OREANDA-NEWS. March 20, 2012. Russ-Invest Released Daily Markets Monitor

The US indices rose on Monday. S&P 500 Index added 0.4% while Russell was up by 0.91% with Technology (+0.78%), Financials as leaders. Put/call ratio went up to 1.31 and 90-110% skew fell to 9.94. Advance/Decline ratio was at 282/211 with NYSE volumes lowest in the last 15 years.

Apple dividend, Citi closing deal over Shanghai Bank were the main factors, driving the market higher. USD weakened during the US session, and strengthened in Asia.

Asian indices were mixed on Tuesday. Hang Seng lost 0.33%, Japanese Nikkei was up by 0.12%. S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.37%. Chinese indices lost on average 0.7-1.2%.

Housing Starts for February will be in focus today in the US.

Earnings season will go on in the US with 5 S&P 500 company and 6 DJ Stoxx 600 companies to report.