US market ends higher as consumer confidence hit a 12-month high

29 Feb 2012 Evaluate

The US markets closed higher on Tuesday, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to its first close above 13,000 since May 2008, as consumer confidence hit a 12-month high and oil prices fell. The Conference Board reported its gauge of consumer confidence rose to 70.8 in February from 61.5 in January; it’s highest in a year. A prior estimate for January pegged the level at 61.1.  Later the markets trimmed their rise after the government reported that orders for long-lasting goods declined in January by the most in three years. Orders for long-lasting US goods fell a bigger-than-expected 4.0% in January, as demand for a broad array of products declined, the government reported. The decline was more widespread, however, and marked the biggest one-month drop in three years. Also, the S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values in 20 cities declined in December to the lowest level since the housing crisis started. US home prices in December fell to their lowest level since the housing crisis, as an uptick in activity isn’t yet being matched by rising values, according to a closely followed index released.

In Europe, S&P lowered its debt view on Greece to selective default from CC and cited the recently inserted clause will force the debt restructuring on all private investors, as long as two-thirds of investors agree. Besides, European Central Bank issued a statement that it temporarily suspended eligibility Greek government bond as collateral. Greece separately also launched its private debt exchange offer that is expected to win support of more than 66% of holders. The European Central Bank is expected to announce the results of its second installment of the loans to banks in the euro zone later tomorrow. Expectations are high that borrowing will surpass the previous lending for 3-year loans in December when banks raised 480 billion euros.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed higher by 23.61 points, or 0.18 percent, at 13,005.10. The S&P 500 gained 4.59 points, or 0.34 percent, at 1,372.18, while the Nasdaq was up by 20.60 points, or 0.69 percent, at 2,986.76.

Indian ADRs closed mixed on Tuesday, Tata Motors was up 1.13%, HDFC Bank was up 1.03% and ICICI Bank was up 0.61%. On the flip side, Infosys Technologies was down 0.21% and Wipro was down 0.12%.

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