A.M. market numbers: November 18, 2009

| North American markets | International markets | Bonds | Currency | Commodities |

Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday amid investor caution following the recent advance in the region’s markets. European shares rose modestly in early trade.

Gold, meanwhile, set another record high and crude oil prices strengthened as the dollar resumed its slide, falling against the yen and the euro.

The directionless trade in Asia followed an erratic session on Wall Street and a string of recent gains as the weakening dollar increased investor appetite for stocks and commodities like gold and oil, which are priced in greenbacks and can provide a hedge against a frail U.S. currency.

But after several indexes touched new highs for the year, investors have become worried about the market overheating and started to book profits. There’s a lack of conviction among many investors about the market’s direction, analysts said.

Early going in Europe, Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.2 per cent, Germany’s DAX was up 0.4 per cent and France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.5 per cent.

Japan and Hong Kong led the Asia’s declines, with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 stock average losing 53.13 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 9,676.80 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shedding 73.82, or 0.3 per cent, to 22,840.33.

Markets in India, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand also fell.

Among higher markets, South Korea’s key index rose 1.1 per cent to 1,603.97 and Shanghai’s benchmark was up 0.6 per cent to 3,303.23. Shares in Taiwan and Australia were modestly higher as well.

Overnight in the U.S., the Dow Jones industrial average rose 30.46, or 0.3 per cent, to 10,437.42.

The broader Standard&Poor’s 500 index rose 1.02, or 0.1 per cent, to 1,110.32, while the Nasdaq composite index rose 5.93, or 0.3 per cent, to 2,203.78.

U.S. futures pointed to a slightly lower open Wednesday on Wall Street. Dow futures were down 3 points at 10,395 and S&P futures were off 1.1, or 0.1 per cent, at 1,106.30.

Oil prices rose further, closing in on $80 barrel in Asia after an unexpected drop in U.S. crude supplies suggested demand could be improving.

Benchmark crude for December delivery was up 51 cents to $79.66 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 24 cents to settle at $79.14 on Tuesday.

Gold was trading up 0.6 per cent at a new record of 1146.5.

In currencies, the dollar fell to 89.11 yen from 89.24 yen. The euro rose to $1.4917 from $1.4874.

(The Canadian Press)

North American markets (previous close)

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Dow Jones	10,437.42	+30.46 or +0.29%	+18.93%
S&P 500	1,110.32	+1.02 or +0.09%	+22.92%
NASDAQ	2,203.78	+5.93 or +0.27%	+39.74%
TSX Composite	11,631.62	+119.36 or +1.04%	+29.42%

International markets

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	Open	Change	YTD
Nikkei	9,676.80	-53.13 or -0.55%	+9.22%
Hang Seng	22,840.33	-73.82 or -0.32%	+58.75%
SENSEX	16,998.78	-51.87 or -0.30%	+76.20%
FTSE 100	5,367.90	+21.97 or +0.41%	+21.06%
CAC 40	3,854.81	+25.75 or +0.67%	+19.79%
DAX	5,816.45	+38.02 or +0.66%	+20.92%

Bonds

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Bonds	$Current	$Previous	%Yield
Cdn. 10-year bond	103.15	102.93	3.36
Cdn. 30-year bond	118.47	118.12	3.90
U.S. 10-year bond	100.25	100.44	3.35
U.S. 30-year bond	101.88	102.09	4.26

Currency

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BoC Close	Today	Previous
Canadian $	0.9553	0.9514
US $	1.0468	1.0511

Euro Spot Rate	Today	Previous
Canadian $	0.6388	0.9514
Euro	1.5654	1.0511

Commodities

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Gold	AM	PM
London Gold Fix ($US)	$1,146.00	$1,130.00

Oil	Open	Change
WTI Crude Future (US)	$80.05	+$0.91 or +1.15%

(11/18/09)