EQUITY MARKETS

US

S&P500 -0.10%(2,274.64); NASDAQ +0.96% (5,574.12); DJIA -0.39% (19,885.73)

This week’s reports:

November’s Consumer Credit Change rose to $24.53B from October’s upwardly revised $16.17B. The large increase in revolving consumer credit can partly be attributed to the holiday season, with spending fueled by credit cards.
December’s Retail Sales rose 0.6% from November’s +0.2%. Retail Sales ex Autos rose 0.2% from November’s +0.3%.
January’s Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 98.1 from December’s 98.2.
November’s Wholesale Inventories fell by 1% from October’s -0.1%.
November’s Business Inventories rose by 0.7% from October’s -0.1%.
Initial Jobless Claims for the week ending January 6th rose by 10K to 247K. Continuing Jobless Claims for the week ending December 30th fell by 29K to 2,087K.
US stocks advanced after solid economic data bolstered confidence in the economy and the case for higher interest rates. Financial shares climbed after three of the largest American lenders reported results.