MADRID (MarketWatch) -- Royal Dutch Shell Group PLC was downgraded to neutral from overweight on Monday at Credit Suisse. Analysts cited disappointment that the "long-awaited" inflection point in 2012 free cashflow hasn't materialized, as capital expenditure has been rebased higher to drive future growth. They said the payoff from higher capex is several years away. "For long-term investors, Shell is a high-quality company with strong management and attractive assets. However, with a premium on multiples and sector-average free cash and dividend yields, we believe this is now fairly reflected in the shares," they said. The analysts cut their target price to 2,600 pence from 2,750 pence.

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MADRID (MarketWatch) -- Miner Randgold Resources PLC on Monday reported fourth-quarter net profit of $115.5 million, more than four times higher than profit of $26.8 million in the year-ago period, driven by increased production across the company. Revenue more than doubled to $311.47 million against $148.4 million in the year-ago period. Randgold said production for the year rose 58% to 696.023 ounces. The company is forecasting production growth in each of the next five yeras, with group production for 2012 estimated to be 825,000 to 865,000 ounces, a 19% rise over 2011 at the lower end of the range.

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HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao over the weekend outlined a case for China playing a role in helping Europe out of its debt crisis, highlighting the importance of Europe as a trade partner. In a statement posted Sunday on the central government's website, Wen said helping Europe was in China's own interest. "Now that Europe is facing a [sovereign] debt crisis, we must consider our relations with Europe strategically, and preserve our national interests," The Wall Street Journal cited Wen as saying in the statement. He added that Europe was China's largest single trading partner and a source for important technology. The comments appear intended to counter public skepticism about the use of state funds to help shore up the euro zone, reports said. Wen's remarks follow comments made during German Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent trip to China, when he said Beijing was considering support for a rescue fund.

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HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Temperatures are mysteriously rising in one of the damaged reactors at the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power station, according to a report on Monday by Japanese broadcaster NHK. The No. 2 reactor has been giving off a temperature reading of 71.7 degrees Celcius (161.1 degrees Fahrenheit), up from 45 degrees Celcius about 10 days earlier, the broadcaster said, citing operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. . Tepco has rearranged the piping work to the reactor in an effort to cool it more effectively, the report said. The spiking temperature reading is occurring in one thermometer in the reactor, while two others are showing more normal readings, Tepco said, adding that it was unable to account for the discrepancy.

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HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- China's aviation regulator has banned domestic airlines from participating in the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme, according to a report Monday by the state-run Xinhua news agency. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has forbidden Chinese airlines from paying the emissions charges, and prohibited any increases in fares or other charges as a way of passing the tax along to consumers, according to the report. China is among more than two dozen countries that have opposed the emissions tax imposed by the E.U. from Jan. 1.

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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI, claiming the franchise's fourth Super Bowl title. The NFL championship game, held in Indianapolis, was forecast to become one of the most watched events in U.S. television history. The Giants were previously Super Bowl champions in 1987, 1991 and 2008. 2008's Super Bowl XLII also pitted the Giants and Patriots in a tight contest, with the Giants winning 17-14. As in 2008, Giants quarterback Eli Manning was named most valuable player Sunday.

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HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Hong Kong shares rose Monday to start the new week on a strong footing, with heavyweight HSBC Holdings PLC leading banks higher after a strong U.S. employment data for January boosted stocks on Wall Street Friday. The Hang Seng Index rose 1.1% to 20,979.83 and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index added 1% to 11,725.93. HSBC climbed 2.6%, while ports operator Cosco Pacific Ltd. jumped 4.9%. Mainland Chinese banks also climbed after a key state-owned investor in them said Friday it will allow three top banks to cut their dividend payout ratio to 35% from 40% in 2011, in a move likely aimed at preserving capital; among those banks, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. rose 1.1%, China Construction Bank Corp. gained 1.6% and Bank of China Ltd. added 1.5%. Meanwhile, China's Shanghai Composite added 0.4% to 2,339.65.

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SYDNEY (MarketWatch) -- Japanese shares climbed in early trading, with the Nikkei Stock Average up 1.3% at 8,945.84. The gains followed the release of some surprisingly strong U.S. jobs data at the end of last week. Automobile manufacturers and consumer stocks were outperforming on Monday, with Sony Corp. up 4.2%, Nissan Motor Co. up 3.7% and Honda Motor Co. up 3.3%. The dollar bought 76.53 yen on Monday, compared with ¥76.62 in late North American trading on Friday.

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SYDNEY (MarketWatch) -- Australian shares gained sharply in early trading, after strong U.S. jobs figures were released at the end of last week. The S&P/ASX 200 index climbed 1.4% to 4,310.10. Industrial, financial and mining firms were all outperforming the benchmark, with Rio Tinto Ltd. shares up 1.9% in the mining sector, Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. up 1.5% in the banking sector and Downer EDI Ltd. jumping 7.3%.

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SYDNEY (MarketWatcch) -- Greece's three political parties have yet to agree on a coordinated response to reforms outlined by the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund in return for more aid, according to reports. Talks between the political party leaders will start again on Monday after a marathon meeting on Sunday failed to reach agreement on all terms, according to the reports. Greece needs another bailout to head off default in March. The country's official lenders require cross-party support for austerity measures and economic reforms as part of the funding deal.

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WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Mitt Romney is on track for a big win in Nevada's Republican presidential caucuses on Saturday, early results showed. With most caucuses completed across the state, reports showed Romney beating chief rival Newt Gingrich by as many as 25 percentage points. Final results from the Silver State will be in after 10 p.m. Eastern, following a special caucus for observant Jews and others.

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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Micron Technology Inc. said late Friday that President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Durcan will assume the responsibilies of chief executive officer until the board appoints a successor. Earlier Friday, Chairman and CEO Steve Appleton, 51, was killed after the small plane he was piloting crashed in Boise, Idaho. Micron said the board will convene a meeting over the weekend. Shares of Micron, which had been halted during the regular trading session, fell 5.7% to $7.50 in after-hours activity.

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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- U.S. equity markets finished the day with across-the-board gains Friday on their highest volume session in more than a month. Composite volume of shares listed on the NYSE was 4.56 billion shares traded, compared with the average year-to-date daily volume of 3.96 billion shares. Nasdaq composite volume was 2.14 billion shares traded, compared with the year-to-date daily average of 1.83 billion shares. Friday's composite volumes for the NYSE- and Nasdaq-listed shares were both the highest since Dec. 16, 2011. On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.2%, the S&P 500 Index advanced 1.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.6%.

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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Aeropostale Inc. said late Friday that its board appointed Karin Hirtler-Garvey to succeed Chairman Julian Geiger, who is resigning the post and his seat on the board. Hirtler-Garvey, who has served on Aeropostale's board since 2005, is the chief risk executive for Ally Financial Inc., formerly known as GMAC.

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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks jumped Friday after a surprisingly strong jobs report enlivened hopes that the economic recovery was picking up speed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 156.82 points, or 1.2%, to 12,862.23, its highest close since May 2008. The S&P 500 gained 19.36 points, or 1.5%, to 1,344.90. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 45.98 points, or 1.6%, to 2,905.66, its highest close since Dec. 2000. For the week, the Dow gained 1.6%. The S&P 500 rose 2.2% and the Nasdaq Composite rose 3.2%, the fifth straight week of gains for both indexes.

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