Most Asian stocks fell, led by Japanese and South Korean exporters

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment rose to 460,000 last week from a revised 442,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday morning. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had expected 435,000 claims, on average.
Continuing claims, a measure of those Americans who have been receiving benefits for a week or more, fell to 4,550,000 from 4,681,000 the previous week. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com thought continuing claims would fall to 4,630,000. Most Asian stocks fell, led by Japanese and South Korean exporters, as Goldman Sachs Group Inc. downgraded Canon Inc. and the won strengthened. Commodity and consumer-staple companies gained. China may post its first trade deficit in six years after a surge in imports of commodities and consumer goods, weakening U.S. arguments that the nation is keeping its currency undervalued to gain an advantage. The 3G spectrum auctions process will begin today. Food inflation for the week ended March 27, 2010 stood at 17.7%. Life insurance companies see 18% growth in total premium income in FY’10. Tea production in the country grew by 18% in February, 2010 compared to the same period last year. The Government has cleared Rs.16000 crore FPO of SAIL. Tata Steel and NMDC will team up to develop the latter’s two steel projects in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh. Aban Offshore has bagged an order worth Rs.716 crore from Brunel Shell. Private equity firm CX Partners has bought an 8% stake in Monnet Ispat for Rs.150 crore. Emaar MGF is expected to come up with an IPO in the next 90 days. ACC expects demand for cement to rise by 10% in FY’11. The company has also planned a capex of Rs.1300 crore. Essel Group will invest about Rs.500 crore in the next 5-7 years to expand education portfolio. Aurobindo Pharma has received final approval from the US health regulator for an anti-depressant drug. HEG plans to raise Rs.400 crore by issue of equity shares. Hero Honda may increase prices on account of high raw material cost. Maruti Suzuki is facing demand increase and the capacity is limited, as of now, to meet this increase in demand. Jagran Prakashan is in talks with Mid-day for a stake purchase. Nifty April contracts ends the Day down by 77.35 points at a discount of 2.85 points in April contracts paring OI by 1.1%. Nifty VIX at 19.92% compared to 17.32% previous Day. Nifty OI PCR at 1.263 compared to 1.317 the previous day. Nifty active puts sees addition of 12.59 Lakhs and calls sees addition of 29.47 Lakhs over the Day. Highest OI in Nifty calls seen at 5400 April strike and puts at 5200 April strike. Long build up was seen in LITL, ESSAROIL, IFCI, VIDEOIND, VOLTAS & ROLTA etc over the Day. Short build up during the Day seen in SAIL, WELGUJ, FORTIS, INDIAINFO, HINDALCO, HDFC & JINDALSAW etc over the Day. Long unwinding was seen in Nifty futures from the FII side. Marginal short build up seen in Stock futures from the FII side. Nifty options was seen to be bought from the FII side.