US house prices up for fifth monthUS house prices rose in...

US house prices up for fifth month
US house prices rose in October for the fifth month in a row, according to a leading index.

Prices were 0.4% higher than they were in September on a seasonally-adjusted basis, the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price index said.

And confidence among US consumers has shown a larger-than-expected rise.

Improved optimism over the jobs market saw consumer confidence hit a three-month high in December, according to the Confidence Board.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8433858.stm

PS may I propose a theme song for CER?
"I dreamed a dream" sung by Susan Boyle
(like CER and CNP, another ugly duckling with swan potential :)