LONDON (ShareCast) - The main US equity benchmarks are trading sharply higher today, with average gains of over 3% (Dow Jones: +293 to 11,525, Nasdaq Comp.: +82 to 2523, S&P 500: +33 to 1,192).

The above on reports that European authorities may ‘fast track’ treaty changes, which would allow for strengthened supervision of member states´ finances. As well, much is being made of other reports which hold that the European Financial Stability Fund will be used to guarantee up to 30% of some country´s debt issues.

Quite interesting as well, although their importance pales in comparison to the above news reports, should they be proved true, are the survey results showing that sales on the day following the Thanksgiving holiday were exceptionally strong, with a 16% increase on last year´s tally.

On the company front, Citi has upgraded shares of Google to buy, from neutral.

United Health has reaffirmed its forecast for 2011 group profits.

MACRO-ECONOMY

New home sales rose 1.3% on month in October, to an annualized pace of 307,000 (Consensus: 320,000). The previous month´s reading has been revised down to 303,000, from an original estimate of 313,000.

OTHER MARKETS

Front month crude futures are now rising by 2.6% to the $99.29/barrel mark in NYMEX trading.

10 year US Treasuries are now falling by 23/32 dollars with yields at 2.04%.

S&P 500 - Risers
Genworth Financial Inc. (GNW) $6.09 +12.99%
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) $44.10 +9.38%
United States Steel Corp. (X) $24.26 +8.94%
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (GT) $12.93 +8.38%
Netflix Inc. (NFLX) $69.05 +8.13%
Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) $115.11 +7.56%
Monster Worldwide Inc. (MWW) $7.08 +7.44%
JDS Uniphase Corp. (JDSU) $10.27 +7.43%
AK Steel Holding Corp. (AKS) $7.55 +7.24%
Newfield Exploration Co (NFX) $41.25 +7.03%

S&P 500 - Fallers
Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD) $57.92 -0.82%
AutoZone Inc. (AZO) $320.34 -0.81%
Apartment Investment & Management Co. (AIV) $20.42 -0.68%
Kellogg Co. (K) $48.53 -0.45%
Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) $31.82 -0.09%

Dow Jones I.A - Risers
Alcoa Inc. (AA) $9.55 +6.65%
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $91.63 +5.66%
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) $26.53 +4.51%
Boeing Co. (BA) $65.29 +4.00%
Chevron Corp. (CVX) $95.85 +3.86%
JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $29.51 +3.62%
Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) $34.28 +3.38%
Pfizer Inc. (PFE) $19.07 +3.36%
Intel Corp. (INTC) $23.49 +3.34%
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (DD) $45.19 +3.03%

Dow Jones I.A - Fallers

Nasdaq 100 - Risers
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) $44.10 +9.38%
Joy Global Inc. (JOYG) $84.84 +7.69%
Logitech International S.A. (LOGI) $7.99 +7.61%
Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) $115.11 +7.56%
Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS) $22.19 +6.53%
Amazon.Com Inc. (AMZN) $194.14 +6.44%
Autodesk Inc. (ADSK) $31.56 +5.91%
Citrix Systems Inc. (CTXS) $68.25 +5.86%
Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) $14.84 +5.70%
Foster Wheeler AG (FWLT) $18.48 +5.60%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers
Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD) $57.92 -0.82%
Virgin Media Inc. (VMED) $22.10 -0.63%
Illumina Inc. (ILMN) $27.24 -0.22%

AB

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