4:30PM New York, 10:30PM Frankfurt, 8:30AM Sydney

European Markets Indexes

In London FTSE 100 Index closed lower 30.90 or 0.48% to 6,466.90, in Paris CAC 40 Index decreased 0.23 or 0.004% to close at 5,627.25, and in Frankfurt DAX index also increased 28.72 or 0.36% to close at 8,067.32. In Zurich trading SMI lower 33.73 or 0.40% to close at 8,484.46.

Russia’s Micex index declined 1% to 1,888.86 but managed to gain 12% for the year. RTS Index dropped 0.1% to 2,290.51 and for the year rose 27.3%.

North American Markets indexes

Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 6.26 or 0.05% to a close of 13,365.87, S&P 500 edged higher 2.12 or 0.14% to 1,478.49, and Nasdaq Composite Index traded down 2.33 or 0.09% to a close of 2,674.46. In Toronto TSX Composite gained 58.07 or 0.20% to close at 13,821.34.

Of the 30 stocks in Dow Jones Industrial Average, 14 closed higher, 16 closed lower, and none was unchanged.

General Motors led the decliners in the index with a loss of 2.9% followed by losses in Citigroup of 0.9%, in JP Morgan of 0.87%, in Boeing of 0.7%. Exxon Mobil led the gainers in the index with a rise of 1.4%, in AT&T of 1%, in Wal-Mart of 0.65%, and in Caterpillar of 0.6%.

Of the stocks in S&P 500, 262 closed higher, 229 fell, and 9 were unchanged.

Fifteen stocks fell more than 3% and none rose more than 3%.

Teradata Corp led the gainers in the index with a rise of 2.6% followed by increases in Nordstrom of 2.5%, in Smith International of 2.4%, in Archer Daniels of 2.3%, in U.S. Steel of 2.2%, and in Newmont Mining of 2.17%.

MBIA led the decliners in the index with a fall of 16% followed by losses in Ambac Financial of 14%, in Sovereign Bancorp of 4.9%, in E*Trade of 4.8%, in KB Home of 4.5%, and in MGIC Investment Corp of 4.4%.

South American Markets Indexes

In Latin Markets Venezuela led the gainer in the region with a rise of 0.5% followed by increases in Mexico and Brazil of 0.2%, and Colombia of 0.12%. Argentina led the decliners in the region with a fall of 0.8% followed by losses in Chile of 0.25% and in Peru of 0.15%.

According to Central Bank in Brazil, net debt declined to 42.6% of gross domestic product at the end of November. The ratio at the end of December is likely to rise back up to 43.5%. The ratio in November is lowest since December 1998. Rising exports, cheap credit, and fiscal discipline has helped the country to lower its annual budget deficit.

Bovespa Index led the region in 2007 with a rise of 43% followed by 36% gain in Peru, and 13% rise in Colombia.

Asian Markets

In Tokyo Nikkei 225 Index closed lower 256.91 or 1.65% to 15,307.78, in Hong Kong Hang Seng index closed lower 472.33 or 1.70% to 27,370.60, in Australia ASX 200 decreased 11.00 or 0.17% to close 6,339.70.

In South Korea Kospi Index decreased 11.49 or 0.60% to close at 1,897.13, in Thailand SET index closed higher 3.86 or 0.62% to 630.73, and Indonesia JSE Index edged up 6.12 or 0.22% to 2,745.83. Sensex index in India declined 9.77 or 0.05% to 20,206.95.


Bond Yields decreased on 10-year U.S. bonds to 4.08% and 30-year bonds to 4.50%.