Quick Overview

• The Dow-Jones industrial average closed above 11,000 for the first time in more than four years.
  

• Cocoa grindings in Germany totaled 70,332 tons in the fourth quarter of 2005, up 23% YoY.
  
  

• Retail sales in Australia were down 0.1% in November, weaker than expected.
  

• Officials at the G-10 meeting said the world economy is in good shape and may grow more in 2006 than in 2005.
  

• The German government approved a 25 billion Euro spending program designed to give momentum to a weak economic upturn.
  
  

• Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki urged the Bank of Japan to use caution in deciding when to end its ultraloose monetary policy, even though he expects the nation's economy to shake off deflation in 2006