Nikkei 14,411.27 +133.60 +0.94%

Hang Seng 21,583.5 +109.55 +0.51%

Shanghai Composite 2,025.2 +1.52 +0.08%   

S&P 500 1,872.25 +13.42 +0.72%

NASDAQ 4,333.31 +53.36 +1.25%

Dow 16,336.19 +88.97 +0.55%

FTSE 6,605.28 +36.93 +0.56%

CAC 4,313.26 +41.30 +0.97%    

DAX 9,242.55 +61.66 +0.67%

European stocks rose, extending their biggest gain in two weeks, after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he isn’t seeking to split up Ukraine.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.6 percent to 327.93 at the close in London, after earlier falling as much as 0.5 percent. The gauge climbed 1.1 percent yesterday, rebounding from its biggest weekly loss since January.

Putin signaled that his country isn’t about to occupy eastern Ukraine after a March 16 Crimean referendum backed joining Russia by almost 97 percent. The U.S. and European Union imposed sanctions on Russian and Crimean officials and threatened further measures.

National benchmark indexes advanced in all of the 18 western-European markets. Germany’s DAX gained 0.7 percent, while France’s CAC added 1 percent and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 rose 0.6 percent.

Kuoni climbed 8.2 percent to 409 Swiss francs. The company said 2013 earnings before interest and taxes rose to 154.2 million francs ($176.7 million), more than the 142.3 million francs analysts had projected. Kuoni added it plans to raise its dividend payout ratio to 40 percent to 45 percent from 30 percent to 35 percent.

Voestalpine AG gained 5.5 percent to 32.06 euros. The Austrian steelmaker said it will reduce costs by 900 million euros ($1.25 billion) in the next three years, adding it won’t cut jobs.

Cairn Energy slumped 14 percent to 168.2 pence, the lowest price since January 2004. The Scottish oil explorer said it is suspending its share repurchase program until an Indian tax issue is resolved. The company said in January authorities are auditing it for the year ended March 2007.

Scania fell 2.1 percent to 191.80 kronor. A board committee reviewing Volkswagen’s takeover offer said the bid was too low. The German company offered 6.7 billion euros for the Swedish truckmaker’s stock it doesn’t already own. The bid was 36 percent higher than Scania’s closing price on Feb. 21, when Volkswagen announced its plan for a full takeover. Volkswagen rose 0.1 percent to 180.40 euros.

U.S. stock-index futures climbed after Vladimir Putin said Russia isn’t seeking to split Ukraine and called for an end to Cold War rhetoric.

Global markets:

Nikkei 14,411.27 +133.60 +0.94%

Hang Seng 21,583.5 +109.55 +0.51%

Shanghai Composite 2,025.2 +1.52 +0.08%

FTSE 6,587.33 +18.98 +0.29 %

CAC 4,311.44 +39.48 +0.92 %

DAX 9,240.24 +59.35 +0.65 %

Crude oil $98.32 (+0.24%)

Gold $1354.30 (-1.35%).

European stock indexes fell slightly , after fixing the biggest growth in the last two weeks , as investors continued to monitor developments in Ukraine. U.S. index futures are little changed , while Asian shares rose .

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to approve the draft agreement on the adoption of the Crimea in the Russian Federation. March 16 in the Crimea at the military and political support of Russia held a referendum which resulted in power Peninsula proclaimed an independent republic and warned of the Russian Federation.

Yesterday, the EU and the U.S. have entered the first stage of sanctions in response to the Russian annexation of the Crimea . At a meeting of the Council of Europe was approved list of those banned from entry to the territory of the EU and freeze all assets located in their territory . Sanctions have also introduced Canada and Japan .

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.1 percent. Yesterday gauge climbed 1.1 percent , recovering slightly after its biggest weekly decline since January.

"The situation in Russia and Ukraine is a source of danger for the market ," said Alessandro Fezii , an analyst at LGT Bank Schweiz AG. " While the international response is still quite muted , investors know that it can lead to an escalation , and cautious".

Many market participants also drew attention to the weak data on Germany. As it became known , the index of economic confidence fell this month to the level of 46.6 points, compared with 55.7 points in February . Many experts expect that this figure will drop 52.8 . Meanwhile, we note that the index of the current economic situation has improved to 51.3 points from 50 a month earlier. Nevertheless , it remained below the expected level of 52 points .

Also, the data showed that economic expectations in the euro area declined by 7 points - to 61.5 points . In contrast, the current economic situation indicator increased by 3.5 points - to 36.7 points.

Cost Cairn Energy fell 11 percent after the company Scottish oil producer said it would suspend its share buyback program until such time as the problem with the Indian tax is resolved.

Scania shares fell 4.2 percent . The Committee recommended that the Board of Directors to reject the proposal to increase the Volkswagen AG stake Scania by 6.7 billion euros. Against this background, the cost of Volkswagen fell 0.2 percent .

Cost of J Sainsbury Plc fell by 0.9 % , after it became known that comparable sales as a leading operator of supermarkets in the UK fell in the 10 weeks ended March 15 , 3.1%. Experts had expected a decline of 2.7%.

Royal Imtech NV capitalization decreased by 2.8 percent. The company reported that its net loss widened to 701 million euros in 2013 from 247 million euros a year earlier .

Kuoni cost rose by 6.2 percent , as it became known that in 2013 earnings before interest and taxes rose to 154.2 million francs , compared with a forecast of 142.3 million francs. Kuoni also added that they plan to increase its dividend payout ratio to 40-45 percent from 30-35 percent.

At the current moment

FTSE 100 6,552.6 -15.75 -0.24 %

CAC 40 4,268.86 -3.10 -0.07 %

DAX 9,129.64 -51.25 -0.56%

Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark rebounding from a five-week low, as data showing improvement in U.S. factory output boosted optimism for the world’s biggest economy.

Nikkei 225 14,411.27 +133.60 +0.94%

S&P/ASX 200 5,344.56 +27.00 +0.51%

Shanghai Composite 2,025.2 +1.52 +0.08%

LG Electronics Inc., the world’s second-biggest maker of televisions, added 4.2 percent in Seoul.

Lippo Ltd., founded by Indonesian tycoon Mochtar Riady, surged by a record in Hong Kong after South Korea approved a proposal by the company and Las Vegas-based partner Caesars Entertainment Corp. to build a casino.

Tencent Holdings Ltd., Asia’s biggest Internet company, jumped 5.8 percent, snapping a four-day decline, before releasing earnings tomorrow.