MNI US Morning Briefing

     LONDON (MNI) - Another quiet session on Tuesday with volumes expected to be

thin again in the pre-Christmas week.

Across the Atlantic the first release of the day comes at 1330GMT, US Housing

Starts figures will be published. The seasonally adjusted pace of housing starts

is expected to slow to a 1.250 million annual rate in November after a sharp

increase in October. The NAHB index rose further in November, a positive for the

housing starts data.

     Also at 1330GMT is US Current Account Balance data.

     US Redbook Retail Sales Index will hit the wires at 1355GMT.

     Rounding off the day at 1810GMT Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank President

Neel Kashkari is to participate in moderated Q&A at Lambda Alpha International -

Minnesota Chapter in Roseville, Minnesota, with audience Q&A.

--MNI London Bureau; +44 203 865 3809; email: kieran.williams@marketnews.com