American Markets:   DOW JONES: 12105   - 107   NASDAQ:  2722  - 33

USDINR:      45.25     +0.08          EURINR:       61.65        +0.19

GBPINR:      70.37     -0.14           EURUSD:       1.39          -0.00

GBPUSD:     1.58    +0.00            USDJPY:        81.30        -0.30

U.S. Economy: Existing Home Sales Climb to Eight-Month High Sales of U.S. previously owned homes unexpectedly climbed in January to the highest level in eight months as investors used all-cash transactions to snap up distressed properties.

Purchases increased 2.7%to a 5.36 mn annual rate, figures from the National Association of Realtors showed today in Washington. The share represented by foreclosures and short sales rose to a 12-month high, pushing the median price to the lowest level in almost nine years.Affluent investors may continue taking a bigger share of the market as credit restrictions and 9% unemployment keep first-time buyers at bay. A pickup in job growth is needed to ensure more Americans will be in a position to consider home ownership.

Stocks fell as oil prices surged and Hewlett-Packard Co.'s forecasts trailed analysts' estimates. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 0.6 percent to 1,307.4 at the 4 p.m. close in New York. The S&P Homebuilder Supercomposite declined 1 percent as foreclosures represent competition for construction companies.

Asian Markets: NIKKEI:  10535   - 43   HANG SENG:   22906   - 83      KOSPI: 1964   + 2   SGX NIFTY    5428      -12

Asian Stocks Fall for Fourth Day as Oil Surges; Carmakers Drop Asian stocks fell, sending the regional benchmark index to its longest losing streak in three months, as oil surged to $100 a barrel for the first time in two years amid an escalating conflict in Libya. Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., Japan's two biggest carmakers, retreated more than 1% in Tokyo. BHP Billiton Ltd., the world's biggest mining company and Australia's largest oil producer, slipped 1.2 %in Sydney as copper futures fell. Inpex Corp., Japan's No. 1 oil explorer, climbed 1.9% in Tokyo. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.2 %to 136.09 as of 9:40 a.m. in Tokyo, dropping for a fourth day in its longest losing streak since November. About two stocks declined for each that advanced. The gauge sank 1.8% on Feb. 22, the most in more than a month, as Middle East rulers continued in their attempts to contain uprisings that have overthrown leaders in Tunisia and Egypt and spread to Bahrain, Yemen and Libya.

European Markets:  FTSE:  5923   - 73     CAC:  4013    - 37     DAX: 7194   - 123    

Crude oil for April delivery increased 2.8 percent to settle at $98.10 a barrel in New York yesterday after earlier reaching $100 for the first time since October 2008. Libya's uprising threatened to disrupt exports from Africa's third- biggest supplier and spread to other Middle East oil producers. Heavy gunfire broke out in Tripoli again yesterday, army units defected and a former aide to Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi warned the spreading revolt may topple the regime within days.

Copper futures for May delivery retreated 1.9 percent in New York yesterday on speculation that the growing unrest in the Middle East and North Africa will derail the global economic recovery and crimp demand for the metal.