Quick Overview

• MBIA Inc. Chief Executive Dunton dismissed bankruptcy rumors and expects to keep AAA rating.
  

• U.S. jobless claims rose 69,000 to 375,000, more than expected and the most in over two years.
  

• U.S. Personal incomes rose 0.5%
  

• U.S. Consumer spending rose 0.2%.

• U.S. Personal consumption expenditures rose 3.5% YoY.
  

• U.S. employment cost index rose 0.8%

• The Chicago purchasing managers' index fell from 56.4 to 51.5
  

• Russia’s GDP rose 8.1% in 2007
  

• Canada’s GDP rose 0.1% in November and 2.7% YoY
  

• Euro area unemployment rate was unchanged in December at 7.2%.
  

• The U.S. DoE said underground supplies of natural gas fell 274 billion cubic feet last week to 2.262 trillion cubic feet. Supplies are down 13% YoY