Additionally, the Commerce Dept. said that its price index for consumers was unchanged in December after falling 0.4 percent in November. Excluding food and energy prices, the index rose 0.1 percent in December following a 0.2 percent increase in the previous month.

On an annual basis, the index rose 2.8 percent in December, the same as in November. The core index rose at an annual rate of 1.9 percent for the third consecutive month.

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS NEWS

Asian-Pacific benchmarks closed in the positive with only four bourses actively trading on Monday as many regional markets were closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. The Nikkei continued to build on the strong Friday finish when it hit a five-year high of 3.6%. The index rose 1.3% in the morning but later rebounded to close up 0.55%. Australia’s All Ordinaries gained 0.5%, Manila’s PSE advanced 0.47%, while Singapore Straits Times ended flat.

European stocks finished mixed after earnings updates from two major French companies and higher opening on Wall Street, failed to impress investors. The German DAX 30 edged up 0.2%, the French CAC 40 declined 0.2%, and London’s FTSE 100 inched down to 0.1%.

OIL, METALS, CURRENCIES

Crude oil prices declined ahead of a closely watched OPEC meeting, despite the continuous tensions in Nigeria and Iran. Light sweet crude for March delivery fell 14 cents to $67.62 a barrel. Heating oil was flat at $1.8069 a gallon, while natural gas gained 29 cents to $8.795 per 1,000 cubic feet. London Brent lost 29 cents to $65.95.

European gold prices climbed on political worries. In London gold traded at the fixed price $560.80, up from $556.95. In Zurich the precious metal traded at $559.93, up from $557.30. Silver opened at $9.64, up from $9.57.

The U.S. dollar advanced against other major currencies. The euro was quoted at $1.2090, down from $1.2105. The dollar bought 117.59 yen, up from 117.27. The British pound stood at $1.7655, down from $1.7678.

EARNINGS NEWS

Tyson Foods Inc, (TSN: chart), chicken, beef and pork processor, reported Q1 income of 11 cents a share, down from 14 cents a share a year ago, missing analyst estimate of 16 cents a share. Sales were flat at $6.45 billion. The company forecast a net loss for Q2, and is targeting fiscal 2006 earnings to range from 50 cents to 80 cents a share.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, (JBHT: chart), trucking company, reported Q4 net income of 41 cents a share, nearly three times up from 12 cents a share in the year-ago period, beating analysts’ forecast for earnings of 36 cents a share.

Exxon Mobil, (XOM: chart), oil company, reported Q4 net income of $1.71 a share, up from $1.30 a share a year ago on revenue growth. If not for special items, the company would have earned $1.65 a share.

Sealed Air Corp, (SEE: chart), packaging company, reported Q4 net income of 77 cents a share, more than double from 33 cents a share in the year-earlier period, beating analyst estimate of 74 cents a share. The company said sales in Q4 advanced 6% to $1.08 billion from $1.02 billion. Sealed Air also initiated a quarterly cash dividend of 15 cents a share and added it expects 2006 earnings of $2.90 to $3.10 a share.

Schering-Plough, (SGP: chart), manufacturer of pharmaceutical and health care products reported that it reversed to a Q4 profit of 7 cents a share, up 13% from a net loss of 58 cents a share in the year-ago on 6% revenue growth including sales from its cholesterol joint venture with Merck & Co. Analysts were expecting earnings of 8 cents a share.

Kinetic Concepts Inc, (KCI: chart), healthcare device manufacturer, reported that Q4 net earnings advanced 36% to 64 cents a share on 18% revenue growth, beating analyst estimate of 61 cents a share. The company stated that increased revenue from its V.A.C. wound treatment was mainly responsible for the earnings growth.

Smith International Inc., (SII: chart), oil and gas industry services company, reported an 11% rise in Q4 profit to 44 cents a share on 26% revenue growth. If not for a penny a share charge on a patent settlement, its results came in beat estimates of 43 cents a share.

Olin Corp, (OLN: chart), metals and chemicals company, reported Q4 net income of 45 cents a share, up from 32 cents a share in the year-earlier quarter, topping analyst estimate of 28 cents a share. The company announced sales increase to $604.1 million from $487.3 million a year ago. The company said it beat its own projected forecast of earnings per share of 25 cents due primarily to the recovery of environmental expenses and related expense.

Eastman Kodak Co, (EK: chart), consumer, professional, health and other imaging products company, reported a Q4 loss of 18 cents a share, narrower from a loss of 20 cents a year-ago, missing analysts’ expectations of a profit of 39 cents a share. On a continuing operations basis, company posted a loss of 50 cents a share. Sales in Q4 increased to $4.2 billion from $3.76 billion in Q4 last year.

[Cummins Inc, (CMI: chart), engine manufacturer, reported Q4 net income of $3.31 a share, up from $2.41 a share in the year-ago period beating analyst estimate of $3.11 a share. Sales at the company in Q4 advanced 17% to $2.75 billion from $2.35 billion. In Q4 the company benefited 26 cents a share, a gain on a tax issue.