Meanwhile, retail sales faltered for the second straight month. Retail and food services sales edged up a mere 0.2 of a per cent in November. This is the weakest increase in six months and it means a slow start to the crucial year and holiday shopping season in the US. 

 

In Greece, disabled people gathered in central Athens to protest against cuts in services and benefits. Demonstrators say it's becoming increasingly difficult to survive on a shrinking income as those austerity measures take effect. Meanwhile, Greece's finance minister was meeting with the European Commission to negotiate details of the country's second international rescue package. 

 

Let's have a look at the markets for you now. The Dow has closed. It's ended the day 68 points lower. The NASDAQ’s dropped 32. S&P 500 has finished 13 down. In London, the FTSE is also 62 points, but 62 points higher.

 

Looking at commodity prices. West Texas Crude’s trading at 100 US dollars and 22 cents a barrel. Tapis is at 116 US dollars and 34 cents  a barrel. Gold is trading at 1630 US dollars and 99 cents an ounce. The Australian dollar is still hovering around parity--100 US cents there, 76 euro cents and buy 64 pence sterling.