"Investors took a step back Thursday, with stocks ending lower ahead of Intel's earnings, which are expected after the closing bell.
Stocks are hovering near their highest levels in about two and a half years. But can they climb higher from here? It all depends on whether investors choose to look more closely at improving trends in the short-term or worry about an increasingly troubled future." [Source: cnnmoney.com]
Market Reflections - Thursday, 13th January, 2011
"A major and unpredicted jump in jobless claims raises the unfortunate question whether momentum in the jobs market, or what momentum there is, may already be fizzling. Conclusions, impossible to draw because of unusual year-end factors affecting the data, will have to wait for next week's report.
Strength in exports and softness in vehicle imports and imports of consumer goods made for an improvement in the November trade deficit and is raising the outlook for fourth quarter GDP. Producer price data show pressure for energy as well as for food prices which have been showing new pressure this week following major draws in grain stocks. Barclays is warning that food inflation will be a growing problem for global policy makers.
Another successful auction, this time for Spain, drove the euro higher and the dollar lower with the dollar index down one percent to 79.23. The Dow slipped fractionally to 11,731. Commodities softened with oil down nearly one percent but still over $92. Gold also lost nearly one percent, ending over $1,370." [Source: bloomberg.com]
Market Focus in the US this evening
"A run of significant monthly gains for retail sales may be at risk. Watch the ex-auto ex-gas reading to see whether shoppers cooled off following November's surge." [Source: bloomberg.com]
The DJIA Index finished the last trading session Down 23.54 points; and The SPI Futures are currently: Down 13 points atm.
Of note in the US this evening:
Consumer Price Index [ Market moving indicator]
Retail Sales [ Market moving indicator]
Industrial Production [ Market moving indicator]
Consumer Sentiment [ Merits extra attention]
Business Inventories [ Merits extra attention]
...AND...
Of note in Australia today:
Please note there is no noteworthy 'Economic news' due to be reported in Australia today.
Gold is currently trading Down $14.00 & is sitting at US$1,374.00/oz atm [Source: Kitco] Oil is currently trading Down $0.46 & is sitting at US$91.40/bbl atm [Source: Bloomberg] The Dollar: The AUD is currently trading @ $0.9984c against the US Dollar[Source: Forex. Live]
Market moving indicator]
Merits extra attention]
