Quick Overview

• Australia's GDP rose 09% in the first quarter of 2006 and up 3.1% YoY.
  

• Japan's index of leading indicators was unchanged in April, at 50.0.
  
  

• The Energy Department said:
  Crude-oil stocks grew last week by 1.1 million barrels to 346.6 million barrels, or 4 percent above year ago levels.
  Gasoline inventories grew by 1 million barrels to 210.3 million barrels, or 2.5 percent below year ago levels.
  Heating oil supplies were up 100,000 barrels.
  
  

• Over the past four weeks gasoline demand is 0.7 percent higher than it was during the same period a year ago.
  
  

• Retail diesel fuel prices this summer are expected to average $2.79 per gallon, 38 cents higher than last year, the Energy Department said.