The major US equity benchmarks are now being called to start the day lower by 0.3% on average.

That following the release of some 'mixed' economic indicators before the 'opening bell' and and ahead of this afternoon´s Chicago purchasing managers´ index data for the month of January. No less important, the Senate may vote tonight on a temporary extension of the debt ceiling.

At first glance the results out of several corporate heavyweights, such as Sherwin Williams, Mastercard, Colgate, Dow Chemical and Whirlpool seem to have beat analysts´estimates.

But not so those of UPS or Aetna, or not at least in such a decisive manner.

Facebook is off 7% after announcing its fourth quarter results after last night´s close. JDS Uniphase on the other other hand is rocketing higher by no less than 14%.

Initial weekly unemployment claims rose by 38,000 last week, to reach 368,000, well above the 335,000 expected by the consensus.

Personal incomes rose at a 2.6% month-on-month pace in December, far above the 0.8% gain forecast by economists, albeit due to the extraordinary effect of one-time lump sum social security payments.

Personal spending increased a tad less than expected.

Front month West Texas crude futures are now falling by 0.37% to the 97.58 dollar per barrel level in NYMEX trading.

10 year US Treasury yields are down by 2 basis points, to the 1.99% mark.

AB

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