STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Friday, 27 December 2013

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19. European Stocks Advance After Christmas; TGS Nopec Rises

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-27/european-stock-index-futures-gain-after-christmas-holiday.html

European stocks rose, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbing for a sixth day, after U.S. jobless claims dropped more than forecast and markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. U.S. index futures were little changed and Asian shares advanced.

TGS Nopec Geophysical ASA, Norway’s largest surveyor of underwater oil and gas fields, rallied 5.4 percent. Vestas Wind Systems A/S climbed 2 percent after saying it won an order from the U.S. International Personal Finance Plc plunged the most since 2009.

The Stoxx 600 increased 0.6 percent to 326.29 at 11:41 a.m. in London. European shares completed their biggest five-day rally since July on Dec. 24. The benchmark gauge has gained 17 percent this year, putting it on course for its biggest annual gain since 2009, as the European Central Bank and the Bank of England pledged to leave interest rates near record lows for a prolonged period. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures fell 0.1 percent today, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index increased 0.5 percent.

“Stock markets are indeed seeing a little Christmas rally,” said John Plassard, vice president at Mirabaud Securities LLP in Geneva. “Yesterday’s better-than-expected U.S. jobless claims numbers extend the positive sentiment we’ve been seeing. Without major economic data out today, we should be facing a fairly quiet session.”