The Dow Jones industrial average rose 23.88 points, to 10,196.86. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index climbed 5.02 points, to 1,096.78. The Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 5.51 points, to 2,210.80. On Tuesday, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei fell 1.8% to a five-week closing low.

Yesterday, growth of Euro zone industrial new orders in November was revised up to 2.7% month-on-month. On Friday, Germany said that the country’s orders rose 2.8% month-on-month, the increase was mainly due to a correction in the volume of investment goods ordered from outside the euro zone. Yesterday, Greece regained market confidence as a large premium on the first Greek bond issue of the year led to strong demand. Demand for the bond rose to more than three times the initial offered size. Yesterday, sales of previously owned US homes fell at the fastest pace on record as the boost from the tax credit faded.

Due for release today is the JPY BOJ Press Conference, EUR German Ifo Business Climate, GBP Prelim GDP q/q, GBP BOE Gov King Speaks, USD CB Consumer Confidence.