Stocks

Americas

U.S. Stocks Retreat, Led by GM; Exxon Mobil Declines on $25 Crude Forecast U.S. stocks fell for the first time in three days, pushed down by concern General Motors Corp. may file for bankruptcy and a plunge in energy shares following Merrill Lynch & Co.’s prediction that oil will hit $25 a barrel.

Actuate, Novell, Thoratec, TRW, Yahoo, Yum Brands: U.S. Equity Preview The following companies may have unusual price changes in U.S. trading tomorrow. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are as of 5:25 p.m. in New York, unless otherwise specified.

Most Brazil Stocks Gain on Interest-Rate Cuts, Pulp Mergers; Bolsa Drops Most Brazilian stocks rose after central banks around the world lowered interest rates to boost economic growth and speculation grew that the country’s biggest pulp producers may revive plans to merge.

Canada Stocks Decline, Led by Canadian Natural, as Parliament Is Suspended Canadian stocks fell as oil prices slid below $44 a barrel and Prime Minister Stephen Harper won a suspension of Parliament, delaying an opposition bid to bring down his government and hasten an economic stimulus package.

Citadel Funds Said to Lose 13% in November, Bringing Year's Decline to 47% Citadel Investment Group LLC, the Chicago-based hedge-fund firm run by Kenneth Griffin, lost 13 percent in November, bringing the decline for the year to 47 percent, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Europe

Akzo Nobel, BASF, Fiat, Vinci May Move: European Stock Market Preview The following companies may have unusual price changes in European trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are from the previous close.

Antisoma, Berkeley, British Land, Waterford: U.K., Irish Equity Preview The following is a list of companies whose shares may have unusual price changes in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses and prices are from the last market close.

ArcelorMittal, Piscines Desjoyaux, Trilogiq, Wendel: French Stocks Preview The following is a list of companies whose stocks may have unusual changes in Paris. Symbols are in parentheses after company names and prices are from the last close.

ICAP Said to Plan Trading System, `Dark Pool' for Stocks to Rival Bourses ICAP Plc, the world’s largest broker of trades between banks, plans to start an alternative trading platform for stocks in competition with traditional exchanges, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation.

Asia

Asian Stocks Gain as Slump in Crude Oil Reduces Costs; Nintendo Advances Asian stocks rose, led by electronics companies, on speculation a slump in oil prices below $44 a barrel will reduce companies’ costs and spur consumer spending.

Japan Stocks Extend Weekly Drop on Bank Profit Concern; Tiremakers Advance Japan stocks fell, extending a weekly loss, as a dimmer earnings outlook for lenders prompted Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to cut price targets on the nation’s biggest banks, overshadowing benefits to manufacturers from oil’s decline.

Australia Stocks: BHP, Fairfax, Felix, Fortescue, Rio, Santos, Woodside The S&P/ASX 200 Index slipped 42.50 points, or 1.2 percent, to 3,489.90 at the close of trading in Sydney, taking its weekly loss to 6.8 percent. The broader All Ordinaries Index lost 40.90 points, or 1.2 percent, to 3,427.20, while the futures contract expiring in December declined 0.5 percent to 3,522.

China's Stocks Gain for Fifth Day as Oil Drops; Moutai, Vanke Lead Advance China’s stocks rose, driving the benchmark index higher for a fifth day, on speculation lower energy costs will spur consumer spending and cut corporate costs as the government adds measures to bolster the economy.

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