European (SXXP) stocks advanced as better- than-estimated U.S. durable-goods orders and housing data helped offset concern euro-area lawmakers will impose losses on bank deposits in the region.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.2 percent to 293.76 at 4:30 p.m. in London.

National benchmark indexes advanced in seven of the 18 western European markets today.

FTSE 100 6,399.37 +20.99 +0.33% CAC 40 3,748.64 +20.66 +0.55% DAX 7,879.67 +8.77 +0.11%

The Cyprus Stock Exchange remains closed for trading today and tomorrow as banks are closed, according to a statement on CSE’s website.

U.S. durable-goods orders rose in February by the most in five months, Commerce Department figures showed today. The 5.7 percent increase in bookings for goods meant to last at least three years followed a revised 3.8 percent drop in January. Economists had predicted 3.9 percent increase before the report.

Morrison advanced 3.5 percent to 276 pence after Citigroup Inc. upgraded the retailer to buy and lifted its price estimate for the shares to 325 pence from 280 pence.

Celesio added 4 percent to 14.50 euros after the Germany drug wholesaler said 2012 earnings exceeded its own target.

Bellway Plc rose 2.9 percent to 1,227 pence. The U.K. housebuilder said net income increased 51 percent in the six months ended Jan. 31 to 46 million pounds ($70 million) from a year earlier.

SBM Offshore NV rallied 3.6 percent to 13.34 euros. Brazil’s Petroleo Brasileiro SA awarded letters of intent for the lease of two floating production, storage and offloading units to the Dutch company. The projects will have a total value of $3.5 billion and will be operated by SBM’s joint venture with Queiroz Galvao Oleo e Gas SA and other partners.

EDF SA (EDF) advanced 2.4 percent to 15.31 euros after Morgan Stanley upgraded the shares to overweight, the equivalent of a buy recommendation, from equal weight. The brokerage said the shares are trading at a deep discount.

U.S. stock futures rose as government data showed orders for durable goods climbed more than forecast in February.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  12,471.62 -74.84 -0.60%

Hang Seng 22,311.08 +59.93 +0.27%

Shanghai Composite 2,297.67 -29.05 -1.25%

FTSE  6,384.29 +5.91 +0.09%

CAC  3,749.75 +21.77 +0.58%

DAX 7,883.99 +13.09 +0.17%

Crude oil $95.59 +0.82%

Gold $1596.30 -0.51%

Other:

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) target was raised to $87 from $81 at UBS  

Most European stocks advanced before U.S. data that may show durable-goods orders increased and new-house sales held close to a four-year high last month.

The Cyprus Stock Exchange remains closed for trading today and tomorrow due to the continuing bank holidays, according to a statement on CSE’s website.

U.S. durable-goods orders probably rose in February by the most in five months, economists said before the Commerce Department releases the figures at 8:30 a.m. in Washington. The 3.9 percent increase in bookings for goods meant to last at least three years would follow a revised 4.9 percent drop in January, according to the median forecast.

A separate report at 10 a.m. in Washington may show new houses sold at a 420,000 annual pace last month after a 437,000 rate in January, the best back-to-back performance in four years, economists surveyed.

In Italy, Pier Luigi Bersani will meet Silvio Berlusconi’s deputies today in his bid to assume the Italian premiership. Bersani has two days to overcome a shortfall of support in parliament and avoid an immediate return to the polls after inconclusive elections last month. The appointment is set to start at 4:15 p.m. in Rome.

Celesio advanced 2.1 percent to 14.24 euros. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for one-time effects, increased 4.5 percent to 579.6 million euros in 2012. For this year, the company projected an adjusted Ebitda of 580 million euros to 610 million euros.

Bellway Plc rose 2.1 percent to 1,217 pence. The U.K. homebuilder said net income increased 51 percent in the six months ended Jan. 31 to 46 million pounds ($70 million) from a year earlier.

FTSE 100 6,387.75 +9.37 +0.15%

CAC 40 3,753.56 +25.58 +0.69%

DAX 7,898.38 +27.48 +0.35%

Asian stocks fell, paring the biggest rally in two weeks yesterday, on concern Cyprus’s bank- restructuring plan will be used for other European nations, imperiling depositors and bondholders, and on a report China is stepping up property curbs.

Nikkei 225 12,471.62 -74.84 -0.60%

Hang Seng 22,311.08 +59.93 +0.27%

S&P/ASX 200 4,950.25 -39.95 -0.80%

Shanghai Composite 2,297.67 -29.05 -1.25%

HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe’s biggest lender, dropped 1.3 percent in Hong Kong.

Country Garden Holdings Co., the Chinese developer controlled by billionaire Yang Huiyan, decreased 1.7 percent on a report that banks have started to control the scale of loans for mainland real estate developments.

Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark gauge recovering from its biggest weekly drop in seven months, after Cyprus agreed to an international bailout and profit at China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. topped forecasts.

Nikkei 225 12,546.46 +207.93 +1.69%

Hang Seng 22,251.15 +135.85 +0.61%

S&P/ASX 200 4,990.2 +22.94 +0.46%

Shanghai Composite  2,326.71 -1.56 -0.07%

Sony Corp. gained 3.1 percent as the yen weakened, boosting the outlook at Japan’s No. 1 consumer-electronics exporter.

Sinopec, as Asia’s biggest refiner is known, rose 2.6 percent after net income beat analyst estimates.

Leighton Holdings Ltd. surged 4.3 percent as Australia’s largest construction company appointed Bob Humphris chairman after his predecessor resigned in a dispute with shareholder Hochtief AG over board independence.

European stocks declined as a report sparked concern a rescue plan for Cyprus that involves shrinking its banking system may set a precedent for other euro- area lenders.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index (SXXP) slid 0.3 percent to 293.25 at the close of trading, after rising as much as 1 percent and falling as much as 0.5 percent. The index has still gained 4.9 percent so far this year.

National benchmark indexes fell in 13 of the 17 western European markets open today.

FTSE 100 6,378.38 -14.38 -0.22% CAC 40 3,727.98 -42.31 -1.12% DAX 7,870.9 -40.45 -0.51%

Meyer Burger dropped 5 percent to 6.66 Swiss francs after saying it will raise 150 million francs ($158 million) by selling new stock to existing shareholders. The supplier of machinery to solar-panel makers reported a full-year net loss of 2.33 francs per share.

Remy Cointreau SA declined 2.5 percent to 89.58 euros after Nomura Holdings Inc. lowered its recommendation on the maker of Remy Martin cognac to reduce from neutral, citing a demand slowdown in China.

Vodafone rose 2 percent to 187.2 pence. The Sunday Times reported that Europe’s largest mobile-phone operator held talks with Verizon to sell its stake in Verizon Wireless for $135 billion. The paper cited unnamed people familiar with the matter.

Metso Oyj (MEO1V) surged 9.6 percent to 33.75 euros, the biggest increase since July 26. The Finnish maker of rock crushers is studying the possibility of separating its pulp, paper and power businesses into a new company that would be listed in Helsinki, according to a statement.

CSM NV rallied 6.4 percent to 17.52 euros, the biggest jump since May, after agreeing to sell its bakery-supplies unit to Rhone Capital LLC for an enterprise value of about 1.05 billion euros. The Dutch maker of bakery supplies and lactic acids, which put up the unit for sale in May, said it expects net cash of about 850 million euros from the deal.

Daily Mail & General Trust Plc increased 2.6 percent to 705 pence after the newspaper publisher left its revenue projection for the year unchanged and said it will continue a share buyback program.

U.S. stocks fell, after the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose to within a point of its record high, amid concern Cyprus’s bank-restructuring plan will pave the way for losses on deposits in other European nations.

Equities rallied earlier as Cyprus, the euro-area’s third- smallest economy, met the terms for a 10 billion-euro ($13 billion) bailout after agreeing early this morning in Brussels to shrink its banking system. The finance ministers from the 17- member euro area ratified the country’s accord with the troika of the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund.

Europe Banks

Stocks turned lower as Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem said troubled lenders in the euro area must now fend for themselves as part of future euro rescues. German advisers cut the nation’s 2013 economic growth forecast to 0.3 percent, from its previous estimate of 0.8 percent, citing “the sharp decline” of gross domestic product in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The S&P 500 declined 0.2 percent last week for its second weekly drop as Cyprus struggled to raise enough money to obtain the bailout and a report showed euro-area manufacturing contracted more than expected. The gauge has still climbed 8.9 percent in 2013, and advanced today within a point of its record of 1,565.15 set in October 2007 before erasing gains. The Dow reached an intraday high last week after first surpassing its all-time record on March 5.

Most components of DOW index closed in minus. Shares of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT, +0.79%) advanced more than other components. Shares of Bank of America Corporation (BAC, -1.46%) fell more than other components

All sectors of the S&P closed in minus. Most fell showed sector of conglomerates (-1.1%).

At the close:

Dow -61.39 14,450.64 -0.42%

Nasdaq -9.69 3,235.31 -0.30%

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 12,546.46 +207.93 +1.69%

Hang Seng 22,251.15 +135.85 +0.61%

S&P/ASX 200 4,990.2 +22.94 +0.46%

Shanghai Composite  2,326.71 -1.56 -0.07%

FTSE 100 6,378.38 -14.38 -0.22%

CAC 40 3,727.98 -42.31 -1.12%

DAX 7,870.9 -40.45 -0.51%

Dow -61.39 14,450.64 -0.42%

Nasdaq -9.69 3,235.31 -0.30%