Schiller index (displaying growth of home prices in 20 largest American cities) grew in the last 12 months by 4.23%, while real estate analysts predicted a mere 3.1% increase. Moreover, consumer confidence index rose to 53.5 points, with the predicted increase at no more than 50 points. Consumer optimism in June surpassed expectations as well.
Today’s trading at U.S. markets opened with a slight decrease of share indices. In the early trading DJIA fell by 0.17%, S&P 500 – by 0.25%, Nasdaq – by 0.48%. Investors’ concerns were attributed to today’s macro statistics, which fell short of forecasts both in Europe and the U.S. due to worsening business climate and slow income growth respectively.
The previous week has finished with growth for the U.S. stock market, owing to B. Bernanke’s speech. The FED chairman has assured the markets of continued financial support of the U.S. economy.
Although the overseas indices closed with growth, European bidders view it as a short-term effect. Persisting problems in the U.S. residential property market may provoke a fresh turn of recession, which even the U.S. government can hardly cope with.
The professor of economics at New York University’s Stern School of Business Nouriel Roubini believes that in the third quarter U.S. GDP growth won’t exceed 1%. The economist evaluates the chances of a repeated recession at 40%. One can hardly question Roubini’s estimates, but how could they help to make money with such forecasts?
The Chinese automaker Geely has recorded a net profit in the first half-year of 804.85 million yuan ($ 118.4 million) compared with 595.91 million yuan in the previous year. At the same time, analysts had expected a profit of 756.4 million yuan.
On Wednesday August 25 U.S. stock market will get a significant amount of information to ponder on. In addition to secondary data on mortgages, the market is going to look forward to July data on durable goods orders.
The world’s largest mining company BHP Billiton has published data on double-plus growth of annual profit, which may contribute to the process of a hostile takeover of the Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan.
U.S. asset sales resumed today due to fresh information from the housing market. According to the National Association of Realtors, U.S. home sales in the secondary market collapsed by 27% with the forecast decline of 12%.
Australia’s largest travel agency Flight Centre has published data on record annual profits saying it expects to increase earnings next year. Thus, the company’s net profit after tax in the fiscal year to end June 30 was AUD 139, 9 million ($124 million).
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