Building activity in the U.K. weakened further in December as the housing sector remains under stress. The construction PMI index slipped to 29.3 from 31.8 in November, which is the lowest reading since recordkeeping began in 1997.

KANSAS CITY -(Dow Jones)- Rural housing markets and construction could return to pre-recessionary levels sooner than urban markets, but changes could be subtle and dependent on local commodity prices, a Fed economist said Monday.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Top economists at the Allied Social Sciences Association's annual meeting have been searching -- in some cases, in vain -- for signs of life in the U.S. housing market, a key element for busting the country out of a deep economic downturn.

After three sessions of gains that fueled hopes for a January rebound, stock markets fell as car companies released December sales and oil prices clawed back from five-year lows.

MEXICO CITY - Latin American stocks rose Monday as investors bet better than expected economic news from the U.S. would buoy local markets.

With the stock markets yet to recover and banks lowering fixed deposit rates, companies accessing public deposits are seeing investors parking funds.

We asked three experts in the local housing market what to expect in 2009. We got three different answers.

After three sessions of gains that fueled hopes for a January rebound, Wall Street fell as car companies released December sales and oil prices clawed back from five-year lows.

LONDON: European stock markets closed sharply lower yesterday with losses of four per cent and more after much worse-than-expected US inflation and housing data hit already weak sentiment.

After three sessions of gains that fueled hopes for a January rebound, Wall Street danced between positive and negative territory as car companies released December sales.