The Chicago Fed National Activity Index slipped in January to 0.22 from 0.54, but generally remains indicative of decent activity growth in the US in early 2012. Euro-zone consumer confidence improved modestly for the second month running in February lifting from minus 20.6 to minus 20.2.

Despite European leaders agreeing on a 130 billion euro bail-out package, European shares fell on Tuesday as investors booked profits on earlier gains in thin trade. But miners were mixed with Rio Tinto down 0.2pct in London trade while BHP Billiton rose by 0.1pct. The FTSEurofirst index fell by 0.5pct while the UK FTSE eased by 0.3pct and the German Dax lost 0.6pct.

US sharemarkets dipped in an out of positive territory on Tuesday as investors adjusted positions after the Greek bail-out deal. Retailers were mixed after posting earnings results with Home Depot up 0.3pct but Wal Mart shares lost 4.2pct. The Dow Jones pushed above 13,000 for the first time in almost four years but at the close, the Dow was up slightly by just 16 points or 0.1pct to 12,965 points. The S&P 500 was up 0.1pct and the Nasdaq eased by 3pts or 0.1pct.

US treasury prices fell on Tuesday (yields higher) as investors shifted away from safe-haven assets in light of the successful Greek bailout deal package. An increase in bond supply also weighed on prices with Treasury selling US$35 billion of two-year notes. US 2yr yields rose by 1pt to 0.303pct and US 10yr yields rose by 7pts to 2.055pct.

Major currencies were mixed against the greenback in European and US trade on Tuesday as investors adjusted positions. The Euro held between US$1.3195 and US$1.3290, and was near US$1.3240 in late US trade. The Aussie dollar eased from highs around US107.50c to near US106.50c, and was near US106.65c in late US trade. And the Japanese yen held between 79.61 yen per US dollar and JPY79.83 and was near JPY79.70 in late US trade.

Benchmark crude oil prices posted solid gains on Tuesday after investors concluded that the Greek bail-out package boosted prospects for the Euro-zone region and the broader global economy. US Nymex hit the highest levels since May 2011, up by US$2.60 or 2.5pct to US$105.84 a barrel while London Brent crude rose by US$1.61 to US$121.66 a barrel.

Base metal prices posted solid gains on Tuesday, lifting between 2.4-3.6pct as investors became more optimistic on global economic prospects after successful negotiation of the Greek bail-out package. And the gold price also posted solid gains in line with other commodities with the Comex April gold up by US$32.60 to US$1,758.50 an ounce.

Ahead: In Australia, the wage cost index is released. David Jones is reporting quarterly sales. Woodside, Suncorp and CSL are amongst those reporting earnings. In the US, data on existing home sales is released together with weekly chain store sales and the mortgage market index.