Retail trade sales were down 0.4% from November 2007, but were 4.3% above last year.

Gasoline station sales were up 18.5% from December 2006 and sales of non-store retailers were up 12.1% from last December.

Citigroup Inc. (C: chart) reported a net loss for the 2007 fourth quarter of $9.83 billion, or $1.99 per share. Results include $18.1 billion in pre-tax write-downs and credit costs on sub-prime related direct exposures in fixed income markets, and a $4.1 billion increase in credit costs in U.S. consumer primarily related to higher current and estimated losses on consumer loans.

In the fourth quarter Citigroup revenue declined 70% to $7.2 billion and lost $9.833 billion from a profit of $5.12 billion a year ago. Losses per share in the quarter were $1.99 compared to earnings of $1.99 per share.

A rare bright spot in the quarter were international segments. International consumer revenues increased 45%, driven by organic volume growth, the impact of recent acquisitions, a $507 million pre-tax gain on Visa Inc. shares, and a $313 million pre-tax gain on the sale of an ownership interest in Nikko Cordial''s Simplex Investment Advisors. Average deposits and loans increased 21% and 30%, respectively, and investment sales were up 24%.

Citigroup reported another quarter of loan write-downs related to loans to the housing market resulting in write-downs of $17.4 billion on sub-prime related direct exposures. These exposures on September 30, 2007 were comprised of approximately $11.7 billion of gross lending and structuring exposures and approximately $42.9 billion of net collateralized debt obligations super senior exposures (CDO super senior gross exposures of $53.4 billion).

On December 31, 2007, sub-prime related direct exposures were comprised of approximately $8.0 billion of gross lending and structuring exposures and approximately $29.3 billion of net CDO super senior exposures (CDO super senior gross exposures of $39.8 billion).

For the full year 2007, net income was $3.62 billion, or $0.72 per share.

5:00AM New York, 7:00PM Tokyo – The Bank of Japan lowers economic growth assessments for several regions.

Stocks in Japan plummeted dragged by exporters on a strengthening yen and the Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui low assessments of regional economies.

In Tokyo trading Nikkei 225 declined 0.98% or 138.16 to 13,972.63, below 14,000 for the first time since November 2005, while the broader Topix Index declined 2% or 27.38 to 1,350.20

Of the Nikkei 225 stocks 51 gained, 168 fell, and 6 were unchanged.

Fast Retailing led advancing stocks with a rise of 8.76% after first quarter sales increased 11% and profit soared 8.7%. Fast Retailing stocks closed 2.6% higher.

The Bank of Japan said today in its regional economic report for January 2008 that conditions in four of the nine branches were worsening, and lowered its assessments of Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku and Kanto-Koshinetsu.

According to the report, housing investment fell in all of Japan’s regional economies because of the revised building standards laws introduced in June 2006 that imposed stricter rules for obtaining building permits.

Also small businesses are increasingly becoming cautious of the economic outlook as rising oil prices and raw material prices squeeze profits.

The Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said at a quarterly meeting of central bank branch managers in Tokyo today that the economy is expected to slow. Commented Fukui: “Economic growth will keep slowing for the time being, although it’s expected to pick up moderately thereafter.”

The Nikkei news online reported yesterday that Mizuho Corporate Bank is mulling to buy a stake in $1.2 billion of Merrill Lynch.

Mizuho is reportedly in the final stages of buying the preferred shares from the troubled U.S. broker by the end of this month and shares will likely be convertible to common shares.

Of the Nikkei 225 index shares, Fast Retailing led gainers with a rise of 8.76% followed by rises in Eisai Company Limited of 3.39%, in CSK Holdings Corporation of 2.71%, in Kyowa Hakko Kog of 2.65%, in Seven & I Holdings of 2.60%.