13:00PM European shares closed near five-year highs.
European stock markets finished the Wednesday session higher, with the three major indexes flirting with five-year highs. The positive sentiment was generated by earnings-inspired news from auto maker DaimlerChrysler and tire maker Michelin, which helped offset nervousness around the Fed Reserve’s decision on interest rates. The German DAX 30 advanced 0.28%, boosted by the automotive sector. DaimlerChrysler rallied 4.2% after the carmaker reported a smaller decline in operating profit than expected. Volkswagen and BMW also posted gains. The French CAC 40 added 0.33%, lifted by tire maker Michelin and luxury goods companies LVMH. However, gains for the index were limited by 1% decline for STMicroelectronics due to disappointing sales. London FTSE 100 advanced 0.52%, lifted by Kingfisher and Sainsbury, rising 1.6% and 0.7% respectively.

Crude oil climbed after the weekly U.S. inventory data showed the biggest one-week drop of crude oil supplies since July. Crude oil gained $1.32 to $60.67 a barrel. London Brent rose $1.38 to $61.24. Heating oil gained nearly 4 cents to $1.733 per gallon. The U.S. dollar extended recent weakness against its rival currencies. The euro was quoted at $1.2589, up from $1.2566. The dollar bought 119.09 yen, down from 119.27. The British pound stood at $1.8773, up from $1.8742. European gold prices gained ground. In London, gold traded at $587.40 per troy ounce, up from $581. In Zurich, the precious metal traded at $580.70 per ounce, up from $579.60. Silver closed at $11.83, up from $11.51.


11:30AM Stocks were mixed. Tech stocks supported the Nasdaq.
Investors traded cautiously, awaiting the Fed Reserve''s decision on interest rates and an indication about the rates outlook. The Nasdaq moved up as tech stocks were driven higher by stronger-than-expected quarterly results from Amazon (AMZN: chart). Shares of the online retailer jumped 11.2% on better-than-expected profit and revenue. In contrast, the blue-chip index lost ground, dragged by Dow components Boeing (BA: chart) and General Motors (GM: chart) which released dim earnings views. Altria Group (MO: chart) rose 3.4%, helping to limit losses on the Dow after setting a date to decide the spin-off of its Kraft Foods unit. The Dow was further dragged down by existing home sales data for September showed sales declined more than expected to 6.18 million units from 6.30 million in August. A notable increase by the price of oil contributed to some strength among energy stocks while also contributing to weakness among oil-sensitive stocks. The Dow Industrials were down 26 points at 12,102. The Nasdaq Composite index rose 9 points to 2,354 while the S&P 500 Index was up 2 points at 1,379.

Existing home sales fell more than anticipated.
Wednesday morning, the National Association of Realtors released its report on existing home sales in the month of September, showing that existing home sales fell more than economists had been expecting. The report showed that existing home sales fell 1.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.18 million units in September from a 6.30 million unit rate in August. Economists had expected sales to fall to a 6.25 million unit rate. The report also showed that total housing inventory levels fell 2.4 percent to 3.75 million existing homes available for sale at the end of September. This represents a 7.3-month supply at the current sales pace. NAR added that the national median existing-home price for all housing types was $220,000 in September, which is down 2.2 percent from $225,000 in September of 2005.


9:45AM The Dow fell, dragged by Boeing and GM. The Nasdaq gained on Amazon gains.
U.S. stock averages opened mixed, as the Dow slipped below the unchanged line, while the Nasdaq moved modestly higher. The Dow decline was largely due to steep losses by General Motors (GM: chart) and Boeing (BA: chart). Shares of Dow component Boeing (BA: chart) fell 2% after the aerospace giant reported quarterly revenue below expectations, although its earnings came in above the estimates and the company raised its outlook for 2007. General Motors (GM: chart) dropped 4%, despite posting narrower Q3 loss. Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq benefited from earnings-inspired gains for Amazon (AMZN: chart). The online retailer jumped 9% on better-than-expected quarterly results, prompting five brokerages to lift price targets on the stock. Some early strength in the semiconductor sector also supported the index, with KLA-Tencor (KLAC: chart) leading the sector higher, rising 8% after the company forecast better-than-expected Q2 revenues. In midmorning trading, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 5.52, or 0.05%, at 12,122.36. The Standard & Poor''s 500 index was up 0.65, or 0.05%, at 1,378.03, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 5.63, or 0.24%, to 2,350.47. Bonds rose, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note falling to 4.81% from 4.82% late Tuesday.


9:30AM The FTSE 100 in London hit a fresh-year high on Wednesday.
The FTSE 100 in London rose 25.5 points, or 0.4%, at 6,208.0 at mid-day, its highest level since February 2001.

Advancers

Tate & Lyle led the advancers, up 3.5% as Deutsche Bank lifted its recommendation on the sugar and sweetener group from hold to buy, increasing its price target.

Mining stocks were in focus again. Vedanta Resources gained 3.3%, Xstrata rose 2.7% and Rio Tinto firmed 1.8%.

First Choice Holidays put on 2% after the travel group announced that despite a challenging market, it was on track to deliver strong underlying earnings growth.

Decliners

BSkyB shed 1.7% as the pay-TV broadcaster started trading without rights to the latest dividend payout.

Mid-cap stocks trading ex-div included Brit Insurance, down 2.2%, and Helphire Group, 1.7% lower. Northgate Information Solutions, the IT company, slumped 11.5% as takeover talks ended.

Other news

A consensus seems to be emerging about corporate pensions. It appears, schemes will be taken off the hands of the companies. Pensions are finally closed to new and existing members, and will be most likely passed to an insurance company or the like. Hence, the appearance in the UK of a number of new contenders for this business, among them Goldman Sachs.


9:00AM Stock futures turned mixed ahead of the Fed’s decision.
U.S. stock futures reversed from earlier gains and turned to a lackluster trading, reflecting uncertainty ahead of the Fed Reserve’s decision on interest rates and disappointing news from Boeing Co. However, positive quarterly results released by General Motors and Amazon helped limit losses. The Fed is due to make its interest rate decision public at 2:15 p.m. ET. The economic calendar today also includes the release of existing-home sales for September.