daytrade diaries... december 23, page-6

Good morning,

US Stocks rose for a third day Tuesday, with the Dow and S&P 500 ending just below 14-month highs, after two economic reports continued to fuel optimism about the economy in a thin trading session.

The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) gained 51 points, or 0.5%. The S&P 500 index (SPX) rose 4 points, or 0.3%. Both gauges are near their highest levels since October 2008. The S&P 500 briefly traded above its 14-month high during the session.

LONDON - European stock markets advanced, with the oil sector leading gains in London.

Cairn Energy gained 4.79 per cent a day after announcing that it would be able to launch an underwater exploration project off Greenland ahead of schedule, while Shell rose 2.29 per cent on reports that China might be interested in buying certain Shell assets in Nigeria.

The FTSE 100 index added 34.67 points, or O.65 per cent, to 5,328.66.

FRANKFURT - Germany's Dax gained 15.16 points, or 0.26 per cent to finish at 5,945.69 points, despite an expected fall in the GfK index measuring German consumer confidence.

The index, resulting from a survey of about 2,000 people, suggested the consumer climate in Germany would cool slightly at the beginning of 2010, slipping to 3.3 points for January from a revised 3.6 points in December.

PARIS - The CAC 40 added 26.32 points, or 0.68 per cent, to 3,898.38, its highest point this year.

Oil prices rose after the world's biggest oil producers opted to leave production volumes unchanged, a decision that could mean short-term stability for energy prices after a volatile year.

Benchmark crude for February delivery rose 68 cents to a benchmark settlement of $US74.40 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, after dropping to $US72.72 earlier in the trading session.

The Australian share market is expected to open higher after Wall Street benefited from economic data that paints a brighter picture for the United States.

At 0650 AEDT on the Sydney Futures Exchange, the March share price index contract was 24 points higher at 4,712.

GOLD down $9.30c to US$1086.70 an ounce
SILVER down 0.5c to US$ 17.03 an ounce
COPPER down 2.05c at US$3.138 a pound

Today's Financial Calendar
December 23 2009

Japan markets closed
NZ GDP, Q3
US Michigan Uni consumer confidence, Dec
UK minutes of BoE meeting
EU new industrial orders, Nov
US personal income and consumer expenditure, Nov
US new home sales, Nov
(EPX) - Ex div. 3.39c
(IPL) - Annual General Meeting (02:00 PM)

http://www.marketwatch.com/
http://www.thebull.com.au/
http://www.news.com.au/business/