The increase in durable goods orders was largely due to a continued increase in orders for transportation equipment, which rose by 15.6 percent in November after rising 11.2 percent in October. Excluding orders for transportation equipment, orders fell 0.6 percent in November.

The Commerce Dept. also said that shipments of durable goods fell 0.2 percent in November following a 1.2 percent increase in October. At the same time, inventories of durable goods rose 0.5 percent in November, matching the increase seen in October.

INTERNATIONAL MARKET NEWS

Asian-Pacific benchmarks finished Friday session mixed with the Japanese Nikkei closed in honor of the Emperor’s birthday. Across the region, Taipei’s Weighted index surged 1.5% reversing from recent losses, South Korea’s Kospi climbed 0.6%, led by Samsung Electronics which marked an all-time high of 645,000 won. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng ended unchanged.

European stocks finished mostly in the positive with averages reaching multi-year highs. The German DAX 30 rose 0.4%, hitting a three-year high, followed by the French CAC 40, up 0.1% on a four-year high. London’s FTSE 100 hit a four-year intraday high, but later rebounded and finished 0.03% under the flat line.

OIL, METALS, CURRENCIES

Crude oil prices declined in subdued pre-holiday trading and warm weather forecast. Light sweet crude for January delivery rose 15 cents to $58.43 a barrel on the Nymex. Natural gas fell 64 cents to $12.28 per 1,000 cubic feet. London Brent lost 47 cents to $56.08.

Gold prices climbed in European trading. In London gold was fixed at $505.15 bid per troy ounce, up from $501.40. The Zurich gold price was $505.10, up from $501.10. In Hong Kong gold rose $10.15 to close at $504.10. Silver closed at $8.59, up from $8.43. In New York gold closed up 20 cents to $505.20 per ounce, silver was up 7 cents $8.65 and copper closed up 4 cents to a record high of $2.1595.

The U.S. dollar traded mixed against its major counterparts in European trading. The euro was quoted at $1.1863, down from $1.1875. The dollar bought 116.40 yen, down from 116.55. The British pound traded at $1.7319, down from $1.7364.

EARNINGS NEWS

A.G. Edwards Inc, (AGE: chart), financial services holding company, reported Q3 net earnings of 71 cents a share, up from63 cents a share in the same period a year ago on revenue growth, matching analysts’ expectations. The company’s results reflected a benefit of 5 cents a share, resulting from the resolution of certain tax matters related to technology research and development tax credits.

Solectron Corp, (SLR: chart), electronics contract manufacturer, reported a Q1 profit of 2 cents a share, down from 5 cents a share in the year-ago period. Excluding one-time items and charges, the company earned 3 cents a share, matching analysts’ expectations.

Ashworth Inc, (ASHW: chart), golf sportswear company, posted a fiscal Q4 net loss of 16 cents a share, down from net earnings of 14 cents a share in the year-ago period on revenue growth, in line with analysts’ estimate. Additionally, the company affirmed its previous fiscal 2006 forecast of earnings between 48 cents and 56 cents a share.