FROM MORRISON SECURITIES PTY. LTD

U.S. STOCK MARKETS

U.S. stocks pushed higher on the heels of firm readings on the domestic economy, putting the Dow industrials on course for the first close above 13000 since May 2008.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which at one point Monday had fallen 100 points, climbed 24 points, or 0.2%, to 13006 in afternoon trade.

The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index rose three points, or 0.2%, to 1369 and the Nasdaq Composite gained five points, or 0.2%, to 2968.

Financial and consumer-discretionary-sector stocks were the S&P 500's best performers, while utility and energy stocks lost the most ground. Among blue chips American Express gained 1.7%, while Walt Disney rose 1.4% after analysts at Goldman Sachs called it one of their favorite stocks, up from a neutral rating.

Stocks opened lower, but reversed early losses after a pair of economic readings on the U.S. housing market and regional manufacturing activity.

The number of home buyers who signed contracts to purchase previously owned homes grew last month to the highest level in 21 months. An index of pending sales of existing homes in January increased 2% on a monthly basis to 97.0. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast a rise of 1%. Meanwhile, a reading on February's manufacturing activity in the Dallas area rose at a faster rate this month. The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said its general business activity index increased to 17.8 in February after it swung to 15.3 in January

EUROPEAN STOCK MARKETS

European stocks ended in the red but well off lows Monday following a couple of encouraging U.S. data releases, but disappointment over the Group of 20 nations' meeting, rising oil prices and trepidation ahead of the European Central Bank's coming liquidity boost weighed on sentiment.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index closed down 0.3% at 263.86. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index ended down 0.3% at 5915.55, Germany's DAX fell 0.2% to 6849.60 and France's CAC-40 index ended 0.7% lower at 3441.45. Although oil prices eased off highs Monday, investors were worried the recent spike would hit corporate earnings and dent global growth.

The knock-on effects of the recent surge in oil prices were highlighted by JP Morgan Cazenove, which downgraded its stance on European auto stocks to neutral from overweight.

The Stoxx Europe 600 autos index suffered the brunt of the selling Monday, ending the day down 1.8%. Meanwhile, the G-20 meeting of industrialized and developing economies gave investors little to cheer about. Leaders of the G-20 nations said members of the euro zone must step up their own efforts and commit more money to tackle the crisis before coming to them for support.

Overall, there was an air of caution, as investors awaited the outcome of the German lower house of parliament vote on the Greek bailout and ahead of Wednesday's launch of the ECB's second three-year, long-term refinancing operation.

U.S. data helped European markets come off lows late in the day, with both pending home sales figures for January and the Dallas Fed survey for February beating expectations. Posting the biggest drop in the European index, Essar Energy PLC sank 14.6% after reporting it swung to a $881.1 million pretax loss in 2011.

HSBC Holdings fell 3.7%, despite reporting a 2011 full-year net profit of $16.8 billion. Analysts said the main drag was the investment-banking division, which saw a 24% fall in pretax profit.

The Stoxx Europe 600 banks index closed down 1.4%. On the upside, oil major BP added 1.1%, after the company said its civil trial over the Deepwater Horizon incident has been delayed for a week so that BP and lawyers for the individuals and businesses suing BP can continue settlement talks.

ASIA-PACIFIC STOCK MARKETS

Most Asian stock markets ended lower Monday on worries about the impact of high oil prices on global economic growth, with Japanese shares reversing early gains as the yen's rebound after recent losses led investors to lock in profits.

Mainland Chinese stocks extended a string of gains amid improved liquidity after Beijing's monetary easing earlier this month, with automobile companies leading the charge.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.9%, South Korea's Kospi lost 1.4%, and Japan's Nikkei Stock Average was down 0.1%. China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.3%.

The retreat in Tokyo came as the U.S. dollar gave up some of its recent gains against the yen, prompting investors to take profits. Shares of Fanuc dropped 1.5%, Komatsu fell 0.6% and Nikon shed 1.7%. Concern that elevated oil prices would hurt the global economy and weaken the U.S. recovery weighed on sentiment.

In Seoul, shares of Hyundai Motor gave up 3% and Asiana Airlines dropped 2.2%, while Cathay Pacific Airways fell 4.4% in Hong Kong. Some energy producers also fell on a pullback in oil prices.

Inpex lost 2.5% in Tokyo and PetroChina fell 0.5% in Hong Kong. Shares of mainland car companies bucked the broad weakness, following news that only Chinese branded vehicles would qualify for use by the government under a preliminary 2012 list of procurement choices.

In Hong Kong, BYD Co. climbed 2.6% and Geely Automobile Holdings gained 3.8%. Anhui Jianghuai Automobile rose by the day's 10% limit in Shanghai, while FAW Car gained 2% in Shenzhen.

COMMODITIES

Base metals closed mostly higher on the London Metal Exchange Monday, recovering from earlier losses but still struggling for traction following the previous week's strong gains.

At the close, LME three-month copper was up just 0.1% on the day at $8,536 a metric ton following a 4.3% rally last week. Tin lagged the complex, closing 0.6% lower at $23,705/ton.

Aluminum closed 0.2% higher at $2,331/ton, after hitting a fresh five-month high of $2,339/ton. Crude oil futures Monday retreated from nine-month highs as fears grew that higher oil prices could derail the global economic recovery and after a meeting of finance ministers disappointed.

Investors were also locking in profits from the recent price surge. Light, sweet crude for April delivery settled $1.21 lower at $108.56 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Gold futures ticked lower for a second session, as the latest set of euro-zone debt worries cast doubt on the durability of the metal's recent rally. The most actively traded gold contract, for April delivery, fell $1.50, or 0.1%, to settle at $1,774.90 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.