Dollar Drops, Exchange rates, Forex and US Currency Converter

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) — Osaka Securities Exchange Co. is expected to launch a takeover bid for Jasdaq Securities Exchange Inc. in July, once the two groups have worked out a way to merge their computer systems and a valuation of Jasdaq’s assets is complete, the Nikkei newspaper reported Wednesday. The report, which did not […]

Earlier this week, the Forex Blog speculated that the tide was turning on the Euro, which  had retreated from the $1.60 threshold. Sure enough, the month of April saw the best monthly performance by the Dollar in over two years. The sudden about-face by the Dollar stems from changes in interest rate expectations. Only a […]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Duke Realty Corp. late Wednesday reported its first-quarter net income fell to $4.3 million, or 3 cents a share, from $74 million, or 49 cents a share, a year earlier. Funds from operations decreased to $89.2 million, or 58 cents a share, from $92.5 million, or 62 cents a share, […]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Willis Group Holdings Ltd. said Wednesday its first-quarter profit fell due to a restructuring charge. The insurance broker said net income for the period ended in March fell to $166 million, or $1.16 a share, from $169 million, or $1.10 a share in the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile […]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Chevron’s board on Wednesday hiked the quarterly dividend by 12.1% to 65 cents a share. The dividend will be paid June
10 to stockholders of record as May 19.
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.
Original […]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Albemarle Corp.’s board Wednesday approved moving the company’s corporate headquarters to Baton Rouge from Richmond, Va. The move is a key part of its strategy to create long-term value and momentum, said the specialty chemical company.
Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. […]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Standard & Poor’s said late Wednesday it may upgrade the ratings of Petróleo Brasileiro SA given Brazil’s improved economic environment. S&P has a BBB- corporate credit rating on Petrobras and BBB- senior unsecured ratings on notes issued by subsidiary Petrobras International Finance Co. The move follows S&P’s upgrade of Brazil’s […]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Intel Corp.’s new Atom low-end microprocessor may be in short supply and the chipmaker is scrambling to meet early demand, The Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site late Wednesday. Bill Calder, an Intel spokesman, told the Journal the company is having no problems making the chip, but has […]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Murphy Oil Corp. reported late Wednesday first-quarter net income of $409 million, or $2.14 a share, up from $110.6 million, or 58 cents a share, a year ago. The latest quarter’s earnings also included a $39.9 million one-time gain on the sale of its Berkana Energy shares in Canada. Revenue […]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Allegheny Energy, Inc. on Wednesday reported a first-quarter profit of $136 million, or 80 cents a share, up from $109.7 million, or 65 cents a share a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet Research were looking for a profit, on average, of 79 cents a share. The Greensburg, Pa.-based electric […]