Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Higher stock markets on sales of new homes

Dow is up 47, advancers ahead of decliners 5-2 & NAZ rose 9 on a quiet, but encouraging day (less encouraging for banks) on light volume.


S&P 500 FINANCIALS INDEX

Value
197.39
Change
-0.19
% Change
-0.1%


The Alerian MLP Index is up 1+ to the 267s, another 2009 high. MLPs responded to Kinder Morgan's (KMP) announcement last night about an increase in their 2010 distribution. The Dow Jones REIT Index is also up 1+. Junk bond funds are higher & the yield on the 10-year Treasury is up 2 basis points to 3.34%.

Alerian MLP Index --- 2 weeks




Dow Jones REIT Index --- 2 weeks





Oil is slipping again, getting near the 75 floor which has held for more than a month. No posting for gold.

CLF10.NYM...Crude Oil Jan 10...75.79 ...Down 0.23
.......(0.3%)



Sales of new homes rose in Oct 6.2% to an annual rate of 430K from an upwardly revised 405K in Sep, the highest level in more than a year as strong activity in the South offset weakness in the rest of the country. There were 239K new homes for sale at the end of Oct, the lowest inventory level in nearly 4 decades. At the current sales pace, that's a 6.7 months of supply, down from last winter's peak of more than a year. The surge in sales was driven entirely by a 23% increase in the South. Despite the lack of certainty about the tax credit that buyers faced in Oct, sales were up 5.1% from a year ago, the first yearly increase in 4 years. The median sales price of $212K was essentially even with $213K a year earlier & up almost 1% from the prior month.

Sales of New Houses in U.S. Rise to Highest Level Since 2008 on Tax Credit


Purchases of new homes - 1 year





Not a lot to be decided today but Dow is shooting for another 2009 high.

Dow Jones Industrials --- 2 weeks

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