US Stocks gained Wednesday, at the end of a choppy session, after the falling dollar boosted commodity stocks, and a rise in wholesale inventories and an upgrade of 3M provided some optimism.
The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) rose 51 points, or 0.5%, according to early tallies. The S&P 500 index (SPX) added 4 points, or 0.4%. The Nasdaq composite (COMP) gained 11 points or 0.5%.
LONDON - European stock markets fell for the third straight day, still rattled by burgeoning debt crises in Greece and Dubai.
In London the FTSE 100 index shed 19.24 points, or 0.37 per cent, to close at 5,203.89.
FRANKFURT - Germany's Dax declined 40.74 points, or 0.72 per cent, to 5,647.84.
PARIS - The CAC 40 lost 27.91 points, or 0.74 per cent, to 3,757.39.
Oil prices hit two-month lows as US government data showed that energy demand continues to slump.
Benchmark crude for January delivery gave up $US1.95 to settle at $US70.67 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Australian shares are likely to open lower after commodity prices declined overnight, and concerns increase about the mounting levels of national debt overseas.
At 0659 AEDT on the Sydney Futures Exchange, the December share price index contract was 12 points lower at 4,618. The Australian Bureau of Statistics releases labour force data for November.
Westpac and the Melbourne Institute releases a survey of consumer unemployment expectations for December.
GOLD down $22.50c to US$1120.90 an ounce SILVER down 62.7c to US$ 17.18 an ounce COPPER down 4.15c at US$3.1235 a pound
Today's Financial Calendar December 10 2009
NZ RBNZ rate decision NZ terms of trade index, Q3 Australia employment numbers, Nov Japan machine orders, Oct Japan consumer price index (CPI), Nov EU ECB monthly report UK BoE rate decision US Treasury 30-year bond auction US$13bn US trade balance, Oct Australia Westpac-MI consumer inflation expectations, Dec US monthly budget, Nov
(BOQ) - Annual General Meeting (MTS) - Ex div. 11.0c (PRV) - Ex div. 3.5c (STO) - Investor day (TEN) - Annual General Meeting (BOD) - EGM (11:00 AM)
