Maybe traders believe that the new record budget spending deficit in the US is going to encourage economic growth but keep spending under control, while increasing spending on building a more secure America. How many ways can a story be spun?

Early this morning, Asia-Pacic equity prices roared: Shanghai up +8.1 pct, Hong Kong up +3.8 pct and the Nikkei 225 of Japan up +2.7 pct. But then traders started worrying about the State of the Boardroom at Humungous Bank & Broker. European stock prices closed flat.

Presently, US equity prices are down, with leadership being shown by the Banks ($BKX down -3.6 pct), Brokers ($XBD -2.3 pct) and Retailers ($RLX -3.0 pct).

In the sectors, XLF is down -2.5 pct, and XLY -1.8 pct. The winner to this point is XLU (Utilities), which is up about +1.9 pct.

Spot gold and silver are down -7.75 and -0.07 respectively to 901.85 and 16.72. But a few hours ago, the Precious Metal Bulls got weak-kneed by sending gold and silver to lows of 891.60 and 16.39 in the spot market.

The March e-miNy Crude contracts are up about +1.0 pct to 90.525, and the DJ March is off about -81.

It's so far a mixed up day as traders emotions vacillate.

---

Links & Charts

---

International Economics Review

US Economic Calendar.

---

International Equity Markets Review

Europe

Here is the latest session data for the bourses of Europe.

---

Here is the latest session data for the London stock exchange FTSE.

---

Here is the latest session data for the German DAX.

---

Here is the latest session data for the French CAC 40.

---

Here is the latest session data for the Milan Italy stock exchange MIBTEL.

---

Here is the latest session data for the Swiss market index.

---

Asia-Pacific

Here is the latest session data for the Asia-Pacific stock exchanges.

---

Here is the latest chart for the Japanese Nikkei 225 index.

---

Here is the latest chart for the Singapore index .

---

Here is the latest chart for the Shanghai Composite index .

---

Here is the latest chart for the Hong Kong Hang Seng index .

---

Here is the latest chart for the India BSE 30 index .

---

Here is the latest chart for the Australian All Ordinaries index .

---

US Equity Markets Review

DJIA (interactive) chart

NASDAQ Composite (interactive) chart

---

Oil Review

Here is the e-miNY Mar-08 Crude Oil chart.

Interactive Chart of Daily Crude Oil:

---

Gold & Precious Metals Review

Spot gold chart for the week

---

Spot silver chart for the week

---

Forex Review

Here is the chart of the week's trading in the $USD.

---