February 11, 2008

Stocks close higher after uneasy session

NEW YORK - Wall Street finished higher in an uneasy session Monday as retail and homebuilders stocks rose on expectations for more interest rate cuts, but banks and insurers fell on worries about further mortgage debt troubles.

The Federal Reserve has been in rate-cutting mode this year and it is expected to lower the federal funds rate once more either this month or at its next regularly scheduled meeting March 18. And the cheaper cost of money is beginning to register in the stock market.

"A number of sectors like retail and housing stocks have done better since the Fed acted, and they are leading the market again today," said Steve Goldman, chief market strategist at Weeden & Co. "These stocks are called early bellwethers and they tend to lead a recovery."

But investors continue to grapple with bad news in the credit markets. The stock market fell in early trading and remained volatile even after recovering, with Wall Street clearly concerned by news that American International Group Inc. might have more mortgage debt to write off.

AIG, one of the 30 companies that make up the Dow Jones industrial average, said in a regulatory filing it would need to alter the way it values its credit default swaps involving collateralized debt obligations. Credit default swaps are insurance policies against defaults, and CDOs are funds that contain slices of bonds, some of which are backed by mortgages.

The insurer said auditors found it "had a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting and oversight" regarding how it valued certain credit default swaps. The filing raised concerns that there will be further losses at AIG, and that other financial companies might reveal similar problems. AIG dropped $5.94, or 11.7 percent, to $44.74.

The Dow rose 57.88, or 0.48 percent, to 12,240.01. Dow Jones & Co. said it was replacing two of the blue chip index's 30 components — Altria Group Inc. and Honeywell International Inc. — with Bank of America Corp. and Chevron Corp., effective Feb. 19.

Broader stock indicators ended higher, too. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 7.84, or 0.59 percent, to 1,339.13, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 15.21, or 0.66 percent, to 2,320.06.

In addition to rate cut expectations, Hasbro Inc. gave the market a lift, saying its fourth-quarter income soared 24 percent, thanks to a 16 percent increase in sales. Its shares rose 54 cents, or 2 percent, to $26.41.

Meanwhile, Yahoo Inc.'s board rejected a $44.6 billion takeover offer from Microsoft Corp. Yahoo said its board concluded that Microsoft's unsolicited offer "substantially undervalues" the Internet search company. Microsoft, a Dow component, fell 35 cents to 28.21, but Yahoo rose 67 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $29.87.

In other dealmaking news, The Wall Street Journal reported that Motorola Inc. and Nortel Networks are in talks to merge their wireless infrastructure businesses. If a deal happens, it would create a firm with $10 billion in annual sales. Motorola rose 31 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $11.57, and Nortel dipped 18 cents to $10.89.

Bond prices rose Monday. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, fell to 3.61 percent from 3.65 percent late Friday.

The dollar was mixed against other major currencies, while gold prices rose.

The Russell 2000 index rose 0.85, or 0.12 percent, to 699.75.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by about 8 to 7 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume 1.39 billion shares.

Light, sweet crude oil rose $1.82 to settle at $93.59 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Last week was the worst week, percentage-wise, for the Dow since March 2003. The blue-chip index fell 4.4 percent, and meanwhile, the S&P's 500 index declined 4.60 percent and the Nasdaq dropped 4.50 percent. The Dow is about 15 percent below its Oct. 9 record close of 14,164.53, and about 4 percent above the 15-month lows it hit in January.

Though Wall Street managed a gain Monday despite AIG's report suggesting possible credit-related losses, many analysts believe there is still bad news yet to come in the credit markets that could have more deleterious effects on the stock market and the broader economy.

"The absolute seizure of the credit markets in the corporate arena is going to put enormous pressure on American companies," said George Feiger, CEO of Contango Capital Advisors, the wealth management arm of Zions Bancorporation. "And this is really bad news for the economy."

Overseas, Japan's stock market was closed for a holiday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index finished down 3.64 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 closed down 1.32 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 0.35 percent, and France's CAC-40 lost 0.57 percent.

Dow Jones Industrials Changes Components

For the first time in four years, the Dow Jones industrial average is changing its stocks to beef up its weighting in financials and oil and cut back on industrials. It's dropping Altria and Honeywell International, replacing them with Bank of America and Chevron before the market open Feb. 19.

"The increased allocation to financials and energy should tilt the index toward a higher correlation with the S&P 500, where those two sectors combine for approximately 30% of that index," said Greg Allison, an analyst with RegentAtlantic Capital. "Bank of America and Chevron also carry lower P-E ratios than the two companies they replace, which will reduce the overall P-E of the index."

Food and tobacco giant Altria sparked the need for change in the 111-year-old, 30-stock benchmark. Last year, Altria spun off Kraft Foods (NYSE:KFT - News). Next month, it intends to spin off Philip Morris International. That would separate its domestic and foreign operations and make it a smaller and more narrowly focused company.

Industrial Changes

"When something is happening to a company like Altria, we take a look at all 30 stocks and review the whole works," said John Prestbo, executive editor of Dow Jones Indexes.

There are no predetermined criteria for a stock to be added or deleted, Prestbo said. But Dow Jones aims to include established companies that are the leaders in their fields. The Wall Street Journal's managing editor picks which companies are included in the world-renowned index, which accounts for about 25% of the market's value.

Honeywell is being replaced because it's the smallest in its category in terms of revenue and earnings.

According to Prestbo, "Industrials have gotten a little heavy, relative to the market as a whole, in the Dow, which is another way of saying the role of industrials has shrunk a bit in the past 10 to 20 years."

Representing The Street

Bank of America, worth $187 billion, is being added to counter the underweighting of financials.

"Financials are going through a bit of a rough patch," Prestbo said. "We believe this will pass, and meanwhile we want to take advantage of making a change to bring our financials representation up."

Chevron, which was deleted in 1999, is re-entering the mix to increase the index's weighting in oil.

"Oil was way underweighted," said Neil Hennessy, president of Hennessy Funds.

Dow Jones said it will adjust the calculations of the price-weighted index before Feb. 19 so that the replacements will not affect its level. The changes will not materially affect the performance of the index either, said Hennessy.

"You're just getting rid of two large companies and putting in two large companies," he said.

The index has been updated about once every two years since World War II.

Modest gains on Wall St led by energy and tech

US stocks chalked up modest gains on Monday, led by energy and technology companies, helping offset worries about the threat of new turmoil in credit markets.

Oil companies attracted buyers as the price of crude reached its highest level in a month and tech stocks were buoyant after Yahoo rejected Microsoft's takeover bid, raising the prospect of a higher revised offer. Retailers moved higher as traders looked to buy into sector weakness.

Insurance companies came under pressure after American International Group (NYSE:AIG) dramatically increased its estimate of credit derivative losses, adding to concerns about further writedowns in the financial sector.

The S&P 500 closed up 0.6 per cent at 1,339.12 having fallen 0.8 per cent early on. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.7 per cent to 2,320.06 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average put on 0.5 per cent to 12,240.01.

Yahoo's board formally rejectedMicrosoft's $31-a-share offer as inadequate, threatening to trigger a heated takeover battle.

Some analysts said the debate might now be one about price and that Yahoo might find it difficult to reject a higher offer. Microsoft is preparing to target Yahoo's shareholders directly, the FT reported. Yahoo's shares rose 2.3 per cent to $29.87. Microsoft fell 1.2 per cent to $28.21 after RBC Capital Markets cut its price target from $40 to $31.

In a sign of further consolidation in the tech sector The Wall Street Journal said Motorola (NYSE:MOT) and Nortel Networks were in discussions about a possible merger of their wireless infrastructure units. Motorola rose 2.8 per cent to $11.57. Nortel fell 1.6 per cent to $10.89.

Apple rose 3.2 per cent to $129.45 after Citi Investment Research added it to a preferred list on valuation grounds. It has fallen more than 34 per cent this year.

After a stellar run last year, energy stocks have failed to ignite in 2008, falling an average of 11 per cent, as worries about margin pressures and waning US demand have grown.Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) enjoyed the best of Monday's gains, climbing 4.9 per cent to $56.52.

Chevron, up 1.5 per cent at $80.43, joined ExxonMobil as a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Bank of America was also elevated to the blue-chip average in place of Altria (NYSE:MO) and Honeywell (NYSE:HON).

The changes were the first since April 2004 and are set to apply from February 19. Honeywell, an industrial conglomerate, fell 0.3 per cent to $57.64 and Altria, which is in the process of spinning off its international tobacco business, fell 0.9 per cent to $72.42.

Dow Jones' substitutions reflected the growing importance of oil and gas to the global economy.

A broad range of financial stocks remained under pressure as risk indicators pointed to elevated tension in credit markets.

AIG's shares slumped 11.7 per cent to $44.74, their lowest point in almost five years, after the insurer's auditors found "material weakness" in the reporting of fair valuation of its credit insurance portfolio.

"AIG came out and reminded everyone of the continuing problems in credit markets and the financials," Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer's Investment Research, said

Having updated its valuation model AIG said the gross cumulative value decline in October and November of credit default swaps linked to collateralised debt obligations was almost $5bn, compared with a previous estimate of just over $1bn.

Standard & Poor's cut its equity recommendation on AIG from "buy" to "sell" and Fitch Ratings put the insurer on watch for a possible credit downgrade.

The S&P financial index extended last week's fall of 8.6 per cent, its biggest decline since the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001, as fears grew that corporate and commercial property defaults were set to rise. Investors were also gripped by worries that the market for leveraged loans - used to finance Wall Street deal-making - is also showing signs of stress.

Bank of America Securities cut its first-quarter earnings estimates on US brokers prompting Lehman Brothers (NYSE:LEH) to fall 3 per cent to $58.25. Credit card issuers were also battered after Fox-Pitt Kelton cut its rating on the sector. Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF) fell 4.4 per cent to $46.82.

Stocks rebound on tech values

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Monday, rebounding from the worst weekly loss in five years, as bargain-hunting and takeover talk sparked gains in the technology sector and higher oil prices lifted energy stocks.

A sharp gain in General Motors Corp's (GM.N) stock after positive comments from a brokerage helped the Dow offset a near 12 percent drop in shares of American International Group Inc (AIG.N), the world's largest insurer.

AIG received a rebuke from its auditors for how it valued some credit derivatives, meaning it could face further losses on U.S. mortgages it insures or invests in, driving its shares to their worst plunge since the 1987 stock market crash.

Nasdaq outpaced the Dow and S&P, led by Apple Inc. (AAPL.O) and Research in Motion (RIM.TO) (RIMM.O), maker of the BlackBerry. Both stocks had fallen more than one-third from their 2007 highs, making them relatively attractive.

"They could have used AIG as an excuse to sell, but since we just had one of the worst weeks in years, we can ignore that," said Alan Lancz, president, Alan B. Lancz & Associates Inc., in Toledo, Ohio.

He said investors see underlying value in the market. "A lot of the technology companies, they really threw the baby out with the bathwater."

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) was up 57.88 points, or 0.48 percent, at 12,240.01. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) was up 7.83 points, or 0.59 percent, at 1,339.12. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) was up 15.21 points, or 0.66 percent, at 2,320.06.

GM shares rose 5.1 percent to $27.12 after an analyst said the No. 1 U.S. automaker might report better-than-expected results from its automotive operations this week.

Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) led gains on the S&P as crude oil futures rose 2 percent to $93.59 a barrel.

Shares of Exxon were up 1.9 percent to $83.22. Oil field services firm Schlumberger Ltd. (SLB.N) was up 4 percent to $80.49.

Chevron Corp (CVX.N) is set to join Exxon among the Dow industrials. The oil company, along with Bank of America Corp (BAC.N), will be added to the 30-share average, knocking out diversified manufacturer Honeywell International Inc (HON.N) and tobacco maker Altria Group (MO.N), marking the first change to the index's components in four years.

Honeywell shares were down 0.3 percent to $57.64. Altria shares fell 0.9 percent to $72.42.

Research in Motion stock was up 5.3 percent to $94.47. Apple rose 3.2 percent to $129.45. Citigroup added the iPod maker to its top picks list.

AIG shares were down to $44.74, the lowest in five years. The company disclosed PricewaterhouseCoopers, the company's outside auditors, said AIG failed to account properly for derivatives related to risky debt.

In deal news, Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O) rejected Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) takeover bid as too low, raising the possibility of a higher offer. Yahoo shares rose 2.3 percent to $29.87, while Microsoft shares fell 1.2 percent to $28.21.

Motorola Inc (MOT.N) and Nortel Networks Corp (NT.TO) may combine their wireless networking units, according to The Wall Street Journal. Neither company would comment. Motorola's shares rose 2.8 percent to $11.57.

Trading was light on the New York Stock Exchange, with about 1.39 billion shares changing hands, well below last year's estimated daily average of roughly 1.9 billion, while on Nasdaq, about 2.1 billion shares traded, just below last year's daily average of 2.17 billion.

Chevron, BofA join Dow industrials

NEW YORK - Bank of America Corp. and Chevron Corp. will replace tobacco company Altria Group Inc. and manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. in the Dow Jones industrial average, giving the stock market's best-known indicator bigger slices of the banking and energy sectors.

The changes to the index, which since 1928 has comprised 30 stocks, reflects changes at Altria, better known by its former name, Phillip Morris Cos. The maker of Marlboro cigarettes last year spun off its Kraft Foods Inc. division after earlier selling most of its Miller Brewing unit, and it will soon corral its international tobacco operations into a separate company.

The blue chip index's parent, Dow Jones & Co., said the slimmed down Altria will be too small and narrowly focused to warrant inclusion in the Dow. Phillip Morris became part of the index in 1985.

While Altria's makeover prompted the decision to alter the index for the first time since 2004, Dow Jones also reviewed the other 29 components. Dow Jones is publisher of The Wall Street Journal and the newspaper's top editor decides on changes to the 111-year-old index. The decision to bump Honeywell from the lineup comes amid a rise in the importance of the banking and energy businesses.

Bank of America, based in Charlotte, N.C., is the nation's biggest bank by deposits. The banking sector has taken on a larger role in the overall economy in the last 10 to 20 years, said John A. Prestbo, editor of Dow Jones Indexes.

Prestbo, speaking on a conference call reviewing the changes, said the bank's consumer business gives the Dow better representation of an important aspect of the banking sector. Other financial names like American Express Co., Citigroup Inc. and JP Morgan Chase & Co. and are already part of the index.

Chevron, the energy company based in San Ramon, Calif., joins rival Exxon Mobil Corp. as a Dow component. Chevron had been part of the Dow twice before. The company, then known as Standard Oil Co. of California, had a brief stint in the mid-1920s before what would become Chevron had a long run as a Dow stock from 1930 until 1999.

Honeywell, which has assorted manufacturing operations, is the smallest company in the index by revenue and earnings. Industrial companies are now less important to the stock market than in 1925 when a predecessor company of Honeywell, Allied Chemical & Dye Corp., became part of the Dow.

The changes, which occur Feb. 19, are the first since April 2004 when the index added insurer American International Group Inc., drug maker Pfizer Inc. and telecommunications company Verizon Communications in place of what was then AT&T Corp., Eastman Kodak Co. and International Paper Co. The AT&T name has since resurfaced in the Dow through phone-company mergers.

Substitutions to the Dow don't come often. Since World War II, they have taken place on average more than every two years.

"We try to change the Dow as seldom as possible," said Prestbo. "We think that a lot of the Dow's integrity is that the stocks aren't moving through a revolving door all the time."

Still, the only one Dow component has been around since the index began with a dozen names in 1896: General Electric Co.

Dow Jones plans to tweak the formula it uses to calculate the Dow so that the substitutions won't change the value of the index, which is based on the stock prices of its components. As of Sept. 30, about $53 billion in investments used the Dow industrials as a benchmark. However, as the stock market's most well-known index, many investors equate the moves of the Dow as a barometer of the overall stock market. Many professional investors, however, also look to the Standard & Poor's 500 index for a snapshot of conditions on Wall Street.

Wall Street enjoys modest rebound

US stocks enjoyed a modest rebound on Monday, led by energy and technology companies, helping offset worries about the threat of new turmoil in credit markets.

Oil companies attracted buyers as the price of crude rose to the highest level in a month and tech stocks were also buoyant after Yahoo rejected Microsoft's takeover bid, raising the prospect of a higher revised offer.

However, financial companies remained under pressure after American International Group dramatically increased its estimate of credit derivative losses, adding to concerns about more writedowns in the financial sector.

By mid-afternoon the S&P 500 was up 0.5 per cent at 1,338.14. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.7 per cent to 2,321.30 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average put on 0.3 per cent to 12,220.10.

Yahoo's board formally rejected Microsoft's $31-a-share offer as inadequate, threatening to trigger a heated takeover battle. However, some analysts said the debate may now be one about price and that Yahoo might find it difficult to reject a higher offer. Microsoft is now preparing to target Yahoo's shareholders directly, the Financial Times reported. Yahoo's shares rose 1.8 per cent to $29.73 while Microsoft fell 1.5 per cent to $28.14 after RBC Capital Markets slashed its price target from $40 to $31.

In a sign of further consolidation in the tech sector The Wall Street Journal said Motorola and Nortel Networks were in discussions about a possible merger of their wireless infrastructure units. The shares rose 2.8 per cent to $11.57 and 0.9 per cent to $11.17 respectively.

Other movers in technology included Apple which rose 3.1 per cent to $129.33 after Citi Investment Research added it to a list of preferred stocks on valuation grounds.

In energy, a slew of companies chalked up solid gains as crude oil prices touched $94 a barrel on supply concerns. After a stellar run last year, energy stocks have failed to ignite in 2008, falling an average of 11 per cent, as worries about margin pressures and waning US demand have grown. Peabody Energy enjoyed the best of Monday's gains, climbing 5.1 per cent to $56.63.

Chevron, up 0.4 per cent at $79.58, on Monday joined ExxonMobil as a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Bank of America was also elevated to the blue-chip average in place of Altria and Honeywell.

The changes were the first since April 2004 and are set to apply from February 19. Honeywell, an industrial conglomerate, fell 0.6 per cent to $57.48 and Altria, which is in the process of spinning off its international tobacco business, fell 0.8 per cent to $72.48. Dow Jones said the substitutions were made to reflect the growing importance of oil and gas to the global economy, while financials had also been under-represented.

A broad range of financial stocks remained under pressure on Monday as risk indicators pointed to elevated tension in credit markets.

AIG's shares slumped 11.2 per cent to $44.99, their lowest in almost five years, after the insurer's auditors found "material weakness" in the reporting of fair valuation of its credit insurance portfolio.

"AIG came out and reminded everyone of the continuing problems in credit markets and the financials," Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer's Investment Research, said

Having updated its valuation model AIG said the gross cumulative value decline in October and November of credit default swaps linked to collateralised debt obligations was almost $5bn, compared with a previous estimate of just over $1bn.

Standard & Poor's cut its equity recommendation on AIG from "buy" to "sell" and Fitch Ratings put the insurer on watch for a possible credit downgrade.

The S&P financial index extended last week's fall of 8.6 per cent, its biggest decline since the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001, as fears grew that corporate and commercial property defaults are set to rise. Investors were also gripped by worries that the market for leveraged loans - used to finance Wall Street deal-making - is also showing signs of stress.

Bank of America Securities cut its first-quarter earnings estimates on US brokers. Lehman Brothers fell 1.5 per cent to $59.12.

Dow index adds Bank of America, Chevron

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) is adding Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) and Chevron Corp (CVX.N), the first change to the blue-chip stock index in almost four years, Dow Jones & Co said on Monday.

Altria Group Inc (MO.N) and Honeywell International Inc (HON.N) will be dropped from the 30-member index, the oldest and single most-watched gauge of stock performance in the world. The changes take effect on February 19, Dow Jones said.

The planned spin-off of Philip Morris International Inc from Altria, which will leave it a purely domestic tobacco company, prompted the change in the Dow's make-up, said Marcus Brauchli, managing editor of The Wall Street Journal.

The Dow's composition is determined by editors of the Journal, which is published by Dow Jones, a unit of News Corp (NWSa.N).

The change is the first in the 111-year-old index since April 2004, when three stocks were replaced.

The addition of Chevron makes sense because the Dow was light on energy at 5 percent compared with the broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index at 12.5 percent, said Chris Orndorff, who helps oversee $50 billion in assets as managing principal at Payden & Rygel Investment Management in Los Angeles.

Similarly, the addition of Bank of America makes sense because the Dow was underweight financials at 10 percent, versus 18 percent for the S&P 500, Orndorff said.

"With respect to the fundamentals, there is not going to be a dramatic change," he said. "So I don't see the DJIA suddenly outperforming the S&P 500 because of the changes."

Few investors build portfolios based on the Dow and in contrast to the moves that occur when the S&P 500 is modified, the change is unlikely to have a dramatic effect on the price of the stocks leaving or entering the index, Orndorff said.

"What the Dow does is it gives everyone a quick shorthand of what the markets are doing," said Mark Coffelt, president and chief investment officer at Empiric Funds in Austin, Texas.

The decision to drop Honeywell and Altria is unusual because the two stocks have performed well recently. Previous changes often marked the departure of stocks in decline at the time, such as Eastman Kodak, International Paper, Goodyear, Union Carbide, Sears, Bethlehem Steel and Woolworth.

"We were surprised by the criteria used in making today's decision," Honeywell said in a statement. "Our stock price was up 36 percent last year, making Honeywell the Dow Jones industrial averages' top performing stock in 2007."

Since 2003 Honeywell said sales have grown 11 percent on a compounded annual basis, and net income is up 17 percent.

Honeywell is being dropped because it is the smallest of the industrials in terms of profit and revenue, Dow Jones Indexes said. Chevron has been in the Dow twice before.

The additions recognize trends within the U.S. stock market, including the continued growth of the financial service industry as well as the oil and gas industry due to its growing importance to the world economy, Dow Jones Indexes said.

Alan Gayle, senior investment strategist at Trusco Capital Management in Atlanta, said adding a financial stock to an index labeled industrials may modify the Dow's usefulness.

Investors look to the Nasdaq for a snapshot of what is happening in the technology sector, and the Dow will often give investors a different look at industrials, he said.

"It would appear, on the surface, the index committee is looking for broader representation. But it does now look like it has less of an industrial flavor to it," Gayle said.

By Monday lunchtime, as the Dow rose 0.34 percent to 12,223.84, Bank of America was up 1.1 percent to $42.62, Chevron was up 0.33 percent at $79.52, Honeywell was off 0.83 percent to $57.35 and Altria declined 0.66 percent to $72.61.

There are no predetermined criteria for a stock to be added or deleted, Dow Jones said. However, the editors who maintain the index "intend that all components be established U.S. companies that are leaders in their industries," said John Prestbo, editor of Dow Jones Indexes.

Wall St on defensive as AIG adds to gloom

US stocks were mixed on Monday as worries about increased credit losses at American International Group (NYSE:AIG) added to fears that US companies face further credit-related turmoil.

Financial companies beat a retreat amid concerns writedowns linked to structured credit products and derivatives are set to rise, delivering a further blow to corporate earnings

However, technology stocks traded mostly to the upside after Yahoo officially rejected Microsoft's bid, setting the stage for a protracted takeover battle.

At midday the S&P 500 was up 0.1 per cent at 1,32.66, the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.2 per cent to 2,310.26 but the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.1 per cent to 12,168.80.

"It seemed like things were going well and then AIG comes out and reminds everyone of the continuing problems in credit markets and the financials," Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer's Investment Research said.

AIG shares slumped 11.2 per cent to $45.01, their lowest in almost five years, after the insurer's auditors found "material weakness" in the reporting of fair valuation of its credit insurance portfolio.

Using an updated valuation model AIG said that the gross cumulative decline in the value last year of credit-default-swaps related to its multi-sector collateralised debt obligations was around $6bn as of November 30. Adjusted for the benefit of net cash flow diversions, the decline was $5.2bn, compared to a previously reported $1.6bn. AIG said it was still collecting data so it could update the current value of its portfolio.

Standard & Poors Equity Research cut its recommendation from "buy" to "sell" as Fitch Ratings put the insurer on watch for possible downgrade.

A broad range of financial stocks came under pressure as risk indicators pointed to elevated tension in credit markets amid continued speculation that structured credit products were being unwound.

The S&P financial index fell 8.6 per cent last week, its biggest decline since the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, as fears grew that corporate and commercial property defaults are set to rise. Investors were gripped by worries that the market for leveraged loans - used to finance Wall Street dealmaking - is also showing signs of stress.

Bank of America Securities on Monday cut first quarter earnings estimates on US brokers because of weakness in fixed income, equity trading and additional markdowns on commercial mortgage-backed securities and leveraged loans. Lehman Brothers was among the leading fallers, down 1.4 per cent at $59.19.

Peer Steinbrück, German finance minister, warned this weekend that writedowns linked to the US subprime-related securities could reach $400bn, sharply higher than the approximately $120bn losses already booked by Wall Street banks and other institutions.

Dow Jones on Monday announced changes to its benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average, removing Altria and Honeywell and replacing them with Bank of America and Chevron.

The changes were the first since April 2004 and are set to apply from February 19. Honeywell, an industrial conglomerate, fell 1.3 per cent to $57.11 and Altria, which is in the process of spinning-off its international tobacco business, fell 0.3 per cent to $72.85.

Dow Jones said the substitutions were made to reflect the growing importance of oil and gas to the global economy, while financials were also under-represented.

In dealmaking news Yahoo's board on Monday rejected Microsoft's $31-a-share offer as inadequate, threatening to trigger a drawn out takeover battle. The software giant is now preparing to target Yahoo's shareholders directly, the FT reported. Yahoo's shares rose 1.1 per cent to $29.53 while Microsoft fell 2 per cent to $28 after RBC Capital Markets slashed its price target from $40 to $31.

Meanwhile, Motorola and Nortel Networks are in discussions about a possible merger of their wireless-infrastructure units, The Wall Street Journal reported. The shares rose 2.2 per cent to $11.51 and 0.5 per cent to $11.13 respectively.

Apple rose 2.2 per cent to $128.21 on Monday after Citi Investment Research added the company to a list of preferred stocks on valuation grounds following a recent fall in the share price.

This week is a relatively quiet period for economic data and corporate earnings. Retail sales and business inventory data are due on Wednesday, initial jobless claims on Thursday with import and export prices set to round off the week on Friday. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke gives testimony before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday.

European stocks lower as financials weigh

European equity markets fell on Monday as weakness in financial and mining stocks offset strength in drugmakers.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 closed down 0.8 per cent to 1,291.96, Frankfurt's Xetra Dax shed 0.4 per cent to 6,743.54, the CAC 40 in Paris lost 0.6 per cent to 4,682.70 and London's FTSE 100 was 1.3 per cent lower to 5,707.7.

Shares in IKB, the German bank hit hard by the subprime crisis, plunged by 21.8 per cent to EU4.94 after reports emerged over the weekend that it was looking for $2bn to stay afloat. Reports that the huge capital guarantee was needed to compensate for further subprime-related writedowns spurred analysts at UniCredit and Equinet to downgrade the stock.

Deutsche Postbank bucked the weak financial sector to rise 1 per cent to EU59.62 after the German press reported the retail bank could be sold as early as the spring.

Postbank has been the subject of fierce speculation during the past months and has strongly outperformed the European banking sector - down just 0.7 per cent since the start of the year, against the sector's 16 per cent losses.

Deutsche Post, the mail and logistics group, owns 50 per cent of Postbank and has said it may decide on a sale in the second half of the year. Its shares were down 0.6 per cent to EU21.67.

Commerzbank, one of the German banks which has already voiced interest in acquiring Postbank, fell 0.8 per cent to EU19.07.

Société Générale, the French bank, led the remainder of the sector lower after launching a one-for-four share issue to existing shareholders at EU47.50 - a 39 per cent discount to Friday's closing price.

The company announced the rights issue after revealing nearly EU5bn losses due to last month's rogue trading scandal. The shares fell 4 per cent to EU74.59, also hit by fading hopes that French bank BNP Paribas would make a bid for Société Générale.

Drugs stocks rallied after last weeks losses, related to a profit warning from Britian's GlaxoSmithKline. Denmark's Novo Nordisk rose 2.7 per cent to DKr326.

French electricity companies LeGrand and Schneider Electric fell after UBS cut its ratings for the shares from "neutral" to "sell". LeGrand was 5.7 per cent lower at EU18.38 and Schneider fell 2.3 per cent to EU69.64 after UBS said they were heavily exposed to a downturn in construction and industrial markets.

Wall St retreats as AIG adds to credit fears

Wall Street stocks retreated on Monday as worries about credit losses at American International Group (NYSE:AIG) added to fears that US companies face further credit-related turmoil.

Less than an hour after the opening bell, the S&P 500 was down 0.4 per cent at 1,326.12, the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.2 per cent to 2,300.98 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.5 per cent to 12,125.15.

Dow component AIG, the world's largest insurer, slumped 10 per cent to $45.58 on Monday, its lowest in nearly five years, after its auditors found "material weakness" in its internal controls related to the reporting of fair valuation of its credit insurance portfolio.

AIG said that as of November 30 the gross cumulative decline in the fair value of super-senior credit-default swaps related to multi-sector collateralized debt obligations was around $6bn. Including the benefit of net cash flow diversion the decline was $5.2bn, compared to a previously reported $1.6bn. The company said it was still collecting data to update the current value of its portfolio.

A broad range of financial stocks came under pressure as a risk indicators pointed to elevated tension in credit markets.

The iTraxx Crossover, which measures the cost of insuring a basket of mostly junk-rated credits against default, soared to a record high amid continued speculation that structured credit products were being unwound.

The S&P 500 fell 4.6 per cent last week as fears grew that corporate and commercial property defaults are set to rise. Investors were gripped by worries that the market for leveraged loans - used to finance Wall Street dealmaking - has been hit by an increase in redemptions.

Speaking after a Group of Seven meeting, Peer Steinbrück, German finance minister, warned this weekend that writedowns linked to the US subprime mortgage crisis could reach $400bn, sharply higher than the $120bn losses already booked by Wall Street banks and other institutions.

Dow Jones on Monday announced changes to its benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average, removing Altria and Honeywell and replacing them with Bank of America and Chevron.

The changes were the first since April 2004 and are set to apply from February 19. Honeywell, an industrial conglomerate, fell 0.7 per cent to $57.42 and Altria, which is in the process of spinning-off its international tobacco business, fell 0.8 per cent to $72.53.

Dow Jones said the changes were made to reflect the growing importance of oil and gas to the global economy, while financials were also under-represented.

In dealmaking news Yahoo's board on Monday rejected Microsoft's $31-a-share offer as inadequate, threatening to trigger a drawn out takeover battle. The software giant is now preparing to target Yahoo's shareholders directly, the FT reported.

The Times said the search company was looking to restart merger talks with AOL to fend off Microsoft's bid. Yahoo's shares rose 2 per cent to $29.79 while Microsoft fell 1.9 per cent to $28.03 after RBC Capital Markets slashed its price target from $40 to $31.

Meanwhile, Motorola and Nortel Networks are in discussions about a possible merger of their wireless-infrastructure units, The Wall Street Journal reported. The shares rose 1.2 per cent to $11.40 and 0.7 per cent to $11.15 respectively.

European stocks were mixed as Wall Street opened. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 index was down 0.1 per cent, the FTSE 100 slipped 0.3 per cent but the Dax climbed 0.5 per cent in Germany. Asian equity markets closed mainly lower, led by a 3.6 per cent fall on the Hang Seng.

Bond prices pared earlier losses as stocks hit reverse gear. The yield on the two-year Treasury note fell 5bp to 1.88 having earlier climbed to 1.97 per cent. The 10-year bond yield slid 6bp to 3.59 per cent.

The dollar was was broadly lower again against other major currencies early in New York. In overnight trade the dollar fell 0.1 against the euro to $1.4525 and 0.1 per cent against the pound to $1.9474. Against the yen the US currency fell 0.3 per cent to Y106.97 as investors cut back on carry trades.

Gold was trading 0.4 per cent higher at $926.10 while WTI crude oil futures fell 0.3 per cent to $91.51.

In earnings news, toymaker Hasbro on Monday said fourth quarter profit rose 24 per cent as revenues jumped 16 per cent. The stock rose 3 per cent to $26.65.

This week is a relatively quiet period for economic data updates. Retail sales and business inventories are due on Wednesday, initial jobless claims on Thursday with import and export prices set to round off the week on Friday.

Bank of America, Chevron win entry to Dow industrials index

NEW YORK (AFP) - Bank of America and Chevron Corporation will replace Altria Group and Honeywell International in the widely-tracked Dow Jones Industrial Average stock barometer on February 19, Dow Jones said Monday.

The changes are the first in the index's basket weighting of 30 leading companies in almost four years and will give Bank of America and Chevron more corporate visibility.

Dow Jones said in a statement that it was dropping Altria from the benchmark stock index because it had become a smaller company, while Honeywell is being replaced because it is the smallest industrial firm in the Dow based on revenue and earnings.

"We saw that the financial industry was under-represented, notwithstanding the current turbulence, and that the oil and gas industry's growing importance to the world economy called for another representative to join ExxonMobil Corp," said Marcus Brauchli, managing editor of the Wall Street Journal.

The stock index is maintained and reviewed by Journal editors.

Altria is a tobacco company while Honeywell is a diversified technology and manufacturing group.

There is no pre-determined criteria for a stock to be added or removed from the DJIA, but the index's components of 30 top stocks are usually the biggest and most successful US companies in their sector.

The Dow's overall value is based on its component companies' stock prices.

The new changes will take effect at the start of market trading on February 19.

Dow Jones and the Journal are both owned by News Corporation.

Wall St retreats amid credit worries

Wall Street stocks retreated on Monday as worries about potential credit-lossses at American International Group (NYSE:AIG) added to fears that US companies face further credit-related turmoil.

Less than an hour after the opening bell, the S&P 500 was down 0.4 per cent at 1,326.12, the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.2 per cent to 2,300.98 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.5 per cent to 12,125.15.

Dow component AIG, the world's largest insurer, slumped 10 per cent to $45.58 on Monday, its lowest in nearly five years, after its auditors found "material weakness" in its internal controls related to the reporting of fair valuation of its credit default swap portfolio.

AIG said it had not yet determined how much the value of its super senior CDS portfolio had declined

A broad range of financial stocks came under pressure as a risk indicators pointed to elevated tension in credit markets.

The iTraxx Crossover, which measures the cost of insuring a basket of mostly junk-rated credits against default, soared to a record high amid continued speculation that structured credit products were being unwound.

The S&P 500 fell 4.6 per cent last week as fears grew that corporate and commercial property defaults are set to rise. Investors were gripped by worries that the market for leveraged loans - used to finance Wall Street dealmaking - has been hit by an increase in redemptions.

Speaking after a Group of Seven meeting, Peer Steinbrück, German finance minister, warned this weekend that writedowns linked to the US subprime mortgage crisis could reach $400bn, sharply higher than the $120bn losses already booked by Wall Street banks and other institutions.

Dow Jones on Monday announced changes to its benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average, removing Altria and Honeywell and replacing them with Bank of America and Chevron.

The changes were the first since April 2004 and are set to apply from February 19. Honeywell, an industrial conglomerate, fell 0.7 per cent to $57.42 and Altria, which is in the process of spinning-off its international tobacco business, fell 0.8 per cent to $72.53.

Dow Jones said the changes were made to reflect the growing importance of oil and gas to the global economy, while financials were also under-represented.

In dealmaking news Yahoo's board on Monday rejected Microsoft's $31-a-share offer as inadequate, threatening to trigger a drawn out takeover battle. The software giant is now preparing to target Yahoo's shareholders directly, the FT reported.

The Times said the search company was looking to restart merger talks with AOL to fend off Microsoft's bid. Yahoo's shares rose 2 per cent to $29.79 while Microsoft fell 1.9 per cent to $28.03 after RBC Capital Markets slashed its price target from $40 to $31.

Meanwhile, Motorola and Nortel Networks are in discussions about a possible merger of their wireless-infrastructure units, The Wall Street Journal reported. The shares rose 1.2 per cent to $11.40 and 0.7 per cent to $11.15 respectively.

European stocks were mixed as Wall Street opened. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 index was down 0.1 per cent, the FTSE 100 slipped 0.3 per cent but the Dax climbed 0.5 per cent in Germany. Asian equity markets closed mainly lower, led by a 3.6 per cent fall on the Hang Seng.

Bond prices pared earlier losses as stocks hit reverse gear. The yield on the two-year Treasury note fell 5bp to 1.88 having earlier climbed to 1.97 per cent. The 10-year Treasury note yield slid 6bp to 3.59 per cent.

The dollar was was broadly lower again against other major currencies early in New York. In overnight trade the dollar fell 0.1 against the euro to $1.4525 and 0.1 per cent against the pound to $1.9474. Against the yen the US currency fell 0.3 per cent to Y106.97 as investors cut back on carry trades.

Gold was trading 0.4 per cent higher at $926.10 while WTI crude oil futures fell 0.3 per cent to $91.51.

In earnings news, toymaker Hasbro on Monday said fourth quarter profit rose 24 per cent as revenues jumped 16 per cent. The stock rose 3 per cent to $26.65.

This week is a relatively quiet period for economic data updates. Retail sales and business inventories are due on Wednesday, initial jobless claims on Thursday with import and export prices set to round off the week on Friday.

FTSE losses intensify on insurance shock

London's losses deepened on Monday after US insurer AIG sent shockwaves around the global sector.

The US group's auditors said they had found a "material weakness" in how the company values its credit default swap portfolio, forcing AIG shares down more than 10 per cent.

The malaise spread to the UK insurance sector, and half an hour after Wall Street's downbeat open, Royal & Sun Alliance was the biggest loser on the FTSE 100, down 5.5 per cent at 123p.

The list went on: Old Mutual fell 4.5 per cent to 118p, Resolution lost 4.7 per cent to 682p, Aviva shed 4.6 per cent to 553p, Legal & General was ff 4.1 per cent, Standard Life lost 3.6 per cent to 198p and Prudential fell 3.6 per cent to 169p.

Meanwhile, fears remained that banks will require further writedowns related to complex debt securities as a new report showed the market for collateralised debt obligations (CDOs) had its worst month in January for more than 10 years.

Speaking at the G7 meeting in Japan this weekend, Peer Steinbruck, German finance minister, said write-offs related to the US mortgage crisis could reach $400bn.

Ahead of its figures on Wednesday, Bradford & Bingley fell 1.5 per cent to 239¼p while Alliance & Leicester lost 5.3 per cent to 575p, HSBC dropped 2.9 per cent to 715½p and Barclays (NYSE:BCS) was 3 per cent lower at 428½p.

Analysts at HSBC on Monday lowered price targets of Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB, Standard Chartered, B&B, A&L, HBOS and Barclays.

By mid afternoon, the FTSE 100 was down 75 points, or 1.3 per cent, at 5,709.0 while the FTSE 250 lost 80 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 9,727.5.

The latest economic data also weighed on sentiment as news of a sharp rise in factory gate inflation raised fears about the Bank of England's scope to cut interest rates.

Producer price inflation data rose more than expected in January to its highest rate in more than 16 years, as separate figures showed the UK's trade deficit with the rest of the world came in worse than expected in December at £7.574bn.

"The December trade data are likely to reinforce the Bank of England's concern about inflation," said Howard Archer at Global Insight.

Goldman Sachs was downbeat on the UK housebuilders, adding both Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Developments to its "conviction sell" list.

The broker said that they were "the more highly geared UK housebuilders exposed to the housing slowdown that we expect in 2008 and 2009".

Taylor Wimpey fell 3.3 per cent to 169p, Barratt lost 1.7 per cent to 371¾p and Persimmon fell 2.3 per cent to 691½p s Goldman cut its rating from "neutral" to "sell".

Anglo American (NYSE:AIG) fell 1.4 per cent to £29.38 after Anglo Platinum, its majority-owned South Africa-based subsidiary, forecast lower output for 2008 due to power shortages.

Rio Tinto fell 1.9 per cent to £52.29 after writing to shareholders to explain its rejection of last week's $147bn all share offer from BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP). Rio said the offer from BHP failed to recognise the underlying value of its operations. BHP fell 1.5 per cent to £14.79.

Smiths Group, the defence and engineering company, fell 1.5 per cent to 933p after a lacklustre trading statement while Unilever fell 2 per cent to £15.91 after the consumer products group was downgraded from "buy" to "neutral" at UBS on concerns that rising commodity costs would eat into profits.

Overnight in Asia, the Hang Seng index ended 1.5 per cent lower at 23,114.50 in thin trading.

The S&P/ASX 200 index closed down 120.4 points or 2.1 per cent at 5537.6 in Sydney.

Dow Jones reshuffles benchmark components

Wall Street stocks were set for a modest gains on Monday as a rash of potential dealmaking in the technology sector partially offset a sharp rise in credit market tension.

Less than an hour before the opening bell, S&P 500 futures were up 4 points at 1,334.30, 2.2 points above fair value. Nasdaq futures were up 5.5 points at 1,782, while futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 33 points at 12,210.

Dow Jones on Monday announced changes to its benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average, removing Altria and Honeywell and replacing them with Bank of America and Chevron.

The changes were the first since April 2004 and are set to apply from February 19. Honeywell, an industrial conglomerate, fell 1.5 per cent to $56.99 in pre-market trading and Altria, which is in the process of spinning-off its international tobacco business, fell 1.1 per cent to $72.30.

Dow Jones said the changes were made to reflect the growing importance of oil and gas to the global economy, while financials were also under-represented.

Yahoo's board is on Monday expected to turn down Microsoft's $31-a-share offer which could lead to a drawn out takeover battle. The software giant is now preparing to target Yahoo's shareholders directly, the FT reported.

The Times said the search company was looking to restart merger talks with AOL to fend off Microsoft's bid. Yahoo's shares rose 0.8 per cent to $29.44 in pre-market trading while Microsoft fell 0.2 per cent to $28.50 after RBC Capital Markets slashed its price target from $40 to $31.

Meanwhile, Motorola (NYSE:MOT) and Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT) are in discussions about a possible merger of their wireless-infrastructure units, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Financial stocks are likely to remain under pressure on Monday as a slew of risk indicators pointed to elevated tension in credit markets.

The iTraxx Crossover, which measures the cost of insuring a basket of mostly junk-rated credits against default, soared to a record high amid continued speculation that structured credit products were being unwound.

The S&P 500 fell 4.6 per cent last week as fears grew that corporate and commercial property defaults are set to rise. Investors were gripped by worries that the market for leveraged loans - used to finance Wall Street dealmaking - has been hit by an increase in redemptions.

Speaking after a Group of Seven meeting, Peer Steinbrück, German finance minister, warned this weekend that writedowns linked to the US subprime mortgage crisis could reach $400bn, sharply higher than the $120bn losses already booked by Wall Street banks and other institutions.

European stocks were mixed ahead of the open on Wall Street. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 index was down 0.1 per cent, the FTSE 100 slipped 0.3 per cent but the Dax climbed 0.5 per cent in Germany. Asian equity markets closed mainly lower, led by a 3.6 per cent fall on the Hang Seng.

Bond prices retreated ahead of an expected higher open for stocks. The yield on the two-year Treasury note rose 4.5bp to 1.97 per cent while the 10-year Treasury note yield added 2.5bp to 3.67 per cent.

The dollar was was broadly lower again against other major currencies early in New York. In overnight trade the dollar fell 0.1 against the euro to $1.4525 and 0.1 per cent against the pound to $1.9474. Against the yen the US currency fell 0.3 per cent to Y106.97 as investors cut back on carry trades.

Gold was trading 0.7 per cent higher at $928.60 while WTI crude oil futures put on 0.3 per cent to $92.

In earnings news, toymaker Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) on Monday said fourth quarter profit rose 24 per cent as revenues jumped 16 per cent. The stock was up 5.4 per cent in pre-market trading.

This week is a relatively quiet period for economic data updates. Retail sales and business inventories are due on Wednesday, initial jobless claims on Thursday with import and export prices set to round off the week on Friday.

Wall St looks to shrug off credit worries

Wall Street stocks were set for a modest gains on Monday as a rash of potential dealmaking in the technology sector partially offset a sharp rise in credit market tension.

Less than an hour before the opening bell, S&P 500 futures were up 4 points at 1,334.30, 2.2 points above fair value. Nasdaq futures were up 5.5 points at 1,782, while futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 33 points at 12,210.

Dow Jones on Monday announced changes to its benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average, removing Altria and Honeywell and replacing them with Bank of America and Chevron.

The changes were the first since April 2004 and are set to apply from February 19. Honeywell, an industrial conglomerate, fell 1.5 per cent to $56.99 in pre-market trading while Altria, owner of the Philip Morris tobacco company, fell 1.1 per cent to $72.30.

Yahoo's board is on Monday expected to turn down Microsoft's $31-a-share offer which could lead to a drawn out takeover battle. The software giant is now preparing to target Yahoo's shareholders directly, the FT reported.

The Times said the search company was looking to restart merger talks with AOL to fend off Microsoft's bid. Yahoo's shares rose 0.8 per cent to $29.44 in pre-market trading while Microsoft fell 0.2 per cent to $28.50 after RBC Capital Markets slashed its price target from $40 to $31.

Meanwhile, Motorola (NYSE:MOT) and Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT) are in discussions about a possible merger of their wireless-infrastructure units, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Financial stocks are likely to remain under pressure on Monday as a slew of risk indicators pointed to elevated tension in credit markets.

The iTraxx Crossover, which measures the cost of insuring a basket of mostly junk-rated credits against default, soared to a record high amid continued speculation that structured credit products were being unwound.

The S&P 500 fell 4.6 per cent last week as fears grew that corporate and commercial property defaults are set to rise. Investors were gripped by worries that the market for leveraged loans - used to finance Wall Street dealmaking - has been hit by an increase in redemptions.

Speaking after a Group of Seven meeting, Peer Steinbrück, German finance minister, warned this weekend that writedowns linked to the US subprime mortgage crisis could reach $400bn, sharply higher than the $120bn losses already booked by Wall Street banks and other institutions.

European stocks were mixed ahead of the open on Wall Street. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 index was down 0.1 per cent, the FTSE 100 slipped 0.3 per cent but the Dax climbed 0.5 per cent in Germany. Asian equity markets closed mainly lower, led by a 3.6 per cent fall on the Hang Seng.

Bond prices retreated ahead of an expected higher open for stocks. The yield on the two-year Treasury note rose 4.5bp to 1.97 per cent while the 10-year Treasury note yield added 2.5bp to 3.67 per cent.

The dollar was was broadly lower again against other major currencies early in New York. In overnight trade the dollar fell 0.1 against the euro to $1.4525 and 0.1 per cent against the pound to $1.9474. Against the yen the US currency fell 0.3 per cent to Y106.97 as investors cut back on carry trades.

Gold was trading 0.7 per cent higher at $928.60 while WTI crude oil futures put on 0.3 per cent to $92.

In earnings news, toymaker Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) on Monday said fourth quarter profit rose 24 per cent as revenues jumped 16 per cent. The stock was up 5.4 per cent in pre-market trading.

This week is a relatively quiet period for economic data updates. Retail sales and business inventories are due on Wednesday, initial jobless claims on Thursday with import and export prices set to round off the week on Friday.

Wall St set for steady start, Yahoo in focus

LONDON (Reuters) - Stock index futures indicated a positive open on Wall Street on Monday in a thin day for earnings, while technology shares might grab attention as Yahoo (YHOO.O) was set to rebuff a takeover bid from Microsoft.

Also in the technology sector, Motorola Inc (MOT.N) and Nortel Networks Corp (NT.TO) are in talks to combine their wireless infrastructure units, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting people familiar with the situation.

By 5:45 a.m. EST, S&P 500 futures and Dow futures were both up 0.1 percent while Nasdaq futures were little changed.

Worries about a deeper global economic slowdown than expected hit equities, with Asian stocks (.MIAPJ0000PUS) down 2 percent and the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index (.FTEU3) 0.2 percent lower.

The S&P 500 (.SPX) fell on Friday and the Dow Jones industrials (.DJI) ended its worst week in nearly five years, hit by losses in shares of financials, home builders and other sectors at the centre of the credit market crisis.

Yahoo was set to reject Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) unsolicited bid, now worth $42 billion, as too low, a source familiar with the situation said on Saturday in the first clear signal that the board might be prepared to negotiate and sell the company.

"They're going to reject the deal," said Jonathan Monk, a portfolio manager at Aerion Fund Management.

"I can't see who else would be interested in doing a deal with them apart from Microsoft especially at this level. But presumably they will try to push the price higher."

On the M&A front, Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) and Northwest Airlines Corp (NWA.N) may reach a merger agreement within weeks after sharing details of their plans with pilot unions, according to a report on Bloomberg.com citing people familiar with the talks.

Toy and game company Hasbro Inc (HAS.N) and conglomerate Loews Corp (LTR.N) are among the S&P 500 companies reporting earnings on Monday.

Last week, the Dow lost 4.4 percent while the S&P fell 4.6 percent and the Nasdaq ended 4.5 percent lower.

Growth worries batter global stocks

LONDON (Reuters) - Worries about a deeper global economic slowdown than expected battered equities on Monday and hit the dollar while commodity prices soared, adding fears of inflation to the mix.

Finance leaders from the Group of Seven major economies said at the weekend that the crumbling U.S. housing market had hurt the world economy and that conditions may worsen as debt-laden banks clamp down on credit.

At least partly in response, MSCI's main index of world stocks was down 0.2 percent, taking year-to-date losses to more than 11 percent, and its emerging market stock counterpart was down 1.5 percent on the day.

"One message that came out of the G7 statement over the weekend is that global growth is expected to slow, and it will be a much broader slowing than originally anticipated," said Adam Myers, market strategist at Credit Suisse.

European stocks dropped 1 percent in early trade but then recovered slightly. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 0.4 percent after losing 3.7 percent last week.

"Spreads are widening again in credit markets and that means the market anticipates a very gloomy scenario," said Romain Boscher, head of equity management at Groupama Asset Management, in Paris.

Japan's market was closed for a holiday.

But while equities suffered, investors were pouring into a number of commodities.

Platinum hit a record high of $1,887 an ounce, bringing its rise this year close to 25 percent. Gold was steady, but at $923 an ounce it was not too far from its all-time high of $936.50.

Food staple wheat caused more worries for central banks, which are trying to boost flagging economies with lower interest rates but at the same time want to keep inflation at bay. Benchmark U.S. wheat futures surged more than 5 percent to a record $11.53 a bushel.

Rising food prices were in part behind a surprise rate rise in Egypt last week, underlining the stresses to monetary policy.

WEAKER DOLLAR

The dollar suffered from worries about the U.S. economy, falling a third of a percent against a basket of currencies. It hit a 2007 high against that basket a year go on Tuesday and is now more than 10 percent lower.

The euro was up 0.4 percent at $1.4564, partly on comments from European Central Bank policymakers which dampened speculation about a rate cut. Governing Council member Axel Weber told a German newspaper that the ECB had not relaxed its view on inflation risks.

The dollar was down 0.7 percent at 106.59 yen.

The Japanese currency benefited from the risk averse mood, as worries about global growth and falling equity markets prompting currency investors to exit risky trading bets funded by cheap borrowing in the yen.

Euro zone government bonds were mixed with the yield on 2-year paper flat at 3.09 percent and the 10-year up 3 basis points at 3.88 percent.

Retail in focus this week on Wall Street

NEW YORK - Americans are paying more attention to how much they spend on each box of cereal, tank of gasoline and pair of pants — and Wall Street is, too.

This week's data on the U.S. consumer, particularly the Commerce Department's Wednesday report on January retail sales, are going to be monitored closely by investors for clues to how sunken home prices, high energy costs and job cuts are affecting spending.

"Retail sales are a big indicator at this point of the mindset of the consumer," said Kim Caughey, equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group. Government data and company executives alike have suggested that U.S. consumers are having to pare back their discretionary spending to buy necessities.

After the generally dismal sales figures reported by individual retailers last week, economists polled by Thomson Financial/IFR last Friday predicted that the government would say that overall retail sales dipped 0.3 percent in January after a similar slump in December.

"If it comes in well below what's expected, that could send the market into another tailspin," said Jennifer Ellison, principal at San Francisco-based Bingham, Osborn & Scarborough, which manages $2.1 billion in investments.

Then on Friday, the University of Michigan will release its preliminary February reading on consumer sentiment. It is not a perfect predictor of how Americans will spend their money, but it will serve as the most up-to-date reading on how they are feeling about the economy.

"It's pretty widely anticipated that consumer sentiment is declining," Ellison said.

After posting its best week since March 2003, the Dow Jones industrial average last week logged its worst week since that same volatile month due to a sharply contracting service sector, uneasiness about bond insurers and other worrisome signs that the housing and credit markets may keep stifling growth.

The Dow fell 4.40 percent last week, the Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 4.60 percent, and the Nasdaq composite index dropped 4.50 percent. The Dow stands 14 percent below its Oct. 9 record close of 14,164.53 but remains about 4.7 percent above the 15-month lows it sank to in January.

Many market watchers say it is practically inevitable that the Dow will retest its lows — essentially, fall back to those levels while investors wait and see if it falls further or bounces back up. Wall Street is hoping the bulk of the weakness in the economy has passed, whether it counts as a recession or not. If it's mostly over, the stock market may have already hit, or neared, its bottom.

"If we're in a recession now, which is pretty likely, we've probably seen most of the worst of the downside to the stock market," Ellison said. "The market tends to rebound when the economy reaches its worst quarter."

Earnings from companies this week — including Hasbro Inc., General Motors Corp., Coca-Cola Co., Deere & Co., Vonage Holdings Corp., and Goodyear Tire & Rubber — could be indicative of spending patterns by both individuals and businesses.

Discussions about the global economy from the weekend's Group of Seven meeting in Tokyo of the world's finance ministers may also move the market this week.

According to S&P analyst Howard Silverblatt, stock markets around the globe lost a combined $5.2 trillion in January, one of the worst ever starts to the year. Emerging markets on average dropped more than 12 percent, and all 26 developed markets tumbled as well, by an average of nearly 8 percent.

SEC eyes disclosure in subprime probes

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating how banks, credit rating firms and lenders valued and disclosed complex mortgage-backed securities that ultimately led to the subprime crisis, a top agency enforcer said on Saturday.

"The big question is, who knew what when, and what did they disclose to the marketplace?" said Cheryl Scarboro, an associate director in the SEC's enforcement division in charge of the subprime working group.

The SEC has opened about three dozen investigations into firms and individuals involved in the subprime mortgage market. The investor protection agency has not named any names. But Morgan Stanley (MS.N) and Merrill Lynch (MER.N) are some of the firms in the financial services industry that have disclosed that government investigators are seeking information about their subprime activities.

Scarboro said the cases can be broken down into three main areas: the securitization process, the origination process and the retail area. Insider trading, which is one of the SEC's highest priorities, is also a key area.

"Our investigations into potential misconduct is clearly a priority at the division," Scarboro said at a Practising Law Institute conference in Washington.

Banks, due diligence firms and credit rating agencies are being examined for their role in the securitization process, or how mortgages were sold, repackaged and bundled into special financial products.

The SEC is looking at the valuations and accounting treatments of mortgage-backed securities. It is looking at whether the securities were valued correctly in the first place, what was the level of risk and if that was adequately disclosed to shareholders.

METHODOLOGY, MODELS SCRUTINIZED

The methodology and models that companies used to value the complex financial products are being examined as well.

The agency also is looking at write-downs that financial firms have been forced to take and whether the assets should have been taken down and disclosed earlier.

In terms of the retail area, the agency is looking at whether brokers followed "suitability" requirements when they sold the mortgage-backed securities that then quickly soured.

Doria Bachenheimer, who is part of the SEC's subprime working group, said issues that could come up with lenders and investment banks are similar to those in many accounting fraud investigations.

The agency will look into whether people were motivated to mask the bad numbers because of some upcoming corporate event, Bachenheimer, an assistant regional director of enforcement in New York, said at the conference.

The subprime working group, which involves more than 100 lawyers, is coordinating with other divisions within the SEC. It is also talking regularly with other regulators including the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Office of Thrift Supervision.

When asked if the SEC had enough resources to dig out any subprime abuse while policing other areas, the SEC's head of enforcement said she was always amazed by the work people do with what they've got.

"We do have to work very hard at bringing the right cases," SEC enforcement division chief Linda Chatman Thomsen said at the conference. "We work on the most 'impactful' cases ... . At the end of the day we have to be about deterrence."

Hasbro names new CEO; 4Q profit up

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Hasbro Inc.'s Chief Executive Alfred J. Verrecchia will step down in May and be replaced by Brian Goldner, who as chief operating officer has played a key role in the toymaker's turnaround in the past several years.

The announcement by the world's second biggest toy company came as it reported a hefty 24 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit and said sales rose 16 percent, driven by its core brands including Transformers, Littlest Pet Shop and Star Wars.

Verrecchia, who turns 65 this week, will become chairman of the board at the Pawtucket-based company when Goldner, 44, starts his new job May 22.

 

"The company — while it's had a great run the last couple of years — it's just at the beginning of what it can achieve going forward," Verrecchia said in a phone interview. He called Goldner "a young, talented, savvy entrepreneurial spirit that's going to take the company to the next level."

Verrecchia has spent 43 years at Hasbro and took over as president and chief executive in 2003, succeeding Alan Hassenfeld, a member of Hasbro's founding family. Hassenfeld, the current board chairman, will step down as chair but remain a board member, the company said.

Goldner joined Hasbro in 2000 from Bandai America Inc., becoming COO in 2006, and has helped Verrecchia orchestrate a comeback for the once-troubled company.

After Hasbro lost $144 million in 2000 and was forced to cut hundreds of jobs, Goldner helped lead the company's rededication to its "core brand strategy," focusing its efforts on time-tested brands consumers know and trust, such as Monopoly and Transformers.

The strategy has paid off, with Hasbro reporting Monday that its 2007 revenue rose to $3.84 billion, up from $3.15 billion a year earlier.

"We all started together back in a different time and place when the company was not as successful as it is today," Goldner said in a phone interview. "We really do fundamentally believe we're in the very early innings of the potentiality for this company."

Gerrick Johnson, an analyst with BMO Capital Markets, said Goldner is good at what he does and respected within the industry.

"He's a very strong toy executive and one of the brighter young toy executives out there," Johnson said. "He's been doing all the heavy lifting the last couple of years."

Its shares rose 54 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $26.41 Monday.

The company, which also makes Nerf and Playskool brands and board games like Sorry and Operation, said it plans price increases this year to offset costs that have risen 14 percent to 15 percent. Verrecchia said the company plans to hold its margins steady with those of 2007, and added he expected a strong 2008.

Hasbro said its profit rose to $133.7 million, or 84 cents per share, in the three months ended Dec. 30 from $108.3 million, or 62 cents a share, a year earlier.

Wall Street expected the company to report earnings of 81 cents per share for the latest quarter. The estimates typically exclude one-time items.

Sales climbed to $1.3 billion from $1.1 billion a year earlier.

Larger rival Mattel Inc. recently posted a 15 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit, but faced negative publicity because of its recalls of millions of Chinese-made toys tainted with lead. Hasbro avoided the lead-paint related recalls, but it did recall about 1 million Easy-Bake ovens after reports of about 250 children getting their hands caught in the oven's opening.

This year, Hasbro expects Transformers to continue doing well due to an animated series that started in January. Star Wars and Spider-Man are also expected to release animated shows later this year.

Two Hasbro-related live-action movies are scheduled to be released in 2009 — Transformers 2 and G.I. Joe, based on the Hasbro action figure, which starts shooting Monday, Verrecchia said. Despite a Hollywood writers strike, there were no delays in the movies' production schedules, he said.

Hasbro's international revenues grew 29 percent to $489.2 million for the quarter, partly on better foreign exchange rates.

For the full year, Hasbro earned $330 million, or $1.97 a share, up from $230.1 million, or $1.29 a share, a year ago. Excluding taxes and the company's repurchase of outstanding warrants held by Lucasfilm Ltd. and Lucas Licensing Ltd., per share earnings were $2.03, the company said.

The company this year repurchased 20.8 million shares of common stock at $587 million.

Hasbro profit tops forecasts; CEO stepping down

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hasbro Inc (HAS.N) posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday, boosted by strong demand for its Transformers, Nerf and Furreal Friends product lines, helping to send its shares up as much as 4 percent.

The second-largest U.S. toy maker also said Chief Executive Al Verrecchia would step down as CEO and become chairman. Brian Goldner, its chief operating officer, will become CEO as of May 22.

 

The company said Verrecchia will move to his role as nonexecutive chairman at the end of the year, replacing Alan Hassenfeld, grandson of Hasbro founder Henry Hassenfeld.

Fourth-quarter earnings rose to $133.7 million, or 84 cents a share, from $108.3 million, or 62 cents a share, a year earlier. Quarterly sales rose 16 percent to $1.3 billion.

Analysts, on average, were expecting profit of 81 cents a share on sales of about $1.22 billion, according to Reuters Estimates.

Hasbro's shares were up 38 cents, or about 1.5 percent, at $26.25 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange, after rising as much as 4.2 percent earlier in the session.

"On a global basis, our boys, girls, preschool, and games and puzzles categories all performed well," Verrecchia told a conference call.

The results come two weeks after industry leader Mattel Inc (MAT.N) posted a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit despite a 3 percent decline in gross U.S. sales and publicity surrounding the recall of millions of its toys due to safety and lead paint concerns.

"Hasbro is clearly showing that they have been firing on all cylinders," said Thomas Russo, who helps manage more than $3 billion at Gardner Russo & Gardner.

"They've had success driving revenues while at the same time controlling costs," said Russo, whose firm owns about 3 million Hasbro shares.

Sales in the quarter rose 8 percent at Hasbro's North American division, although operating profit fell 22 percent partly due to higher royalties and advertising expenses. Operating profit was also affected by Hasbro's investment in its Wizards of the Coast online gaming initiative.

Hasbro's international segment sales, meanwhile, climbed 29 percent as operating profit rose 40 percent.

The fourth quarter is the most important time of year for toy companies because it includes the holiday shopping season, when the industry rings up nearly half its annual sales, according to market research firm NPD Group.

RISING COSTS

Looking ahead, Hasbro said costs will climb this year due to the rising price of labor and commodities, the appreciation of the Chinese currency, and product testing.

Many of Hasbro's toys are manufactured in China.

"So clearly there will be some price increases this year," Verrecchia said. "We'll continue to look to improve our efficiencies in the supply chain."

In an interview on CNBC, Verrecchia said the Asia-Pacific and South American markets each have great potential, as brands that have performed well in the United States are doing well with children overseas.

"The opportunity to market our product ... is clearly growing very rapidly," Verrecchia said.

Meanwhile, the company will look to the Transformers animated television series to help one of its key product lines maintain momentum this year until the movie sequel in 2009.

Last year, toys based on the Transformers film helped drive its boys division.

Later this year, the company will roll out toys tied to the films "Iron Man," "The Incredible Hulk" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

Hasbro's stock was trading on Monday afternoon at 12.7 times 2008 earnings, a premium to rival Mattel, which was trading at a multiple of 12.5 times 2008 earnings.

Loews quarterly profit falls 31 percent

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Loews Corp (LTR.N) said on Monday fourth-quarter profit fell 31 percent, hurt by losses tied to subprime investments at its CNA Financial Corp (CNA.N) insurance unit.

Net income at New York-based Loews, a conglomerate run by the billionaire Tisch family, fell to $512 million from $746 million a year earlier.

Profit attributable to shareholders fell 37 percent to $384 million, or 72 cents per share, from $609 million, or $1.11.

Bush acknowledges economic uncertainty

WASHINGTON - President Bush, acknowledging that the country is suffering through a period of economic uncertainty, called on Congress Monday to do more to help people and businesses hurt by the housing slump and credit crunch.

In a brief introduction to his annual economic report, Bush said the $168 billion economic rescue package passed by Congress last week will keep "our economy growing and our people working."

Bush is expected later this week to sign the stimulus package, which includes rebates of $600 to $1,200 to most taxpayers and $300 checks to disabled veterans, the elderly and other low-income people.

"Money will be going directly to America — workers and families and individuals," he told reporters. "It's going to help deal with the uncertainties in this economy."

In addition, the package includes tax breaks for businesses and would take some steps to boost the ailing housing market. Bush said that other steps need to be taken to strengthen the economy, and he exhorted Congress to make his tax cut permanent and do more to help struggling homeowners.

Bush urged lawmakers to pass additional legislation that would revamp mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and modernize the Depression-era Federal Housing Administration, which insures mortgages for low- and middle-income borrowers. The president also said Congress should approve legislation allowing state housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to help squeezed homeowners refinance their mortgages.

These and other steps could help struggling homeowners "weather turbulent times in the market," Bush said.

The stimulus package includes provisions that would temporarily raise to $729,750 the limit on Federal Housing Administration loans and the cap on loans that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy. Raising that cap on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should provide relief in the market for "jumbo" mortgages — those exceeding $417,000. The credit crunch hit that market hard, making it very difficult, if not impossible, for people to get those loans. And, that has plunged the housing market even deeper into turmoil.

Fallout from the housing bust and harder-to-get credit have catapulted home foreclosures to record highs, forced financial companies to rack up multibillion-dollar losses in bad mortgage investments, rocked Wall Street and dealt a powerful blow to the national economy.

The economy nearly stalled in the final three months of 2007, growing at a pace of just 0.6 percent. The odds of a recession have grown considerably over the last year, and an increasing number of analysts believe the economy may actually be shrinking now.

"Our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty, and there are heightened risks to our near-term economic growth," Bush said in his economic report to Congress. He said the stimulus package should "insure against those risks."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said the stimulus package should provide some relief but added, "It is far from a panacea, and much more should be done to address our economy's longer-term problems."

The administration is hopeful the country will skirt a recession; the last one was in 2001, shortly after Bush first took office.

"I don't think we are in a recession right now," said Edward Lazear, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, told reporters at a briefing. Lazear said the administration is not forecasting a recession, but rather "slower growth" in the first half of this year.

The White House did not change its economic forecasts for this year and next, which were previewed in November. The administration is still predicting the economy will grow by 2.7 percent this year, as measured from the fourth quarter of this year from the fourth quarter of last year. That would mark a slight improvement from the 2.5 percent growth logged in 2007 but would still be considered a sluggish pace. The economy should pick up strength next year, growing by 3 percent.

The unemployment rate for this year and next should climb to 4.9 percent, according to the White House's projections. The jobless rate last year was 4.6 percent.

The big worry among economists is that consumers and businesses will hunker down more this year, throwing the economy into a tailspin.

The president's economic report acknowledged that risk.

"The tightening of credit standards raises the possibility that spending by businesses and consumers could be restrained in the future," according to the report. "Declines in household wealth may also limit consumer spending," it said.

Recent reports from major retailers showed that people have tightened their belts. Economists say some homeowners have gotten more cautious in their spending as they have watched their single biggest asset — the value of their home — get dragged down by the housing slump. Moreover, high energy prices have also weighed on shoppers.

The housing slump would continue to be a drag on economic growth, probably into the second quarter of this year even if the market were to hit bottom right now, Lazear said.

Bush again renewed his campaign for Congress to make his tax cuts permanent. "Unless Congress acts, most of the tax relief that we have delivered over the past seven years will be taken away and 116 million American taxpayers will see their taxes rise by an average of $1,800," the president said.

And, he made a fresh call for Congress to approve pending free-trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. Bush said those deals would expand sales opportunities for U.S. companies, thus providing "greater access for our exports and supporting good jobs for American workers."