Quick Overview

• The Fed’s Beige Book said ten Districts reported some increased activity and improvement in conditions.
  

• The Mortgage Bankers Association said its index of mortgage applications rose 14%.
  

• U.K. Manufacturing was unchanged in November and down 5.4% YoY
  

• YoY Germany's GDP fell 5.0%
  

• The U.S. Department of Energy said:
  Supplies of crude oil rose 3.7 million barrels to 331.0 million barrels.
  Supplies of gasoline rose 3.8 million barrels
  Supplies of heating oil fell 1.1 million barrels.
  Refinery use rose from 79.9% to 81.3% of capacity last week
  Gasoline rose 0.4% YoY
  Distillate demand fell 4.0% YoY
  

• India imported 343 tons of gold in 09, down from 420 tons in 08

• Germany's fourth-quarter 2009 cocoa grind rose 9.4 YoY to 95,834 tonnes, the association of German Confectionary Producers said.