It's a relatively light economic....>

US DATA PREVIEW: It's a relatively light economic data week into New Year's. BNP

economists said this week's theme is that "we'll get Conference Board consumer

confidence for December," which gets released Wed at 10am ET. MNI poll of

economists has a 128.0 median estimate for the consumer confidence reading, with

a high forecast of 131 from Amherst Pierpont's Stephen Stanley, and a low

forecast of 125.0 from Goldman Sachs. 

- BNP economists estimated Conf Bd Dec Consumer confidence would be 128.0, vs

last reading of 129.5 and the 6-mo moving average of 122.3.

- Nomura econss led by Lewis Alexander project Conf Bd consumer confidence wd

"moderate slightly to 128.0 in Dec, from 129.5 in Nov. Our forecast reflects

resilient consumer optimism in Q4 and would be consistent with preliminary Dec

print of the University of Michigan's consumer survey," they said.

- They added Conf Bd present situation and expectations indices for Nov "both

improved, highlighting sustained consumer optimism" plus "the labor mkt

differential index rose further, pointing to strengthening labor mkt conditions.

We expect the strong job market to continue to buoy consumer confidence."