The market is up 19. Our futures were up 9 this morning, with the Dow Jones up 112 overnight on the second lowest intra-day volume of the year so far. The US Case Shiller home price index is now growing at its strongest annual rate in over six years.

The Dow was up 114 at best and is now 4 points from its all-time high of 14563. US durable goods orders were up 5.7% in February, beating expectations of +3.8%. Excluding defence goods and aircraft, orders were -2.7%, missing the forecast of -1.2%. Consumer confidence was down from 68.0 to 59.7 in March missing forecasts.

European markets mixed — UK FTSE down 0.33%, German DAX up 0.11%, France up 0.55%, Spain down 1.84%, Italy down 0.95%.

The Cyprus Stock Exchange remains closed as do the banks until Thursday at least.

Metals mixed — copper up 0.09%, nickel down 1.14%, zinc down 2.18%, lead down 2.38%. Spot iron ore up $1.10 to $137.10. Gold down $5.00 to $1599.50. Oil up $1.39 to $96.20. BHP and RIO up 0.65% and 1.01% in ADR form in the US.

  • QBE — AGM,  Says it is on track to meet its financial targets this year as it undergoes a major transformation plan. QBE in February reported a financial year profit of $US761 million and outlined changes to save $US250 million in costs. Sources say QBE may look to cut hundreds of jobs and relocate 700 jobs from NSW to the Philippines. QBE is up 3.71% to 1342c.
  • Hills Holdings (HIL) — Update on its transformation project: the company aims to focus its business on electronics and technology by 2016. It has successfully exited several businesses, which include: solar hot water, water tank maker Team Poly, Korvest and their healthcare division. As a result of the transformation, Hills will save $40 million by 2013-14, but it has taken a $115 million impairment charge. HIL is down 0.67% to 111.25c.
  • Toro Energy (TOE) — Will have to wait an extra week to find out if the federal government will approve its plans to build Australia’s next uranium mine in WA. TOE is flat at 11.5c.
  • Crown (CWN) — The NSW opposition has threatened to withdraw support for a second Sydney casino unless documents about the casino’s impacts and benefits are released by the government. Crown last year announced plans to build a $1 billion six-star hotel and casino at Barangaroo in central Sydney. CWN is up 0.16% to 1224c.
  • Nufarm (NUF) — Has requested their shares be placed in a trading halt pending an announcement about the company’s half-year financial results and the outlook for the full year.
  • Fortescue Metals (FMG 381c) — JP Morgan has upgraded the stock to an overweight with a target price of 470c. It think sit is cheap after the recent sell off. The target price is down 25c. FMG is up 4.33% to 397.5c.
  • Telstra (TLS) — Is planning a major push into the Cyber Security services industry in Australia and Asia after revealing it had been hacked repeatedly by criminals. TLS is up 0.45% to 450c.