[R]10:00PM Frankfurt, 4:00PM New York, 8:00AM Sydney – European markets fell after financial stocks declined across the region. Societe Generale fell 4% after it priced its rights offering at 39% discount to Friday’s close price.[/R]

European Markets

In London FTSE 100 Index closed lower 76.30 or 1.32% to 5,707.70, in Paris CAC 40 Index decreased 26.95 or 0.57% to close at 4,682.70 and in Frankfurt DAX index lower 23.74 or 0.35% to close at 6,743.54. In Zurich trading SMI decreased 99.45 or 1.34% to close at 7,347.50.

North American Markets indexes

Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 57.88 or 0.48% to a close of 12,240.01, S&P 500 closed up 7.84 or 0.59% to 1,339.13, and Nasdaq Composite Index traded up 15.21 or 0.66% to a close of 2,320.06. In Toronto TSX Composite closed up 141.58 or 1.09% to close at 13,130.92.

Of the 30 stocks in Dow Jones Industrial Average, 20 closed higher, 10 closed lower, and none were unchanged.

American International Group led the decliners in the index with a fall of 11.7% followed by losses in Microsoft of 1.2%, in JP Morgan Chase of 1.1%, and in Altria of 0.9%. General Motors led the gainers in the index with a rise of 5.2% followed by increases in Home Depot of 2.6%, in Boeing of 2.1%, in Caterpillar of 2%, and in Intel of 2%.

Of the stocks in S&P 500, 326 closed higher, 169 fell, and 5 were unchanged. Of the index stocks, 54 rose more than 3% and 19 stocks fell more than 3%.

AIG led the decliners in the S&P 500 index with a fall of 11.7% followed by losses in Loews Corp of 8.4%, in MGIC of 8%, in Washington Mutual of 7%, and in MBIA of 7%. JDS Uniphase led the gainers in the index with a rise of 13.8% followed by increases in Big Lots of 13%, in Darden Restaurants of 8%, in Family Dollar of 6.7%, and in International Game Technology of 6.6%.

South American Markets Indexes

In Latin Markets Brazil led the gainers in the region with a rise of 2.65% followed by increases in Mexico of 2.14%, in Colombia of 2.02%, in Chile of 1.43%, in Peru of 1.38%, and in Argentina of 0.43%.

Asian Markets

In Hong Kong Hang Seng index decreased 853.35 or 3.64% closed to 22,616.11. Australia ASX 200 index decreased 120.40 or 2.13% to close 5,537.60. Markets in Japan and Vietnam were closed today.

In South Korea Kospi Index decreased 55.90 or 3.29% to close at 1,640.67, in Thailand SET index closed lower 2.29 or 0.28% to 804.15 and Indonesia JSE Index edged decreased 49.71 or 1.88% to 2,589.38. Sensex index in India decreased 834.00 or 4.78% to 16,630.91.

Bond Yields decreased on 10-year U.S. bonds to 3.61% and on 30-year bonds fell to 4.40%.

[R]Commodities, Metals, and Currencies[/R]

Crude oil added $1.86 to close at $93.63 per barrel for a front month contract, natural gas increased 23 cents to $8.54 per mBtu, and gasoline futures increased 3.93 cents to close at 239.65 cents per gallon.

Gold increased $5.80 in New York trading to close at $928.10 per ounce, silver closed up 43 cents to $17.545 per ounce, and copper for front month delivery increased 1.40 cents to 355.35 per pound and in London copper futures increased $175.00 to $7,740.00.

Wheat futures fell 45 cents in Chicago trading and closed at $10.48 per bushel. Sugar declined 0.05 cents to 12.66 cents per pound. Soybean future closed down 13 cents to $13.26 per bushel.

Dollar edged lower but traded near record lows against euro to $1.4524 and edged lower against yen to 106.97.