U.S. stocks to open lower as housing starts plunge

11:40 am ET Nov 17, 2006

DJIA

12,292

-13.21

S&P

1,396

-3.71

NASDAQ

2,433

-15.48

10Yr

4.61%

-0.048

U.S. stocks to open lower as housing starts plunge

NEW YORK
U.S. stocks were lower on Friday after a plunge in October housing
starts revived talk of a hard landing for the U.S. economy and provided
an excuse for traders to lock in some of the market's recent gains.

Economic Report: U.S. housing starts plunge to six-year low in October

WASHINGTON
Home builders retreated on a massive scale in October, dashing hopes
that the bottom has been found in the troubled housing sector.

Commodities Corner: Prices, supply dog platinum, turn heads toward
palladium

SAN FRANCISCO
Platinum's a rare metal, worth twice as much as gold and hailed for its
value in jewelry as well as in the industrial market, so there's little
doubt that demand for it will continue at record levels.