World stocks mostly rose Monday on optimism about the U.S. economy, hints from China about further

stimulus and hopes for greater stability in Ukraine after its elections. Trading volumes were low, however,

as U.S. and British markets were closed for holidays. More >>

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) abandoned its effort to buy AstraZeneca Plc (AZN) for 69.4 billion pounds ($117 billion) in

what would have been the biggest deal ever in the drug industry. The offer represented “full value” for

AstraZeneca, the New York-based drugmaker said in a statement today. More >>

DAILY

26th May 2014

OIL (WTI: $104.28/bl, +0.07%; BRENT: $110.36/bl, -0.10%): Brent fell amid speculation that Ukraine’s

election may help ease months of tension with Russia, the world’s biggest energy exporter. More >>

WHEAT ($651.88/Bushel; -1.17%):Wheat prices dropped after sowing accelerated and concerns about

dry weather eased. More >>

COPPER ($3.190/lb, +0.71%): Copper climbed to an 11-week high in New York on speculation of faster

economic growth in China, the world’s largest buyer of the metal. More >>

DISCLAIMER: Daily Briefs contains a summary of financial news covered on conventional news services around the world. Daily Briefs coverage of subjects is based on the

whims of its volunteer contributors. FEP Finance Club is not responsible for any imprecision or error in the content of any news.

PSI20: +1.02% DAX30: +1.28% FTSE100: -0.07% S&P500: Close NIKKEI225: +0.97%

Asian stocks rose, with the regional gauge poised for the highest close in almost six months, after an

increase in U.S. home purchases boosted confidence in the world’s largest economy. More >>

Yuan forwards fell to the lowest level in three weeks after China’s central bank cut the onshore currency’s

reference rate to the weakest since September. More >>

Australia’s banking regulator urged mortgage lenders to maintain standards as higher-risk borrowing

rises and home prices surge amid record-low interest rates. More >>

European equities ended higher in thin trading on Monday, with Italian shares outperforming the

regional market after voters endorsed Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's centre-left Democratic Party's

reforms in European elections. The Euro STOXX 50 gained 1.2 percent. More >>

Retail sales in Sweden rose unexpectedly last month, official data showed on Monday. In a report, SCB -

Statistics Sweden said that Swedish Retail Sales rose to a seasonally adjusted 0.3%, from 1.0% in the

preceding month whose figure was revised down from 1.1%. More >>

PSI-20 rose 1.02% to 6988.01 points. The Portuguese index followed the trend of European counterparts

who also ended higher after the President of the ECB, Mario Draghi, has admitted the adoption of new

measures to prevent "an extended period of inflation rates too low or even negative.” More >>

Immigrants residing in Portugal have a more positive impact on the national budget than taxpayers born

in the country, an effect that is above the average of OECD countries, according to data recently revealed

by the institution. More >>