US DATA: Dec NAR pending home sales index +2.0% to 93.7, marking
the 5th gain in six mos, due to good affordability and economic
improvement. The index remains -4.2% YOY. PHSI in the Northeast
increased 1.8 percent to 73.9 in December but is 5.3 percent below
December 2009. In the Midwest the index rose 8.0 percent in December to
84.6 but is 5.1 percent below a year ago. Pending home sales in the
South jumped 11.5 percent to an index of 101.9 and are 1.7 percent above
December 2009. In the West the index fell 13.2 percent to 105.8 and is
10.7 percent below a year ago.