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WELLINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - - --------------------------------------------------------------- Snapshot at: 07:56 / 1856 GMT ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stock Markets
NetChng
NetChng S&P/ASX 200
5,116.69 +7.64 NZSX 50
6,147.97 +27.15 DJIA
17,413.40 +161.78 Nikkei
18,886.70 -29.32 NASDAQ
4,988.86 +19.94 FTSE
6,083.10 +48.26 S&P 500
2,036.42 +15.27 Hang Seng
21,830.02 +38.34 SPI 200 Fut
5,073.00 +2.00 STI
2,852.97 +7.42 SSEC
3,652.24 +9.77 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Bonds
NetChg
NetChg AU 10 YR Bond
2.762 +0.024 US 10 YR Bond
2.238 +0.040 NZ 10 YR Bond
3.560 -0.010 US 30 YR Bond
2.964 +0.039 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Currencies
1700GMT
1700GMT AUD US$
0.7228 0.7220 NZD US$
0.6806 0.6809 EUR US$
1.0969 1.0915 Yen US$
121.04 121.18 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Commodities Gold (Lon)
1,074.90
Silver (Lon)
14.30 Gold (NY)
1,078.06
Light Crude
36.29 TRJCRB Index
172.20 -0.22 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Overnight market action with latest New York figures.
EQUITIES
NEW YORK - U.S. stock indexes held on to small gains in early afternoon trading on Tuesday as crude oil prices recovered slightly and data showed that the U.S. economy grew at a fairly healthy clip in the third quarter. Trading volumes are expected to be relatively light this week, with U.S. stock markets operating a shortened session on Thursday and closing on Friday for Christmas.
The S&P energy sector .SPNY was up 1.58 percent, leading the 10 major sectors on the index. The sector has been the worst performer in 2015, falling about 24 percent so far this year.
Chevron (N:CVX) CVX.N shares were up 1.1 percent at $90.27, while Exxon (N:XOM) was up 0.7 percent at $77.74.
At 12:23 p.m. ET (1723 GMT), the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 80.07 points, or 0.46 percent, at 17,331.69, the S&P 500 .SPX was up 6.92 points, or 0.34 percent, at 2,028.07 and the Nasdaq Composite index .IXIC was up 0.04 points, or 0 percent, at 4,968.97.
For a full report, double click on .N
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LONDON - European stocks ended little changed on Tuesday after a volatile day but energy plays rose as oil prices recovered, while Spanish equities rebounded following a sell-off in the previous session prompted by concerns over a political stalemate.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 , which had fallen 1.2 percent on Monday, edged down 0.04 percent, while the euro zone's blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index .STOXX50E was up 0.04 percent.
Trading was volatile as the holiday season approached and some investors remained cautious over prospects for next year.
"There are no easy gains to make," said Marco Vailati, head of research and investment at Italy's Cassa Lombarda.
For a full report, double click on .L
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TOKYO - Japanese stocks were flat in thin, directionless trade on Tuesday as many investors sat on the sidelines ahead of the market's closure for a national holiday on Wednesday.
The Nikkei share average .N225 edged down by 0.2 percent to 18,886.70.
The Topix subindex for air transport .IAIRL.T gained 2.2 percent as crude prices remained near 2009 lows ahead of the holiday travel rush.
Japan Airlines Co Ltd 9201.T rose 2.7 percent while competitor ANA Holdings Inc 9202.T added 1.7 percent.
The broader Topix .TOPX edged up 0.2 percent to 1,533.60 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 .JPXNK400 rose 0.2 percent to 13,820.28.
For a full report, double click on .T
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FOREIGN EXCHANGE
NEW YORK - The dollar slipped against a basket of currencies on Tuesday as traders booked profit-taking on bullish greenback bets following the Federal Reserve's interest rate increase last week and a steep drop in existing home sales in November.
Commodity-linked currencies including the Australian and New Zealand dollars climbed sharply against the greenback as oil prices stabilized above 11-year lows and investors hoped for more official action to support growth in China.
"There's a lack of clear momentum for the dollar in the past week," said Brian Dangerfield, currency strategist at RBS (L:RBS) Securities in Stamford, Connecticut.
The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six currencies, fell 0.35 percent at 98.045 .DXY . It declined three straight sessions and briefly broke below the 50-day moving average at about 98.02.
The greenback fell 0.2 percent to 120.93 yen JPY= after touching its lowest level in a week earlier.
The single currency was up 0.6 percent at $1.0976 EUR= and up 0.3 percent at 132.60 yen EURJPY= .
Among other major currencies, the Aussie and Kiwi dollars both gained more than 0.7 percent to $0.7248 AUD=D4 and $0.6812 NZD=D4 , respectively.
For a full report, double click on USD/
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TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasury yields rose on Tuesday after a final reading of U.S. third-quarter economic growth came in stronger than expected, reinforcing the view that the Federal Reserve would proceed with a steady pace of interest rate increases next year.
Benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR were last down 8/32 in price to yield 2.225 percent, from a yield of 2.197 percent late Monday. U.S. 30-year Treasury bonds US30YT=RR were last down 17/32 in price to yield 2.952 percent, from a yield of 2.925 percent late Monday.
U.S. two-year notes US2YT=RR were last down 1/32 in price to yield 0.973 percent, from a yield of 0.956 percent late Monday.
For a full report, double click on US/
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COMMODITIES
GOLD
NEW YORK - Gold held near $1,080 an ounce on Tuesday after a two-day rally, benefiting from a retreat in the dollar, though uncertainty over the pace of U.S. interest rate increases capped the gains.
The metal has risen around 3 percent since touching its lowest in almost six years last week after the Federal Reserve announced its first rate rise in nearly a decade.
"Gold is going to remain rangebound for now... (it is) being supported by the dollar weakness," ETF Securities analyst MartiArnold said.
Spot gold XAU= stood at $1,075.50 an ounce at 1529 GMT, little changed from $1,078.06 late on Monday, while U.S. gold futures GCv1 for February delivery were down $5.40 at$1,075.30.
For a full report, double click on GOL/
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BASE METALS
LONDON - Copper fell on Tuesday as traders were reluctant to try to push the metal above Monday's five-week peak given slowing economic growth in China.
Losses were limited, however, by signs of shrinking supply and as China pledged new policy support for 2016.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange CMCU3 closed down 1.5 percent at $4,665.50 a tonne, having hit its highest since mid November at $4,749.50 a tonne on Monday.
Lead CMPB3 ended 1.5 percent lower at $1,700, reversing gains of nearly 3 percent in the previous session.
Supporting lead, cash spiked to its highest since late April at $11.50 against the benchmark CMPB0-3 , highlighting a shortfall of supply on hand for immediate delivery. Zinc CMZN3 closed down 1 percent at $1,517.
For a full report, double click on MET/L
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OIL
NEW YORK - Oil prices edged up off 11-year lows on Tuesday, though a bearish outlook for 2016 and weaker profits for refining oil products kept a lid on gains.
Brent crude LCOc1 for January delivery touched $36.05 a barrel earlier in the day, a penny above a July 2004 low that will be its next resistance level, before rebounding to $36.46 a barrel at 11:38 a.m. EST (1638 GMT).
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 flipped to a premium to Brent briefly, before retreating to a slight discount at $36.45 a barrel. The U.S. benchmark touched its lowest level since 2009 at $33.98 in the previous session.
For a full report, double click on O/R
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