European, US markets see gains

The New York equities markets were higher at midday on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.28 percent higher to 13,578.15 after having gone as high as 13,609.76, the first time the Dow has ever breached the 13,600 level. The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.27 percent to 2,595.12, while the S&P 500 added 0.36 percent to 1,529.54, again above its record closing high. The Russell 2000 index of small and mid-caps was 0.39 percent higher to 843.18. Aluminium producers were higher after Alcan (NYSE: AL; TSX: AL) rejected a bid from Alcoa (NYSE: AA). The retail sector and shoe manufacturers were higher on quarterly results and purchase news, respectively.

Asian and Pacific equities markets were mixed again on the session. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong dropped 0.22 percent to 20,798.97, while the Sensex was 0.63 percent lower to 14,363.26 in India. In Australia, however, the Sydney Ordinaries added 0.34 percent to 6,372. The Straits Times index in Singapore gained 0.77 percent to 3,552.31. Tokyo markets also saw advances, with the Nikkei 225 up 0.1 percent to 17,705.12 and the Topix index 0.5 percent higher to 1,740.08. Banks and consumer finance saw gains in Tokyo, as did the steel sector, but there were declines in the glass sector.

European equities markets were higher. The Eurofirst 300 was up 0.73 percent to 1,609.31. The CAC-40 added 0.5 percent to 6,120.2 in Paris, while in Frankfurt the Dax gained 1 percent to 7,735.88 and the IBEX in Madrid was 1.02 percent higher to 15,223.9. In London, the FTSE 100 added 0.19 percent to 6,619.4, while the FTSE 250 gained 0.36 percent to 12,220. Utilites were higher both in the UK and on the continent, as was the telecommunications sector. Most European carmakers were higher. UK retailers saw declines, and there were also declines in the pharmaceuticals sector

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