[R]10:00PM Frankfurt, 4:00PM New York, 8:00AM Sydney – Financials and insurance companies lift market averages on rising appetite for risks among investors. Apple, Aflac, Travelers, T Rowe Price rose after earnings. Amazon.com, Starbucks and FMC declined after earnings.[/R]

Global Markets Update

U.S. stock averages advanced after a steady rise in financials and insurance stocks. Merrill Lynch surged 10% after it said that it will not cut dividend. Credit Suisse edged 5% higher after it swung to $2.2 billion loss and said that for now it may not need to raise capital. T Rowe Price and Aflac increased on better than expected earnings.

U.S. stocks edged lower in the morning after durable goods order fell 0.3% in March. Mixed earnings from several companies also weighed on the market. Amazon.com fell after earnings rose 30% to 34 cents per share. Apple edged lower after earnings missed the analysts target and Starbucks plunged 11% on weak same store sales and weaker earnings outlook for the year. FMC declined after it reported earnings surged to $1.23. Fidelity National Title fell on weak housing market and earnings slide.

UK home prices declined by 2.5% in March from February but were 1.1% higher than a year ago. For the month, the standardized house price was at £191,556. UK prices have increased 171% over the past ten years and 51% over the last five years and the average UK home price has risen by £120,860 during the past decade from £70,696 to £191,556. Separately, home builder Persimmons reported in its interim report that tight mortgage lending has affected sales and a rise in cancellations.

Stocks in Japan edged lower after JFE Holdings reported revenue rise of 8.6% and earnings decline of 12.6%. The company also hinted that a sharp rise in raw materials costs from Australia will force it to revise prices of steel products higher and did not give earnings guidance for the rest of the year. Fanuc also estimated 4.6% decline in operating income. The BOJ reported March corporate services price index rose 0.4% after rising 0.7% in February.

China, in a move to improve sagging sentiment among investors lowered its stamp duty tax on trading to 0.1% from 0.3%. Stock averages in China surged 9% on the move but stocks may sag again on rising inflation and growing disillusion among investors. Major indexes in China have lost at least 30% before gains of today. In Hong Kong stocks edged higher as well. Property prices are expected to rise in the second quarter as investors shift their focus away from stocks.

In India Maruti Suzuki, the largest automaker reported unit sales in fiscal 2008 increased 13% on 18% rise in sales. Earnings in the year increased 11% despite tighter depreciation policies. In the fourth quarter, earnings plunged 33% on higher depreciation expenses. Maruti exported 7% of its vehicles in the fiscal year. Separately cement maker, ACC reported slight gain in profit on 8% rise in sales to 1,861 crore rupees.

European Markets indexes

In London FTSE 100 Index closed lower 32.90 or 0.54% to 6,050.70, in Paris CAC 40 Index decreased 15.10 or 0.31% to close at 4,929.55 and in Frankfurt DAX index higher 26.29 or 0.39% to close at 6,821.32. In Zurich trading SMI increased 136.02 or 1.86% to close at 7,460.52.

North American Markets indexes

Dow Jones Industrial Average added 85.73 or 0.67% to a close of 12,848.95, S&P 500 closed up 8.88 or 0.64% to 1,388.81, and Nasdaq Composite Index increased 23.71 or 0.99% to close at 2,428.92. In Toronto TSX Composite closed down 103.76 or 0.74% to 13,966.04.

Of the 30 stocks in Dow Jones Industrial Average, 24 closed higher, 6 closed lower, and none was unchanged.

Chevron led decliners in the Dow Jones Industrial Average with a loss of 1.9% followed by losses in Exxon Mobil of 1.46%, in 3M of 1.44% and in Alcoa of 1.3%.

AIG led gainers in the Dow index with a rise of 7% followed by gains in General Motors of 6%, in Citigroup of 4.7%, in JP Morgan of 3.85%, in Merck of 3.7%, and in Home Depot of 3.2%.

Of the stocks in S&P 500 index, 329 stocks increased, 170 declined, and 1 was unchanged. Of the stocks in the index, 38 stocks fell more than 3% and 43 gained more than 3%.

Whirlpool led decliners in the S&P 500 index with a loss of 11% followed by Sovereign Bancorp of 10.4%, in Starbucks of 10.4%, in Newell Rubbermaid of 10.3%, and in Range Resources of 5.9%.

LSI Corp led decliners in the S&P 500 index with a rise of 24% followed by gains in MBIA of 13%, in Ford Motor Company of 12%, and in T Rowe Price of 11.6%.

South American Markets Indexes

Argentina led decliners in the South American trading with a fall of 0.51% followed by decreases in Peru of 0.37%, in Brazil of 0.36%, in Mexico of 0.320%, and in Venezuela of 0.3%. Colombia gained 0.68% and Chile added 0.12%.