Feb 28 (Reuters) - Stock MarketsNet ChngStock MarketsNet ChngS&P/ASX 200** 6,056.90 14.70 NZX 50**8,360.38 19.85DJIA25,642.81-66.46NIKKEI**22,389.86236.23Nasdaq7375.22-46.244 FTSE**7,282.45 -7.13S&P 500 2,766.03 -13.57Hang Seng** 31,268.66-229.94SPI 200 Fut 6,021.00 -15.00STI** 3,540.39 -15.46SSEC**3,291.53 -38.05KOSPI** 2,456.14 -1.51-------------------------------------------------------...Read More

* Macy's jumps after reporting upbeat Q4 same-store sales* Comcast offers to buy Sky for $31 bln * Indexes down: Dow 0.42 pct, S&P 0.63 pct, Nasdaq 0.84 pct(Updates to early afternoon)By Sruthi ShankarFeb 27 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell sharply on Tuesday after Federal ReserveChairman Jerome Powell's comments on strengthening economy and inflation boosted bets the central bank would squeeze in...Read More

(In headline and throughout, corrects to surplus from deficit)BRASILIA, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Brazil's central government primary budget surplus widened more than expected in January, Treasury data showed on Tuesday, setting a record for any month since records began in 1997.The central government, which includes federal ministries, the social security system and the central bank, posted a primary b...Read More

By Ben MartinLONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - British subprime lender Amigo Loans is preparing for a stock market float in London that could value the consumer credit firm at more than $700 million.The company, which offers high interest loans and focuses on borrowers who have weak credit histories, has hired JPMorgan and RBC Capital Markets to examine the potential flotation, according to a person with...Read More

SAO PAULO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Brazilian healthcare insurer Hapvida Participa???ues e Investimentos SA filed for an initial public offering on the Sao Paulo stock exchange on Monday, according to a securities filing.The offering will have a primary portion, in which the company will issue new shares, and a secondary portion, in which the controlling shareholder will sell part of its stake. Hapvida...Read More

Historic payment structures are enabling zinc smelters to raise primary output even as market-related terms such as metal premiums and concentrate treatment charges remain low; but the opposite is true for lead. Zinc smelters which process concentrates into refined metal only have to pay for 85% of the zinc metal contained in concentrate they purchase, but generally utilize 97% or more. Lead smelt...Read More

The presentations will start at 6:00pm and finish at approx 8:00pm. After the presentations are complete the directors will also be available to take questions during a free canap?(C) and wine reception. Details on the presenting companies can be found below. This event is suitable for the following:Sophisticated & private investors, private client brokers, fund managers, financial instit...Read More

SANTIAGO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The board of Chile's Bci bank , the third largest private financial institution in the country, said on Tuesday it will propose a $575 million equity issuance in its next shareholders meeting.In a letter to Chile's market regulator, Bci did not detail what the additional funds would be used for. The proposal comes after a string of acquisitions last December, including...Read More

* US, European bond yields rise after Fed chief's comments* Powell says economy, inflation strengthening* Italy-Germany bond yield spread tightens* Euro zone periphery govt bond yields (Recasts with market reaction to Powell)By Dhara Ranasinghe and Fanny PotkinLONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Euro zone government bond yields rose on Wednesday after new Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell said the U.S. e...Read More

By Heather SomervilleSAN FRANCISCO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Online education company Udacity, which offers courses in high-tech subjects such as machine learning, said on Tuesday it more than doubled its annual revenue last year and added about 34,000 new students to its online degree programs.The company, founded by Sebastian Thrun, one of Silicon Valley's pioneers in self-driving cars, said it increa...Read More

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mostly lower at the close on Tuesday February 27, with the dollar index surging to its highest since the start of the month. The three-month copper price closed 1.2% lower and only just held above $7,000 per tonne. Copper's healthy contango and a lack of market tightness are putting pressure on prices. "We think that copper prices are vulnerable...Read More

(Adds Powell comments, updates markets)By Ann SaphirFeb 27 (Reuters) - Traders boosted bets the Federal Reserve will squeeze in a fourth rate hike this year after new Chairman Jerome Powell told a congressional committee that recent data has strengthened his confidence on inflation. "I think each of us is going to be taking the developments since the December meeting into account and writing...Read More

Iron ore prices softened slightly but stayed above $79 per tonne cfr China on Tuesday February 27 after a jump a day earlier. Metal Bulletin's 62% Fe Iron Ore Index Today: $79.15 per tonne cfr Qingdao Daily change: down by $0.21 per tonne Month-to-date average: $77.29 per tonne Metal Bulletin's 58% Fe Premium Index Today: $61.87 per tonne cfr...Read More

* BoE rejects primary competition remit* Woods says stuck with "local fixes" for EU rules (Adds more details)By Huw JonesLONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The Bank of England will not "go soft" on enforcing European Union capital rules for insurers, but will look at ways to make it easier for new entrants to boost competition in the industry, its deputy governor Sam Woods said on Tues...Read More

NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday sold $22 billion in one-year bills at an interest rate 2.020 percent, which was the first time this maturity was sold above 2 percent since August 2008, Treasury data showed.The Treasury also sold $60 billion of one-month bills at an interest rate of 1.495 percent, the highest rate at an auction since Sept. 2008.(Reporting by Ric...Read More

Seaborne coking coal prices remain firm, with market participants expecting the resurgence of Chinese demand to set direction in the coming weeks. Premium category cargoes were heard offered at around $235 per tonne cfr China on Tuesday February 27, with offers on second-tier materials at around $200 per tonne cfr China. Bids on fob Australia premium hard coking coal moved up to $230 per tonne on...Read More

* Powell sticks to path of gradual rate hikes* Macy's jumps after reporting upbeat Q4 same-store sales* Comcast offers to buy Sky for $31 bln * Indexes down: Dow 0.08 pct, S&P 0.25 pct, Nasdaq 0.39 pct(Changes comment, adds details, updates prices)By Sruthi ShankarFeb 27 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes fell in choppy trading on Tuesday as U.S. bond yields rose after new Fed Chairman Jer...Read More

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes fell on Tuesday as U.S. bond yields rose after new Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said that data has pointed to a strengthening economy since December, increasing his confidence that inflation would rise.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 32.92 points, or 0.13 percent, to 25,676.35. The S&P 500 lost 7.31 points, or 0.262987 percent, to 2,772.29. The...Read More

Feb 27 (Reuters) - U.S. short-term interest-rate futures dropped on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told a congressional committee that recent data has strengthened his confidence that inflation is headed up toward the central bank's 2-percent target. After Powell said fiscal policy is more "stimulative," the economy is "strengthening" and that the latest...Read More

RIGA, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Latvia's ABLV Bank, which the European Central Bank (ECB) has ordered wound up, said on Tuesday it had enough assets to cover its liabilities in full under a voluntary liquidation plan.The ECB said at the weekend that privately held ABLV is likely unable to pay its debts or other liabilities as they fall due. "We believe our bank will be able to settle with all of our...Read More