Dow Jones hits 13000 intraday for 1st time since May 2008

By Gautam Broker, Research Analyst at CNBC-TV18

**US markets react to newsflow post an extended weekend

The Dow Jones conquers 13000 intraday for the first time since May 2008, but ended flat on profit booking on Tuesday. 

US markets at close: The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.1% at 12,966; S&P 500 Index rose 0.1% to 1362 and Nasdaq Composite was down 0.1%.

Walmart failed to meet consensus; the stock ended down over 4%.

Chicago Fed National Activity Index for January fell month-on-month at 0.22 versus prior revised 0.54.

European markets closed marginally lower: DAX was down 0.6%; CAC lost 0.2% and FTSE slipped 0.3%.

Brent crude surged close to USD 122/barrel yesterday.

Asia today

China HSBC Manufacturing flash PMI awaited; it was at 48.8 in January

Hang Seng was down 0.7% and Straits Times fell 0.6%

Kospi dropped 0.3% and Shanghai declined 0.1%

SGX Nifty was down 14 points at 5,606.

Currencies

Euro saw a high of 1.329 to the dollar yesterday

Euro was close to 1.322 a dollar this morning

Dollar Index was at 79.2

Commodities

Broad based rally was seen in commodities post Greece; some profit booking was seen today morning

Yesterday: Brent crude was up 1.3% at USD 121.7/barrel and WTI crude rose 2.5% at close to USD 106/barrel 

Iran talks about pre-emptive strikes against 'enemies'; it will go ahead with nuke program

China and India are seen cutting Iran imports by 10-20%.

LME Copper was up 2% at USD 8449/tonne

Gold was close to USD 1760/ounce.

Watch out for

US Existing Home Sales

France consumer prices (January)

Euro services, manufacturing PMI (February)

UK MPC minutes of meeting