Currencies, Commodities, US stocks in news, Global M and S, Global Opinion, Global Markets,

The US market gained despite a strong bounce by the US dollar. The Nasdaq Composite closed at a new 15-month high.

By Varinder Bansal, Research Analyst at CNBC-TV18

The US market gained despite a strong bounce by the US dollar. The Nasdaq Composite closed at a new 15-month high.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up 85 points at 10,414. The Nasdaq ended up 26 points at 2,238 and the S&P 500 Index was up 11.6 points at 1,114.

US Advancing Sectors: Financials gained 1.5%). Consumer Discretionary was up 1.3% and Materials up 1.2%.

Asian markets gained in opening trade. Straits Times was up 1.3%. Nikkei and Hang Seng were up 1% each. Taiwan was up 0.78% and Kospi up 0.3%. However, Shanghai was down 0.2%. SGX Nifty gained 0.6%.

European markets ended higher. The CAC was up 2%, DAX up 1.7% and FTSE up 1.87%. CBOE VIX was down 5.5% at 20.5.

US stocks in news

Alcoa was up 8%, as Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to "overweight"; best monthly gain in last 10 years.

Intel was up 2.4%. It hit 52-week high after Barclays upgraded the stock to "overweight".

Sanofi Aventis fell 0.3% and Chattem was up 33% after Sanofi bought Chattem for $1.9 billion.

Healthcare stocks gained as Senate bill advanced.

Global M&S

Indian ADRs; Tata Communications was down 5.5%, Wipro down 3.5% and Sterlite down 3%.

Global Metals: Alcoa was up 7.9%, ArcelorMittal up 3.4% and Vedanta up 2.3%.

Global Opinion

Bank of Japan Governor said that the central bank will “persistently” keep interest rates at close to zero.

Commodities

CRB Commodity Index ended down 0.5% after opening up 0.6% gain in early trade.

Crude oil was down 1% at $73.7/bbl ahead of OPEC meeting today.

February gold was down 1.4% at $1096/ounce.

March silver was down 1.7% at $17.04/ounce.

London Metal Exchange Index of six metals including copper and aluminum rose 1.5%.

Baltic Dry Index was down 3.2%.

Currencies

Dollar Index ended up 0.4% after opening down 0.3% in early trade.

Dollar Index gained for fifth straight day.

Dollar went up 45 bps versus Euro at 1.428.

Yen depreciated 1.2% versus USD at 91.4.

Korean Won depreciated 1.66% versus USD.

Data to watch

OPEC meeting today

US 3Q Final GDP ((preliminary GDP at 2.8% against advance estimate of 3.5%))

UK 3Q GDP

New Zealand 3Q GDP

US Personal Consumption Expenditure

US Existing Home Sales

BoJ’s Governor Shirakawa Speech