U.S. stocks weighed by housing data

Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:00:58 -0500

U.S. STOCKS WEIGHED BY HOUSING DATA
Stocks weakened Wednesday following the release of data showing an
unexpected drop in sales of new homes.

FED HAS PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT, BUT LITTLE TO SAY
Federal Reserve officials meeting behind closed doors to discuss the
outlook for interest rates and the economy have plenty to chew over,
but probably won't say much about it in public.

KEY VOTE FOR BERNANKE SET FOR THURSDAY
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke moves closer to Senate
confirmation for a second term, as Democrats set a key vote for
Thursday on his nomination.

NEW HOME SALES FALL 7.6% TO 9-MONTH LOW
Sales of new U.S. homes fell 7.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate
of 342,000 in December from 370,000 in November after a popular tax
credit for buyers was set to expire, the Commerce Department
estimates.

EUROPE ENDS LOWER AGAIN AS BBVA SHARES SLIDE
European shares dropped on Wednesday, down for the fifth time in six
sessions, with BBVA losing ground after the Spanish banking giant
reported a sharp decline in profit.