OREANDA-NEWS. January 25, 2012. The US indices were flat on Tuesday. S&P 500 Index lost 0.1% while Russell was down by 0.67% with Consumer Discretionary (+0.35%) as the leaders, and Telecommunications as the laggards (-1.32%) with the Verizon, Sprint as the weakest stocks. Most financial results were positive, including brilliant results by Apple.

Of 82 S&P 500 Index constituents the EPS of 53 and revenues of 48 companies beat expectations so far.

Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index rose to 12 vs consensus forecast of 6.

Asian indices were mostly in green on Wednesday. Hong Kong, Chinese exchanges were closed for the observance of the Lunar New Year Holiday. Japanese Nikkei was up by 1.15%. S&P/ASX 200 lost 1.11%.

US Pending home sales and the Fed regular meeting results will be in focus today.

Earnings season will go on with 36 companies to report. Xerox. Boeing, ConocoPhillips results are to be in focus.