Data for the sale of new US homes in April was positive, rising 6.4% and erasing two previous months of declines. Optimism lifted US equities that closed in positive territory last Friday. The S&P 500 made it to a record 1900 levels. In Asia major equities were rather mixed this morning with the Japanese Nikkei enjoying fresh highs as the JPY hit its weakest point for the week last Friday, when it hit 102.00 against the USD.