MARKET ROUNDUP (Source Bloomberg)

U.S. Stocks Gain on German Confidence Amid Budget Talks; after German investor confidence climbed and traders awaited progress on federal budgetnegotiations in Washington. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index advanced 0.7 percent to 1,427.84 at 4 p.m. in New York, after rallying as much as 1.1 percent earlier. The Dow increased 78.56 points, or 0.6 percent, to 13,248.44, its highest level since Oct. 22. About 6.4 billion shares changed hands on U.S. exchanges, 3.2 percent above the three-month average. The S&P 500 is less than 0.1 percent from erasing its loss since the Nov. 6 election as President Barack Obama seeks a deal with Republican lawmakers to avoid more than $600 billion of automatic tax increases and spending cuts starting next year. House Speaker John Boehner said today he is still 'hopeful' the parties can reach a budget agreement before the end of the year.

European Stocks Rise on Federal Reserve Stimulus Optimism; amid speculation the U.S. Federal Reserve will expand stimulus measures and as German investor confidence in November beat forecasts. France's CAC gained 0.9 percent, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 climbed 0.1 percent, while Germany's DAX advanced 0.8 percent.

Oil Rises First Time in Six Days on German Confidence; as German investor confidence jumped in December. Crude for January delivery rose 23 cents, or 0.3 percent, to settle at $85.79 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract dropped to $85.56 yesterday, the lowest close since Nov. 15. Prices are down 13 percent this year and are headed for the first annual decrease since 2008. Prices were little changed after the American Petroleum Institute reported oil inventories increased 4.27 million barrels to 375.8 million last week. Crude rose 20 cents to $85.76 a barrel at 4:41 p.m. in electronic trading. It was at
$86.01 before the report was released at 4:30 p.m.

Source:Jupiter Securities Research - 12 December 2012