Stocks: Wednesday’s review

Asian stocks rose, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average closing at the highest in four years, as Toyota Motor Corp. raised its profit forecast and the yen weakened, boosting the earnings outlook for exporters.

Nikkei 225 11,463.75 +416.83 +3.77%

Hang Seng 23,256.93 +108.40 +0.47%

S&P/ASX 200 4,920.95 +38.23 +0.78%

Shanghai Composite 2,434.48 +1.35 +0.06%

Toyota, the world’s largest carmaker, jumped 6.1 percent after increasing its profit forecast to a five-year high.

Mizuho Financial Group Inc. paced gains among lenders as the yen traded near the weakest level in almost three years on speculation Japan will hasten the selection of a new central bank chief who will take further steps to end deflation.

Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. led Macau casinos lower as the U.K.’s Times newspaper said China will crack down on junket operators.

European stocks fell, almost cutting off with early growth, at a time when that public survey in Italy showed that the anti-rigid economic campaign Berlusconi has led to its popularity.

The cost of UniCredit SpA and Intesa Sanpaolo SpA fell, causing a fall while Italian shares. Shares of Vinci SA, the largest builder in Europe fell by 3.3% after a report for 2012, which showed a decrease in yield. ArcelorMittal price rose by 1.1 percent. Volvo AB shares jumped 4.2%, despite the fact that profits fell in the fourth quarter. At the same time, the company said that according to their projections for the North American and European markets will improve this year.

Stoxx 600 fell 0.4% to 284.52 at the close, although he had previously showed growth of 0.4%.

National indexes fell in 14 of the 18 western European markets.

FTSE 100 6,295.34 +12.58 +0.20%, CAC 40 3,642.9 -51.80 -1.40%, DAX 7,581.18 -83.48 -1.09%

Cost Vinci fell to 35.41 euros after the company said that net income from sales was reduced to 5% from 5.2% a year earlier.

ArcelorMittal shares rose to 12.56 euros euros, after it became known that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization decreased in the fourth quarter to $ 1.32 billion, up from $ 1.71 billion a year earlier, and expectations at $ 1.25 billion.

Hargreaves Lansdown price jumped by 11% to 817 pence while still achieving record prices. It is learned that in the first-half profit before tax was 93.7 million pounds ($ 147 million), exceeding analysts' forecast at 91 million pounds.

U.S. stock indexes spent almost all trading in the red zone, but the end of trading rose to fletovoe line amid mixed data on corporate profits and concern the situation in Europe.

Indexes started the session in the red, following the European stock markets, many of which have decreased substantially. In Europe, market participants expect tomorrow's ECB meeting. Negative impact on the European stock markets also reflected the application of European officials to the effect that the single currency is overvalued and this has a negative impact on the regional economy. Investors expect that on this occasion to say, ECB President Mario Draghi at tomorrow's press conference.

In the middle of the trading indexes rebounded somewhat due to corporate reports and messages. The first is to note the quarterly report Walt Disney (DIS, +0.42%). The company's profit for the 1 st quarter of the fiscal year was $ 0.79 per share, versus analysts' average forecast of $ 0.77. Revenue for the period stood at $ 11.34 billion (+5.2%) compared to the average forecast of $ 11.22 billion

It is worth noting the growth stocks computer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ, +0.48%). The media, referring to the sources in the company, reports that Hewlett-Packard is considering separating its business into independent units, which should have a positive impact on the financial performance of its operations.

Also showed a significant increase in the shares of conglomerate 3M (MMM, +1.20%), which have become leaders in the index DOW. The company reported a quarterly dividend increase of 8%.

Shares in clothing premium Ralph Lauren soared by 5.9% - Management reported a quarterly profit that beat analysts' expectations.

At the same time, not all corporate news was met with optimism, because reporting CH Robinson Worldwide (-9,7%), it puts pressure on the transport industry.

As part of the index rose mainly DOW components (19 of 30). As already mentioned, the leader shares were 3M (MMM +1.20%). All shares have lost more International Business Machines (IBM, -0.87%) and Intel Corporation (INTC, -0.90%).

All sectors of the index S & P, with the exception of the basic materials sector (-0.1%), rose. Sector has grown more than other conglomerates (0.4%).

At the close:

S & P 500 1,512.12 +0.83 +0.05%

NASDAQ 3,168.48 -3.10 -0.10%

Dow 13,986.52 +7.22 +0.05%