INO:
Stocks close little changed after Fed decision, Apple jumps to record; European stocks close higher, brushing off coronavirus concerns
Stocks closed little changed on Wednesday even after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady and maintained a positive view on the U.S. economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the day 13 points, or less than 0.1%. The 30-stock average rose as much as 221 points. The S&P 500 was down 0.1% while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.1%.
Apple gained 2.1% and hit a record after its quarterly results easily beat analyst expectations. The company’s results were driven in part because of an 8% uptick in iPhone sales, which totaled $55.96 billion.
McDonald’s, another Dow component, posted better-than-expected quarterly results, sending the stock up 1.9%. Dow Inc and ADP reported profits that beat analyst estimates as well along with General Electric, which surged 10.3%.
AMD shares, however, dropped 6% after the semiconductor company issued weaker-than-forecast revenue guidance for the first quarter. Xilinx also gave a disappointing sales forecast, which sent its stock down more than 10%.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 had climbed 0.5% by the closing bell, with industrials adding 1% to lead gains as most sectors and major bourses entered positive territory.
Temenos shares gained 5.2% after the Swiss software provider announced a global strategic partnership with Google Cloud. Santander shares ended the session 4.4% higher after the Spanish bank beat fourth-quarter profit expectations.
Source: CNBC
SERBIA:
Serbia sells euro-denominated 20-year bond with 3 pct yield rate
The Republic of Serbia on Wednesday sold a euro-denominated 20-year government bond with a 3 pct yield rate and successfully completed a 150 mln euro bond issuance, Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said. This best reaffirms that the financial system is secure, stable and strong and that it is finally on healthy foundations, he said. "We had an excellent response from investors, which, for us, is a sign of confidence in Serbia's financial system. There is trust in the national monetary and economic policy. This is an announcement of an exciting year when it comes to development of the domestic capital market, which is waking from decades of slumber," a statement from the Finance Ministry quoted Mali as saying.
Source: Tanjug
2019 a record year for Air Serbia
In addition to introducing new routes and establishing operations in two more airports in Serbia in 2019, Air Serbia delivered growth and accomplished record results in the number of passengers carried, the airline announced Wednesday. "During the year, the airline carried a total of 2.81 mln passengers on scheduled and charter flights from Belgrade, which represents a milestone result since it began operating as Air Serbia. The number of passengers carried increased 9.5 pct, compared to 2018. Regular flights increased by 9 pct, and charter flights by 23 pct more passengers compared to the previous year. After a successful summer season, the positive results continued in the off-peak season period of 2019, when almost 25 pct more passengers were carried compared to the same period last year.
Source: Tanjug
Works on Nis-Pristina motorway to begin in Q3 2020
Works on the construction of the first section of a Nis-Pristina motorway will begin in Q3 2020, Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic announced in the parliament Wednesday. The section, from Nis to Plocnik, costs 200 mln euros and will be funded from loans, and an agreement has already been signed on the first 100 mln euros, she said. She said roads were significant for connectivity and for preventing further emigration from the country.
Izvor: Tanjug