Market Update Report 12/18/2013 | Beacon Rock Wealth Advisors

The KUIK Market Update for Wednesday, December 18:

Markets are mixed.

Index	Direction	Change	Units	Last	Time	Change
Dow	Up	48	points	15,921	7:58 AM
S&P500	Up	0.08%	percent	1,782		1.41
Nasdaq Composite	Down	-0.14%	percent	4,018		(5.67)
30 Year Treasury	Up	4	Basis Points	3.91	Annual Yield

The Commerce Department reports construction of new homes jumped 22.7% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.09 million, the highest rate since February 2008, with surges for single-family homes and apartments. Economists expected 963,000 units. Overall starts in November were up 29.6% from November of 2012, pointing to the housing market’s continuing recovery.

The U.S. government will limit public access to death records that have been used for years by identity thieves to commit tax fraud. A provision in the budget bill poised to pass the Senate today would limit access to information in the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File to certified entities, such as life insurers and pension funds that use the data to combat fraud and administer benefits. The limits would apply for three years after an individual’s death. The changes would save the government an estimated $786 million over the next decade by reducing fraudulent claims, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The Federal Reserve ends its two day policy meeting today and the markets are waiting for an announcement on tapering bond buying and interest rates which should come at 11 am Pacific Time.



Serving the West Side first, I am Bill Roller of BR Capital for AM 1360 KUIK.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/housing-starts-up-227-to-109m-rate-in-november-2013-12-18
http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2013/12/17/banana-fungus-spreads-threatening-breakfast-minions-and-more/
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-futures-edge-upward-on-supply-data-2013-12-18?dist=markets


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