US shares continue to fall as banks and financials decline in line with their European counterparts, while much higher wholesale inflation and a poor manufacturing report also hit confidence.

Nasdaq, though, is retaining a small improvement. Rising commodity prices are boosting energy and materials shares.

The Commerce Department said the producer price index (PPI) rose 1.8% in November versus expectations of a mere 0.8% increase.

Core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, was also higher than predicted at 0.5%.

Meanwhile, manufacturing data for New York State revealed a plunge to 2.55 this month from 23.51 in November. That's the biggest decline ever.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says that US banks will be in a stronger position to lend as they pay back government cash injections.

The Dow Jones is down 25 at 10,476, the tech-laced Nasdaq Composite is up 1 at 2,213, while the broader S&P 500 is off 2 point at 1,112.

Wells Fargo has become the latest lender to announce it is exiting the Troubled Asset Relief Program, saying it would return $25bn to the government.

Wells Fargo's rising share price is in contrast with many other banks which are falling. They include Bank Of America Corp, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Suntrust Banks, Zions Bancorporation and Fifth Third Bancorp.

Electronics retailer Best Buy has slumped over 7% despite better than expected third quarter results as it warned that deep discounting over Christmas would put gross margins under pressure.

Kraft Food today responded to Cadbury's defence against the American food giant's hostile takeover attempt, saying it has 'heard nothing from Cadbury that surprises us.'

'Cadbury's Defence Document only reinforces our belief that there is a compelling strategic and financial rationale to combining these two companies and that doing so would be in the best interest of both companies' shareholders,' said Kraft's chairman and chief executive Irene B. Rosenfeld.

'Having said that, Kraft Foods will continue to maintain a disciplined approach with respect to the acquisition of Cadbury in line with the criteria outlined in our offer documentation,' she added.

Solar companies are in demand. JA Solar and First Solar are both higher. JA expects fourth quarter shipments to exceed expectations.


S&P 500 - Risers
Fluor Corp. (FLR) $42.98 +6.04%
Weyerhaeuser Co (WY) $44.92 +5.67%
Qwest Comm International Inc. (Q) $4.30 +5.39%
Tenet Hlthcre Corp. (THC) $5.17 +5.08%
Ford Motor Co (F) $9.39 +3.41%
Jacobs Engineerng Group (JEC) $36.74 +3.17%
Dell Inc. (DELL) $13.57 +2.96%
Adv Micro Devices (AMD) $8.94 +2.94%
Amerisource Bergen Corp. (ABC) $25.72 +2.88%
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (HOT) $36.65 +2.86%

S&P 500 - Fallers
Best Buy Co Inc. (BBY) $41.78 -7.92%
Marshall & Ilsley (MI) $5.60 -6.51%
Suntrust Banks (STI) $21.02 -5.66%
P N C Fin Svcs Gr (PNC) $50.73 -4.93%
Zions Bancorporation (ZION) $13.11 -4.74%
Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) $9.85 -4.66%
Huntington Bancshares Inc. (HBAN) $3.71 -4.63%
Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) $45.16 -3.83%
Penney J C Co Holdin (JCP) $27.81 -3.82%
Eastman Kodak Co (EK) $4.26 -3.40%

Dow Jones I.A - Risers
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $32.22 +1.23%
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) $51.20 +1.03%
Home Depot Inc. (HD) $29.14 +0.94%
3M Co. (MMM) $82.55 +0.78%
Chevron Corp. (CVX) $77.78 +0.67%
American Express Inc. (AXP) $41.43 +0.36%
Boeing Co. (BA) $56.18 +0.23%
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $30.15 +0.13%
Coca-Cola Co. (KO) $59.11 +0.12%
United Technologies Corp. (UTX) $69.96 +0.08%

Dow Jones I.A - Fallers
Bank Of America Corp. (BAC) $15.29 -2.18%
JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $40.98 -1.89%
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $33.04 -1.52%
AT&T Inc. (T) $27.73 -1.14%
Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) $62.40 -0.97%
General Electric Co. (GE) $15.81 -0.85%
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) $129.01 -0.71%
Alcoa Inc. (AA) $14.73 -0.61%
Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $23.71 -0.55%
Travelers Company Inc. (TRV) $50.75 -0.53%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers
Joy Global Inc. (JOYG) $56.14 +3.67%
Foster Wheeler AG (FWLT) $29.46 +3.37%
Dell Inc. (DELL) $13.57 +2.96%
Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) $36.51 +2.03%
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) $141.35 +1.95%
Warner Chilcott Plc (WCRX) $27.89 +1.78%
C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (CHRW) $60.00 +1.63%
Cerner Corp (CERN) $78.43 +1.59%
Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) $45.50 +1.31%
Express Scripts Inc. (ESRX) $89.14 +1.27%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers
Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) $45.16 -3.83%
Hansen Natural Corp. (HANS) $35.35 -1.59%
Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) $33.83 -1.57%
Celgene Corp. (CELG) $53.04 -1.56%
Amgen Inc. (AMGN) $56.05 -1.42%
Millicom International Cellular S.A. (MICC) $73.74 -1.40%
Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) $63.00 -1.25%
Liberty Global Inc. Series A (LBTYA) $20.83 -1.19%
Apollo Group Inc. (APOL) $61.40 -1.06%
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) $38.40 -1.03%

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