Asian Stocks Decline on U.S. Retail Sales, Yen; Nomura Slumps

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks dropped for the first time in five days after U.S. retail sales unexpectedly declined and a stronger yen dimmed the earnings outlook for Japan’s electronics and auto companies.

Li & Fung Ltd., the biggest supplier of toys and clothing to Wal-Mart Stores Inc., tumbled 9.8 percent in Hong Kong. Canon Inc., which generates more than half of its sales from U.S. and Europe, declined 3.2 percent in Tokyo as the yen rose to a two- week high against the dollar. Nomura Holdings Inc., Japan’s largest brokerage, slumped 7.3 percent, leading declines by finance shares, the region’s best performers in the past month.

“This is a reality check,” said Koichi Ogawa, chief portfolio manager at Daiwa SB Investments Ltd. in Tokyo, which manages $28 billion. “The collapse the global economy was experiencing has come to an end, but investors moved too quickly in predicting a recovery.”

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U.S. Stocks Surge After Jump in Retail Sales, Bond Rally; Freeport Gains

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks surged, pushing the Dow
Jones Industrial Average to its biggest gain in almost 11
months, after the bond market rallied and a government report on
retail sales exceeded economists' estimates.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., the biggest copper
producer, climbed to a record $81.75, enabling the Standard &
Poor's 500 Materials Index to post the steepest advance since
July. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Home Depot Inc. helped push the
Dow average to an increase of 1.4 percent, or 187 points.


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U.S. Stocks Rise, Led by Energy Producers; XTO, Wal-Mart Shares Advance

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks climbed after energy
shares gained on a surge in oil prices and analysts upgraded
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Wal-Mart had its best two-day gain since August 2002 after
four brokerages increased their ratings on the world's largest
retailer because of its plan to repurchase as much as $15
billion in stock. XTO Energy Inc. led oil-related shares in the
S&P 500 to a record after it and Loews Corp. agreed to buy
Dominion Resources Inc.'s properties for $6.5 billion.


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U.S. Stocks Rise, S&P 500 Hits Record; Wal-Mart, Dow Jones Shares Advance

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks advanced on government
reports that showed an improving economic outlook, crowning the
week with America's equity benchmarks at record levels.

Indexes of commodities, energy, consumer and industrial
shares touched all-time highs after companies hired at almost
twice the pace in May and inflation climbed less than economists
forecast. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's biggest retailer,
rose the most in seven months after saying it will buy back as
much as $15 billion in stock. Dow Jones & Co. shares climbed to
a six-year high on speculation Rupert Murdoch may raise his
takeover bid.


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