OIL, METALS, CURRENCIES

Crude oil prices declined on mild U.S. weather and sufficient supplies. Light sweet crude for February delivery slipped 93 cents to $57.50 a barrel on the Nymex. Natural gas fell as much as $1.027 to $11.256 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Gold prices advanced in European trading. In Zurich gold closed at $506.60 per troy ounce, up from $505.10 in late Friday trading. Markets in London were closed for a public holiday.

The U.S. dollar gained ground against its major counterparts in European trading. The euro was quoted at $1.1862, down from $1.1863. The dollar bought 117.06 yen, up from 116.40. The British pound traded at $1.7324, up from $1.7319.

EARNINGS NEWS

Guidant Corp (GDT: chart), medical device company, expects to report Q4 earnings of 17 cents to 23 cents a share on revenue of $790 million to $820 million. The company also expects 2006 earnings of $1.48 to $1.58 a share or $1.65 to $1.75 a share on an adjusted basis, on revenue of $3.8 billion to $4 billion. Guidant announced that domestic implantable defibrillator implant rate, an indicator of the company''s progress in regaining market share, averaged 80% of the implant rate experienced in March through May 2005. The implant rate declined to 70% in October and has increased somewhat since then.

Tommy Hilfiger Corp, (TOM: chart), apparel retailer, posted Q2 net earnings of 59 cents a share, down 8.8% from 65 cents a share in the year-earlier period on 6.1% revenue decline. With the filing of its Form 10-Q for Q2, the company announced that it is now current with its Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements.