Quick Overview

• After a sharp downturn in August, The Conference Board's index of consumer confidence rose from 100.2 to 104.5 in September, the New York-based Conference Board said Tuesday
  
  

• The confidence of American consumers edged up during the latest week, helped by lower gasoline prices and despite signs of a cooling U.S. economy, ABC News and The Washington Post said on Tuesday.
  
  

• The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's manufacturing index rose from +3 to +9 in September, more than expected.
  

• The National Cocoa Development Committee estimates Nigerian production at 220,000 tons of cocoa in 2006-2007, up 10% YoY.
  

• Germany's September Ifo business confidence index fell slightly to 104.9 from 105.0 in August, but was stronger than market expectations for a decline to 104.4.
  

• Canada officially posted at C$13.2 billion federal budget surplus in 2005-2006, the third largest ever.
  
  

• YoY the Mexican economy expanded 5.00 percent in July.