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BANGKOK – Asian stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday as a stream of results from U.S. midterm elections showed the expected gains for Republicans and investors looked to the Fed's upcoming announcement on plans to stimulate the world's biggest economy.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index climbed 1.8 percent to 24,097.84 while China's Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.1 percent to 3,049.65. Markets in Japan were closed for a public holiday.

South Korea's Kospi was ahead by 1.1 percent to 1,938.14 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.6 percent to 4,731.60. Indexes in Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia were also higher while Malaysia fell.

The attention of investors and businesses is mainly on U.S. midterm elections, which are expected to result in a Congress at least partially controlled by Republicans pitted against the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama.

Fights over taxes, deficits, health care and financial regulation could result in paralyzing uncertainty for the world's No. 1 economy though investors seem to have already factored that outcome into stock prices.

Stock market futures in the United States were little changed as election results began streaming in.

In a result widely expected by investors, Republicans gained at least 31 seats in the House of Representatives in early returns and are poised to gain control of that chamber of Congress. Democrat Joe Manchin IIIs victory in the close West Virginia Senate race makes it unlikely that Republicans will control both houses of Congress.

The loosely organized Tea Party, a Republican-leaning group that emphasizes libertarian fiscal policy, picked up at least two victories. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mario Rubio in Florida defeated their Democratic challengers in Senate races in each state.

Investors are likely looking ahead to Wednesday afternoon, when the Federal Reserve is expected to announce the details of its plan to stimulate the economy by buying bonds. The plan, known as quantitative easing, makes stocks a more attractive investment by lowering bond yields.

Investors have been anticipating that the central bank's program will tally at least $500 billion. Any number significantly higher or lower than that figure could affect stock prices.

Broad stock market indexes have gained 12 percent since the Fed began hinting in late August that it would undertake the bond buying program by the end of the year. Over the last month, the Dow Jones industrial average is up 3.3 percent, and the broad Standard and Poors 500 Index is up 4.1 percent. The Nasdaq composite index has gained 6.8 percent over the same time frame. It closed at its high for the year on Tuesday.

Futures for the Standard and Poors 500 Index, the market index that most professional investors follow, was up less than a point to 1,193.40 shortly before midnight on the East Coast.

Benchmark crude for December delivery was up 33 cents at $84.23 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In currencies, the dollar inched up to 80.65 yen from 80.64 yen in New York late Tuesday. The euro fell to $1.4016 from $1.4030.

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AP Business Writer David K. Randall in New York contributed to this report.

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Sales in the second quarter in Europe had disappointed the market, the last time that the company reported numbers in July. However third quarter before the profit 21pc Reckitt pink 568 m ￡, and 7pc sales climbed to the exclusion of the oscillations of the currency.

Profit margin, which rose by 2.2 percentage points, both beat forecasts and shares have increased as much as 121 p, to close up to 32% to ￡ 35.57.

For the year 2010, full Strepsils throat candy manufacturer and Cillit Bang, cleansing products expected sales increase 6pc and a net profit of enterprise montée.Résultats 16pc will get extra boost of the acquisition of SSL, which makes Durex condoms and footwear Scholl.Le redemption of. 54bn ￡ 2 has been agreed in July and completed earlier this week.

"The third quarter of the report confirms our thesis Reckitt Benckiser continues to be a well-managed company, despite the pressures of the market," said analysts Sanford c. Bernstein.

Sales increased 18pc 481 m ￡ business on Reckitt developing markets, which includes Asia and South America, the third trimestre.Désodorisant Airwick and Strepsils have been among the best-selling products.Operating profits jumped 28pc 68 million from ￡.

In Europe, which remains the largest market for Reckitt sales, third quarter sales were flat 843 m ￡, with the benefit of 196 million to ￡ operating.Sales visibility, powder coating and washing water softeners suffered because of the low consumption in the region.

Health, personal care and air fresheners were two powerful divisions of Reckitt, with sales increasing 7pc in deux.Après purchase SSL, Reckitt get about a third of its revenue comes from the fast-growing health and personal care category, compared to rival maintenant.Unilever 27pc also expands its activities in this area.

Third quarter results of the Reckitt received his heroin replacement drug Suboxone, sales of which rose 27pc 505 million boost from ￡ .the drug has lost its patent United States, but no less expensive generic competitor has yet been jour.à excluding pharmaceuticals company, Reckitt expects sales 5MC 10pc increase in operating income increased this year.

The last month of Reckitt separated with its Director of finance for ten years, Colin Day and is looking for its replacement.

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Oswald Gr?bel, CEO of UBS, said the problems of "very low levels of client activity.

Investment banking arm Bank Switzerland made a loss before tax of Sfr406m (￡ 206 m) for three months returned recently to profitability after several years of losses in the wake of the financial crisis.

Oswald Grübel, Director of UBS, said the problems of "very low levels of client activity. It also pointed out the current strength of the Swiss franc against the other currencies.

Mr Grübel added remains optimistic. ""We are optimistic that an uptick in the fourth quarter will benefit all our divisions of the company," he said.

Groups of UBS profits dropped by 17pc Sfr1.66bn compared to the second trimestre.Pour nine months profit are close to Sfr6bn, compared to a loss in 2009 for the same period of Sfr3.9bn.

Independent research firm CreditSights said results of the UBS analysts indicate that "his recovery is still fragile," especially in the business investment banks, which was the source of much of the problems of the Bank for the financial crisis.

"The loss of the common market and personnel can be lined with quarters in markets, conditions are favorable, but when times are difficult, the challenge of reconstruction work is more apparent, said CreditSights."

Hope for UBS zone is his fortune management company that has always been one of the strong points of the Bank but injured by outputs massive during the crisis.

Results for the third quarter showed net inflows new funds on the activities of Sfr900m, including the new currency Sfr300m in the Americas, where he was to be feared that a stricter attitude by the American authorities on the offshore money could be damaging to the Bank.

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In an e-mail sent on Thursday afternoon for analysts, L & G stated that he "," inadvertently"included a draft of its financial figures for the third quarter with its numbers throughout the year for 2009.

L & G was scheduled to publish an update on its financial performance on November 9th, the company confirmed that it would still be moving forward with the release of a full game in the third quarter number on that date.

The new business numbers released show investment management company L & G recorded an increase in new funding to ￡ 27 gross 13pc. 6bn, compared to ￡ 24 United in the first nine months of 2009.

Analysts surprised by the accidental release of numbers if they were greeted by as a positive performance L & G update.

Eamonn Flanagan, broker Shore Capital, said "the surprising announcement" is "excellent reading for investors" and drew attention to the growth of new business 15pc pensions and life around the world.

"This implies a rebound encouraging consumption activity for us, and highlights the strength of the platform for distribution of legal information, said Mr. Flanagan.

Deutsche Bank analysts have benefited L & G error to update guidelines of the Bank clients on shares, increasing the price target for the price of the part of the 7pc at 109 p and the maintenance of its "hold" rating.

L & G shares slipped 0.6 percent 103,7 despite the positive response among analysts.

The accidental release of third quarter numbers highlights the practice among companies rated to provide direction to analysts of investment on their performance.

If it is illegal to provide non-public information to third parties, companies and their advisors keep in regular contact with analysts to inform them about their financial prospects.

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Blount International Inc. (BLT) filed Quarterly Report for the period ended 2010-06-30. Blount International Inc. has a market cap of $523.31 million; its shares were traded at around $10.94 with a P/E ratio of 14.99 and P/S ratio of 1.04.

BLT is in the portfolios of Jean-Marie Eveillard of first Eagle Investment Management, LLC, Jeff Auxier of Auxier Focus Fund, John Rogers of ARIEL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, Richard Pzena of Pzena Investment Management LLC, Chris Davis of Davis Selected Advisers, Jim Simons of Renaissance Technologies LLC.

Sales in the three months ended June 30, 2010 increased by $35.0 million (30.7%) from the same period in 2009, primarily due to increased unit volume of $35.6 million. changes in average selling price and mix lowered sales revenue by $1.3 million on a quarter-over-quarter comparative basis. Lower average selling prices were attributable to a higher proportion of OEM sales versus replacement market sales in the comparable prior year quarter. International sales increased by $29.3 million (40.2%), while domestic sales increased by $5.6 million (13.7%). The increase in international sales reflected improved world-wide market conditions and increased demand for our products following the severe global recession experienced in 2009. During the second quarter of 2009, we were cautious about extending credit to certain higher risk geographical areas during the global recession, which we believe contributed to a slowdown in sales and orders last year from portions of our international customer base. as international market conditions and credit concerns have improved, our international sales have increased.

Consolidated order backlog at June 30, 2010 was $124.5 million compared to $105.7 million at March 31, 2010. Backlog in the Outdoor Products segment increased $17.9 million, while the backlog for gear components increased by $0.9 million during the second quarter of 2010.

SG&A was $29.8 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $24.0 million in the second quarter of 2009, representing an increase of $5.7 million (23.9%). as a percentage of sales, SG&A decreased from 21.1% in the second quarter of 2009 to 20.0% in the second quarter of 2010, primarily due to the increase in sales revenue, which outpaced the increase in SG&A spending. Compensation and benefits expense for the quarter increased by $3.4 million on a year-over-year basis, reflecting annual merit increases, increased incentive compensation attributable to improved operating results, higher stock-based compensation expense, and increased employee benefit costs. Advertising expense increased by $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2009, as we had reduced our advertising programs during the 2009 economic downturn. we incurred $1.1 million in consulting and other costs related to several strategic initiatives we began in the second quarter including projects to improve the efficiency of our manufacturing processes and supply chain. The closure of our warehouse and distribution center in France, and consolidation of these functions into our European distribution center in Belgium in the second quarter of 2010, resulted in costs of $0.4 million. Operating expenses increased $0.3 million from the prior year due to the weaker U.S. Dollar and its effect on the translation of foreign expenses.

Net income in the second quarter of 2010 was $10.4 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to $4.2 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2009.

Outdoor Products Segment. Sales for the Outdoor Products segment increased by $34.7 million (31.5%) in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2009, primarily due to an increase in unit volume of $35.2 million, reflecting improved international market conditions and strong customer demand for our products. Segment sales were reduced by $1.1 million from the effect of lower average selling prices, driven by product mix and a higher relative proportion of sales to OEM customers as opposed to sales in the replacement market in the comparative quarterly periods. Sales of wood-cutting chainsaw components were up 35.9%, sales of concrete-cutting products were up 33.8%, and sales of outdoor care products were up 14.5%. Sales to OEM customers increased by 39.3%, while replacement market sales increased by 29.1%. International sales increased 40.6% for the three month comparable period, while domestic sales increased by 13.8%.

Segment contribution to operating income increased $14.1 million (100.7%) in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2009. Increased sales unit volume ($11.6 million) and lower product cost and mix ($8.5 million) drove the improvement in contribution to operating income. these positive factors were partially offset by the effects of lower average selling prices and mix ($1.1 million), fluctuations in foreign currency translation rates ($1.8 million), and higher SG&A expenses ($3.0 million). Our product costs were positively affected in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2009 by higher production volumes, including the elimination of idle manufacturing days. The higher production volumes drove improved absorption rates when compared to the second quarter of 2009. Capacity utilization in our Outdoor Products segment is estimated at 92% for the second quarter of 2010, compared to 60% for the second quarter of 2009. In addition, steel costs on a year-over-year comparative basis were lower by an estimated $1.8 million, although we expect steel costs to increase in the second half of 2010. SG&A expenses were higher primarily due to increased compensation costs ($1.4 million), advertising expenses ($0.6 million), and severance costs for the closure of our warehouse and distribution function in France ($0.4 million).

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