US confidence and manufacturing figures are starting to make up for some of the gloomier news out there, including a drop in US house prices and, of course, the worries about the eurozone.
House prices fell twice as fast as expected in September, down 0.8%, but manufacturing in the mid-west grew more quickly than forecast and US consumer confidence increased to its highest level since June, helped by an improving job market. How long this continues will be seen on Friday, when the non-farm payroll numbers are released.
Meanwhile Wall Street, which fell sharply on the housing figures and the European debt crisis, has recovered to be down just 29 points at the moment. And the FTSE 100 has rebounded from its losses and now sits 23.40 points higher at 5574. 35.
