Markets 12/31, 2007

ron · #1 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 10:34 AM

lower open on the last trading day of 2007. Volume should be light today, as many traders will be taking the day off. The November existing home sales report will be released at 10:00 ET. Economists expect a reading of 5.00 million.....Dow -47.72 Points, Naz -11.60, S&P -5.61, NDX -11.37 rtq (real time quotes)

ron · #2 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 11:10 AM

Stocks extend their losses and then have a mostly muted response immediately following the release of November's existing home sales which slightly rose to annualized rate of 5.0 million. The report was in-line with economists' expectations. This is a 0.4% rise month-over-month....Dow -45.45 Points, Naz -12.54, S&P -5.63, NDX -8.41 rtq.

ron · #3 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 11:12 AM

2007 Performance Review: The best performing S&P 500 industry groups have been fertilizer & agriculture chemicals (+111%) and construction & engineering (+106%). The two worst performing group were among the hardest hit by the credit market turmoil, they are homebuilding (-61%) and thrifts & mortgages (-53%).

ron · #4 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 11:33 AM

Stock indices still in the red but working off morning lows... Initial reaction in Housing Data was positive as mrkt edged slightly up off recently established new session lows....Dow -46 Points, Naz -15.87, S&P -6.71, NDX -10.92 rtq.

ron · #5 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 11:37 AM

There has been a bit of choppy trading during the past half hour. The major indices continue to post modest losses, with nine of the ten economic sectors posting a loss. Telecom (-1.2%) is pacing the decline. Utilities (+0.01%) is in the green, although it is basically at the unchanged mark.