U.S. stocks advanced, putting the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index on track for its fourth straight week of gains, as gauges for leading indicators and consumer sentiment advanced more than estimated. Northrop Grumman Corp. climbed 3.5 percent after increasing its share-buyback program by $4 billion. Boeing Co. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. added more than 1.9 percent to pace gains in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. (INDU) J.C. Penney Co. slid 2.5 percent after its first-quarter loss widened.The S&P 500 (SPX) rose 0.5 percent to 1,658.15 at 1:11 p.m. in New York. The equity benchmark is heading for a 1.5 percent weekly gain. The Dow advanced 52.95 points, or 0.4 percent, to 15,286.17. “You’ve got the leading indicators helping the market today,” Thomas Nyheim, a Wilmington, Delaware-based fund manager for Christiana Trust, which oversees about $16 billion, said in a phone interview. “We’re seeing good signs for the economy, you’re getting this grinding, slow growth that just keeps coming out.” The index of U.S. leading indicators climbed in April, a rebound from March that suggests the world’s largest economy may be poised for further expansion. The Conference Board’s gauge of the outlook for the next three to six months climbed 0.6 percent last month after falling a revised 0.2 percent in March that was steeper than previously reported, the New York-based group said today.Consumer Sentiment Consumer confidence rose in May to the highest level in almost six years as an advancing stock market and cheaper gas prices helped lift Americans’ outlook on the economy. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary index of consumer sentiment rose to 83.7 in May from 76.4 the prior month, a report today showed. The U.S. bull market has entered its fifth year. The S&P 500 has surged 145 percent from a 12-year low in 2009, driven by better-than-estimated corporate earnings and three rounds of bond purchases from the Federal Reserve. The rally pushed 193 stocks in the S&P 500, or 39 percent of the gauge, to their highest levels in at least 52 weeks on May 15, the most in Bloomberg data going back to 1993. About 90 percent of stocks in the benchmark index traded above their average prices from the past 50 days as of yesterday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, approaching the two-year high of 93 percent reached January. Options contracts on stocks, exchange-traded funds and indexes expire today, leading investors to adjust their holdings of some securities. Trading of S&P 500 stocks was in line with than the 30-day average at this time of day. More»

European stock markets showed mixed moves in early action on Thursday, after rising to multi-year highs the prior day, while investors looked east after Japanese growth data beat expectations. The Stoxx Europe 600 index fell 0.1% to 307.94. Shares of Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA rallied 7%, after the luxury-goods firm posted better-than-expected full-year earnings. On a more downbeat note, Zurich Insurance Group AG dropped 3%, after reporting a decline in first-quarter profit. Among country-specific indexes, the U.K.’s FTSE 100 index gained 0.2% to 6,705.45, on track for an 11th straight day of gains. Germany’s DAX 30 index slipped 0.1% to 8,352.93, while France’s CAC 40 index fell 0.3% to 3,971.44.marketwatch More»

European stock markets wobbled in early action on Tuesday, with investors awaiting the latest gauge of German investor confidence, the ZEW economic sentiment indicator, to outline if the euro zone’s largest economy is making progress. The Stoxx Europe 600 index was marginally lower at 304.39. Shares of Severn Trent PLC soared 18%, after the water-utility firm said it has received a bid approach. Deutsche Post AG gained 3.5%, after a well-received earnings report. Among country-specific indexes, the U.K.’s FTSE 100 index added 0.1% to 6,635.20, while Germany’s DAX 30 index slipped 0.1% to 8,271.05. France’s CAC 40 index fell 0.1% to 3,939.61. More»

Japan's Nikkei share average surged to a fresh 5-1/2-year high on Monday as the weakening yen further bolstered exporters, while brokerage shares attracted buyers as growing volume was expected to bring in more fee income. The benchmark Nikkei .N225 rose 1.2 percent to 14,782.21, its highest closing level since late December 2007. During the session, it climbed as high as 14,849.01, the highest level since January 2008. The broader Topix .TOPX gained 1.8 percent to 1,232.20. More»

Oil and gold prices fell on Monday as the dollar strengthened, weighing on Asian shares, but Japanese equities outperformed on the back of the yen's slide to a fresh 4-1/2-year low against the U.S. currency. European stock markets are seen narrowly mixed after the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 closed at a five-year high on Friday, with financial spreadbetters predicting London's FTSE 100 .FTSE, Paris's CAC-40 .FCHI and Frankfurt's DAX .GDAXI would open between a 0.2 percent rise and a 0.1 percent drop. .L.EU U.S. stock futures were down 0.3 percent, pointing to a weak Wall Street open, after the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX ended at record highs on Friday. .N "A strength in the dollar is weighing on commodities across the board," said Ben Le Brun, analyst at OptionsXpress in Sydney. "For oil, worries of ample supplies is putting pressure. We have unprecedented levels of stockpiles in the United States, with uncertainty surrounding economic growth." More»

Chinese stocks retreated Thursday, prompting a pullback in some other Asian markets after data showing consumer prices rose more than expected. The Shanghai Composite  dropped 0.7%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index  fell 0.2% in afternoon trading. Government data released earlier in the day showed China’s consumer price index rose 2.4% in April from the year-ago period, driven by food prices. The producer price index, which measures wholesale prices, dropped a sharper-than-expected 2.6%. Bank of America Merrill Lynch China economist Ting Lu said that although consumer prices quickened, a steeper fall in wholesale prices during the month were likely to limit market reaction. More»

European stock markets opened softer on Thursday, after Chinese data showed inflation rose more than expected in April, stoking fears the government will withhold more easing measures. The Stoxx Europe 600 index [xx:sxxp] slipped 0.2% to 303.15, retreating after closing at the highest level since June 2008 on Wednesday. Shares of BG Group PLC added 1.7%, after a broker upgrade, while Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. lost 1.6% after reporting earnings. The FTSE 100 index was marginally lower at 6,581.67. France’s CAC 40 index dropped 0.8% to 3,924.80 and Germany’s DAX 30 index fell 0.1% to 8,238.55. More»

Turkey is in talks with the London Stock Exchange and Nasdaq about a partnership deal that could see it sell a stake in the Istanbul bourse as part of a drive to promote the city as a financial hub, its deputy prime minister said. Turkey is in the process of merging the Istanbul Stock Exchange, the Gold Exchange and Derivatives Exchange into Bourse Istanbul - an important step in the government's bid to privatize the company and create a regional financial centre. "We are holding talks with London and Nasdaq for strategic partnerships on Bourse Istanbul," Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan told reporters at a conference on Wednesday. Once the Bourse settles on a strategic partner, which could involve it selling a stake in return for technology support, it will also seek opportunities for co-operation with other exchanges, such as cross-listings or joint indexes. Bourse chairman Ibrahim Turhan said talks were continuing with international organisations including Deutsche Boerse and the CME Group, owner of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), as well as Nasdaq and the LSE. More»

Japanese stocks rallied on toward five-year highs Wednesday, outperforming other Asia markets, which also traded higher after another record finish for key U.S. equity indexes and strong Chinese trade data. The Nikkei Stock Average JP:NIK +0.74% climbed 1.4% to 14,371.65 in Tokyo late morning trade, climbing further a day after it soared 3.6% to finish at its highest level since June 2008. The Shanghai Composite CN:000001 +0.48%  rose 0.2%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index HK:HSI +0.86%  added 0.6%, after official data showed China posted a trade surplus of $18.16 billion in April. Exports jumped 14.7% from a year-earlier and imports rose 16.8%, with both exceeding expectations. Stocks also rallied in other markets that count China as a key trading partner. Taiwan’s Taiex XX:Y9999 +1.27%  gained 1.1%, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 AU:XJO +1.09% rose 0.8%, and South Korea’s Kospi KR:SEU +0.11%  climbed 0.3%. The advances came after the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA +0.58%  and the S&P 500 SPX +0.52% ended at a record level Tuesday. Sentiment was also aided by news from Europe, where Germany’s benchmark index ended at a record high and the Stoxx Europe 600 finished at its highest level since June 2008. More»

European stock markets rose on Wednesday, extending the prior day's gains when the German index climbed to an all-time high and other indexes reached fresh 2013 highs. The Stoxx Europe 600 index XX:SXXP +0.14% traded 0.1% higher, adding to a 0.3% gain from Tuesday. Shares of Belgian food retailer Delhaize Group BE:DELB +3.14% put on 2.3%, after the firm reported earnings. On a more downbeat note, Standard Chartered PLC UK:STAN -5.86% dropped 4.4% in London, after reporting a drop in first-quarter profit. Among country-specific indexes, Germany's DAX 30 index DX:DAX +0.06% gained 0.1% to 8,186.04, while France's CAC 40 index FR:PX1 +0.39%added 0.2% to 3,930.04. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index UK:UKX +0.05% was slightly higher at 6,560.04. More»