FOREIGN MARKETS

JAPAN

DOWN 2.63%

The Nikkei 225 index rose 2.28 per cent on Friday, reducing the decline for the week to 2.63 per cent. The index is down 10.6 per cent on a year-to-date basis. The yen declined 1 per cent this week. Among companies climbing on Friday were Canon Inc., construction equipment maker Komatsu, conglomerate Mitsubishi Corp., Sony Corp. and Inpex Corp., an oil and gas company.

CHINA

UP 6.76%

The CSI 300 index jumped 6.76 per cent this week, its best gain in seven months, according to Bloomberg. The index is down 21.89 per cent on a year-to-date basis. Sectors with the biggest gains were energy (9.49 per cent), telecom (8.67 per cent), materials (8.64 per cent), information technology (8.4 per cent) and industrials (7.4 per cent.)

BRITAIN

UP 2.98%

The FTSE 100 index rose 2.98 per cent this week bolstered by the mining sector. The rising shares in the group included Kazakhmys PLC (up 15.7 per cent), Xstrata PLC (13.8 per cent), Antofagasta PLC (12 per cent), Rio Tinto PLC (11 per cent) and Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. (8.8 per cent).

BRAZIL

UP 6.39%

The Bovespa index rose 6.39 per cent this week and it is trading at 11.8 times forecast earnings for 2010, according to Bloomberg. Among the leading gainers were iron ore miner MMX Mineracao (up 15.2 per cent), mining conglomerate Vale SA (up 12.5 per cent), and steel producers Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gervais (16 per cent) and Gerdau SA (12.7 per cent).