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World stocks mixed as investors mull US bank plan
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 26 - 02 - 2009


Asian markets retreated Thursday, with
benchmarks Hong Kong and South Korea sinking about 1
percent, after an early rally faded amid doubts about a
U.S. plan to stabilize banks and worsening prospects for
global companies. European shares opened higher, AP reported.
Japanese stocks, higher in the morning, closed little
changed even as the weakening yen hovered near three-months
lows against the dollar, easing pressure on exporters.
China's markets took the day's biggest beating as
enthusiasm for Beijing's stimulus measures runs low and the
economic outlook remains grim.
Across the region, investors appeared unconvinced by U.S.
Treasury Department's plan to «stress test» 19 of the
largest banks to determine whether they can endure a severe
downturn in the economy. Under the plan, any companies that
fail under two economic scenarios would be required to
raise private funding or accept government stakes.
A lack of specifics about the government's rescue program
had weighed on markets in recent weeks. While modestly
encouraging, details released overnight weren't enough to
persuaded investors the plan is a surefire solution to U.S.
financial problems at the core of the worst global slump in
decades.
«Investors are confused. They want to be positive, but
there's increasingly nagging doubt that we're anywhere near
a complete solution,» said Kirby Daley, senior strategist
at Newedge Group in Hong Kong.
In Europe, markets were higher as the Royal Bank of
Scotland posted a record net loss of 24.14 billion pounds
($34.4 billion) for 2008 _ the biggest in British corporate
history _ and announced a massive program to divvy up many
of its international businesses.
As the markets opened, Britain's FTSE 100 advanced 2.1
percent, Germany's DAX added 1.7 percent and France's CAC
40 gained 1.4 percent.
Earlier in the day, Asian markets started to giving back
their gains by the afternoon, showing the uncertainty still
clouding the outlook for the region's equities markets.
Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average closed largely flat, off
just 3.29 points at 7,457.93 after being up more than 1
percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.85 percent to
12,894.94 and South Korea's Kospi was traded lower by 1.2
percent to 1054.79.
In mainland China, the Shanghai benchmark plunged 3.9
percent to 2,121.25. The index, while still up over 16
percent for the year and among the world's best performers,
is well below its highs in 2009.
Stock measures in India, Thailand and the Philippines also
traded lower, while markets in Australia and Taiwan rose.
Singapore was flat.


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