Its shares rose 1.2 per cent to $22.99.
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The Bank of Japan is considered likely to reaffirm a commitment to an ultraloose monetary policy when it releases a comprehensive assessment Wednesday following the central bank’s two-day policy board meeting. Ascena bought Ann Taylor a year ago and also struggled with discounts from competitors and shaky demand. Tokyo markets will be closed for another holiday on Thursday, with the highly-anticipated BOJ meeting sandwiched in between the market closures. The healthcare sector provided the biggest boost to the S&P 500 index, following Allergan’s $1.7-billion acquisition, which has the markets speculating about the company’s next deal move. PulteGroup gave up 53 cents, or 2.6 percent, to $19.35 and Beazer Homes fell 24 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $10.90.
Shares of Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide rose 2.9 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively, after announcing that their merger had won Chinese approval, the last regulatory hurdle to completing the deal.
SEAWORLD SINKS: Water park operator SeaWorld Entertainment said it will stop paying dividends to shareholders. The company said it will save its cash so it can buy back more stock.
CRUISING ALONG: Royal Caribbean Cruises added $2.92, or 4.5 percent, to $68.40 after the company raised its quarterly dividend to 48 cents from 37.5 cents.
US 30-year yields fell by the most in two weeks as Treasuries joined a global bond rally.
Chinese stocks fell in thin trading, even as property stocks rose broadly after upbeat home price data. The dollar has fallen against the six major currencies that make up its basket in three of the past four sessions, but had its largest one-day percentage gain since late July on Friday.
The comment pushed US crude down 16 cents to $43.70. Brent crude, used to price worldwide oils, slipped 41 cents to $45.54 a barrel in London. Exxon Mobil lost $1.29, or 1.5 percent, to $82.54 after Dow Jones reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Exxon’s accounting practices and other issues.
METALS: Gold gained 40 cents to $1,318.20 an ounce.
Royal Bank of Canada advanced 0.2 per cent to $80.88 and Bank of Nova Scotia added 0.5 per cent to $70.32. Allergan’s stock was down 1.81 per cent. It slipped by 0.5 percent after to stop at 4,796.07.
Meanwhile, the pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.23 percent and the euro-area blue-chip gauge the STOXX 50 climbed 0.30 percent, the PSI20 Index dipped 0.49 percent, the DAX traded 0.56 percent higher by 11:10 GMT.
Japan’s Nikkei index dropped 27.14 points or 0.16 percent to 16,492.15, as the yen edged up against the dollar on doubts about the BOJ’s ability to sustain its stimulus plans.
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In Asia overnight, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.1 per cent.
