on :
- AF FP : Air France SNPL Union Wants End to Pilot Strike Threat: Echos
- AZN LN : Pfizer said to be considering raising offer for the company to higher than £63B ($106B), with an increased cash component - press- Reminder: on 4/28 Pfizer made a preliminary and conditional proposal regarding a possible offer for AstraZeneca. The Proposal comprised £13.98 in cash (30%) and 1.758 Pfizer shares (70%) per AstraZeneca share, representing a value of £46.61 per AstraZeneca share, based on the closing price of Pfizer shares of $30.52 on 3 January 2014.--> AZN @ in NY
- AZN LN : Astra, Pfizer deal could face Chinese antitrust hurdle - RTR
- BAS GY : BASF 1Q Ebit Ex-Items EU2.14b, Est. EU2.12b; Confirms 2014 Goal Despite Unfavorable FX Development
- BAYN GY : Bayer Said to Be in Exclusive Talks For Merck Consumer Unit
- CAP FP : Cap Gemini Offers Attractive Entry Point: Citi; Upgrades Stock
- ELE SM : Endesa Says Enersis to Buy Inkia's 39% Stake in Generandes Peru
- GKP LN : Gulf Keystone Denies Report on Plans to Oust Kozel: Reuters Link
- GN DC : GN Store Nord 1Q Net Misses Est.; Outlook Unchanged
- NOVN VX : Novartis Abandons Plans to Acquire Gamida Cell: Globes Link
- PUB FP : Omnicom/Publicis Deal Shows Signs of 'Trouble'
- REP SM : Pemex considering selling its 9.5% stake in REP - Expansion
- RI FP : Pernod Ricard Says Not Seeking More U.S. Assets at This Time - Treasury Wine Says Not In Talks With Pernod
- SIE GY : Siemens held lengthy board debate on bid for Alstom power division - Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
- SOW GY : Software AG 1Q Sales Miss, Ebit, EPS Beat; Confirms 2014 Outlook
- SRP LN : Serco Says Invesco Cut Stake to 11% (from 22% on March 3 and 14,3% on April 28)
- SYV SM : Sacyr Plans Capital Increase for Testa Real Estate Unit
- TEF SM : Telefonica Sweetens Offer to Win EU OK for E-Plus: Reuters Link
- TEMN SW : Temenos Offers Limited Upside, UBS Says; Downgrades Stock
- TEN IM : Tenaris 1Q Net Beats Est.; Rev. Misses
- USG NA : USG People Reports 1Q Net Income of EU6.78m vs Loss of EU16.8m