Tesoro led the decliners in the S&P 500 index with a loss of 4% followed by declines in Humana of 3.5%, in MEMC of 3.4%, in Dillards of 3.3%, and in Best Buy of 3.2%. Schering Plough led the gainers in the index with a rise of 11% followed by gains in SLM Corp of 9.4%, in SanDisk of 7.5%, in LSI of 7.1%, and in Novellus of 6.8%.


South American Markets Indexes

In Latin Markets Venezuela led gainers in the region with a rise of 4.74% followed by increases in Peru of 1.54%, in Brazil of 1.28%, and in Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Colombia of 0.7%.

Asian Markets

In Tokyo Nikkei 225 Index closed higher 200.54 or 1.52% to 13,.389.90, in Hong Kong Hang Seng index increased 392.20 or 1.64% closed to 24,264.63. In Australia ASX 200 index higher 106.00 or 1.93% to close 5,608.90. In Malaysia KL Composite index decreased 14.07 or 1.14% closed to 1,225.58.

In South Korea Kospi Index increased 21.44 or 1.23% to close at 1,763.63, in Thailand SET index closed higher 0.97 or 0.12% to 826.68 and Indonesia JSE Index edged decreased 104.22 or 4.45% to 2,237.97. Sensex index in India increased 82.15 or 0.52% to 15,832.55.

Commodities, Metals, and Currencies

Crude oil decreased $1.00 to close at $103.83 a barrel for a front month contract, natural gas decreased 42 cent to $9.42 per mBtu, and gasoline futures decreased 4.93 cents to close at 272.43 cents per gallon.

Gold increased $9.40 in New York trading to close at $909.60 per ounce, silver closed up 30 cents to $17.48 per ounce, and copper for front month delivery increased 2.40 cents to 390.15 per pound.

Wheat futures increased 2.00 cents in Chicago trading and closed at $9.52 per bushel. Sugar increased 4 cent to 11.81 cents per pound. Soybean future closed up 14 cents to $12.57 a bushel.

Dollar edged lower and traded near a record low against euro to $1.5682 and edged higher against yen to 102.25.

Bond Yields increased for 10-year U.S. bonds and closed at 3.58% and on 30-year bonds decreased to close at 4.38%.