MORNING REPORT
(7am AEST)

US advance retail sales edged rose by 0.1pct in April after the brisk 0.8pct rise in March. The Empire manufacturing survey rebounded jumping from 6.56 to 17.09 in May. Across the sub-indices both new orders and shipments recorded healthy gains.

The NAHB housing market index jumped from 24 to 29 in May -a five year high. Net long term foreign purchases of US securities totalled $36.2 billion in March, up from just $10.1 billion. Net purchases of US treasury bonds and notes, totalled $20.5 billion.

European shares fell on Tuesday with the political uncertainty in Greece being the main driver. Euro-zone GDP was flat in the first quarter of 2012, a little better than consensus expectation of -0.2pct fall. Germany was the main positive posting an expansion (+0.5 pct q/q), with other large European nations all struggling in the first three months of the year - France (flat), Spain (-0.3pct) and Italy (-0.8pct). The STOXX 600 Banking index fell 3.4pct. The benchmark FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 0.7pct with the German Dax down 0.8pct while the UK FTSE lost 0.5pct.

US sharemarkets fell for the third straight session on Tuesday. Investors remained cautious as attempts to form a government in Greece fell apart, raising the possibility of a exit from the Euro zone. Energy and material stocks (both down 1.5pct) bore the brunt of the weakness. The upbeat housing data supported housing stocks with the PHLX housing index rising 0.6pct. The Dow Jones fell by 63pts or 0.5pct and the S&P 500 fell by 0.6pct while the Nasdaq lost 9pts or 0.3pct.

US treasuries were mostly flat on Tuesday as worries about Greece´s political turmoil offset a bout of profit taking. US 2yr yields rose 1pt to 0.28pct and US 10yr yields were flat at 1.77pct.

European and commodity currencies fell against the greenback in overnight trade. The Euro fell from highs near US$1.2870 to lows around US$1.2720 and ended US trade near US$1.2730. The Aussie dollar fell from highs of US100.12c to US99.19c and ended US trade near US99.30c. And the Japanese yen held between 79.80 yen per US dollar and JPY80.30 and was near JPY80.25 at the close of US trade.

Benchmark crude oil prices were mixed on Tuesday. Brent crude edged higher on the supportive German economic growth data. However anticipation of another build in US crude inventories pressured US crude prices. US Nymex crude fell by US80c to US$93.98 a barrel and London Brent crude rose by US67c to US$112.24 a barrel.

Base metal prices were mixed on the London Metals Exchange on Tuesday. Copper fell by 1.3to a fresh 4-month low, driven by the uncertainty in Europe. The stronger US dollar also added to the weakness. And the gold price fell on Tuesday in line with other commodities. The June Comex gold futures price closed down US$3.90 or 0.2pct to US$1,557.10 an ounce - the lowest close for 2012.

Ahead: In Australia Reserve consumer sentiment and wage price data are released. In the US, housing starts, building permits, industrial production and the FOMC minutes are scheduled.