The National Association of Realtors reported existing home sales unexpectedly fell to an annual rate of 4.94 million in December, but lifted to five year highs over 2012.
Figures
Wall Street started its trading week higher: The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 62 points to close at 13,712 the S&P500 added 7 points to close at 1,493 and the Nasdaq added 8 points to close at 3,143.
European markets ended lower on Wednesday: London’s FTSE lost 2 points, Paris lost 22 points and Frankfurt lost 53 points.
Asian markets closed mixed on Wednesday: Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 68 points, Tokyo’s Nikkei lost 38 and China’s Shanghai Composite lost 13 points.
The Australian share market pulled back from a 20 month high on Wednesday to finish flat: The S&P/ASX 200 Index added 2 points to close at 4,779. On the futures market the SPI is 11 points higher.
Currencies
The Australian Dollar at 8:20AM was buying $US1.056 cents, 66.71 Pence Sterling, 93.78 Yen and 79.39 Euro cents.
Economic news due out today
Australian Bureau of Statistics: Consumer prices index for the December quarter 2012
Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX:WBC)-Melbourne Institute: Leading Indexes of Economic Activity
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA): Business sales indicator for December
Company news
BHP Billiton Limited (ASX:BHP) is due to release its second quarter production report today and expectations are for a flat iron ore result.
Centro Retail Australia Limited (ASX:CRF) shareholders have overwhelmingly backed the company’s proposed name change to Federation Centres.
Commodities
Gold is up $6.20 to $US1,693 an ounce for the February contract on Comex.
Silver is up $0.29 to $32.23 for March.
Copper is $0.02 at $3.70 a pound.
Oil is up $0.64 at US$96.68 a barrel for February light crude in New York.
