On the macroeconomic front in the United States we received mixed news today, after the United States Department of Labor reported yesterday that the number of new unemployment claims in the United States dropped by 3000 last week to a level of 420 thousand. Economists had predicted a rise to a level of 425 thousand new claims.
In the real-estate market, the United States Department of Commerce announced yesterday that the amount of new construction projects in the United States rose 3.9% during the last month, for the first time in three months, reaching an annualized level of 555 thousand new homes in November, this compared to October's 534 thousand new homes and analysts' prediction of 550 thousand.
Moody's ratings agency announced that it would consider lowering the credit rating of Greece, currently poised at a level of BA1. The company announced that there exists the possibility of lowering it by more than one level. Simultaneously, the S&P ratings agency raised China's long-term credit rating, basing its decision on the successful management of the financial crisis by Chinese government. The agency raised the rating to AA- from A.
