A mixed trend has been recorded this morning on Asia's stock markets due to yesterday's index declines on Wall Street. The Tokyo stock exchange is closed to day, and trading is expected to be very limited in Europe, with the German and British stock markets closed for New Year's Eve.
In the macroeconomic arena, several positive economic data have been published yesterday in the United States. The ISM has announced that the rate of growth in business activity in the Chicago area had leaped up surprisingly in December to a 22-year high, having climbed to a level of 68.6 points as opposed to 62.5 points in November. Economists have predicted a descent to a level of 61 points.
The Bureau of Labour Statistics had announced yesterday that the amount of new unemployment claims in the United States has declined last week by 34 thousand to a rate of 388 thousand - the lowest rate since July 2008. The descent recorded was significantly higher than the predictions of economists for 415 thousand new claims.
Also in the macroeconomic sphere, the real estate agents' association of the United States had announced that the amount of existing home sales in that country had grown in November by 3.5%, after a 10% rise in October. The rise was sharper than predicted by economists, who expected a rise of only 0.8%. That said, the amount of sales in November was 5% lower than in November 2009.