Quick Overview

• Trade ministers from some 30 countries agree that full-scale global trade talks should resume quickly.
  
  
  

• U.S. new home sales were up 4.8% from November's pace and more than expected. For all of 2006, new home sales were down 17%.
  

• U.S. durable goods orders were up 3.1% in December. Excluding transportation, orders were up 2.3%. For all of 2006, durable goods orders were up 7.0%.
  

• The USDA said that there were 11.974 million head of cattle on feed on January 1st, up 1.4% YoY. December placements were down 9% YoY, and marketing’s were down 5%.
  

• YoY Japan's consumer prices were up 0.3%.