Daily News 2/23/2015
February 23, 2015
Monday – February 23
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reported on Monday that Existing Home Sales in January fell to their lowest levels since last April as tight inventories, seasonal weather and the ongoing rise in prices kept buyers out of the market. Sales fell to an annual rate of 4.82 million units, below the 4.95 million expected. Despite the decline, sales are up by 3.2% from a year ago. A spokesman from the NAR said, “low rates are attracting potential buyers, but the lack of new and affordable listings is leading some to delay decisions.”
The closely watched S&P 500® Stock Index closed at a record high of 2,110 on Friday, led higher by a strong corporate earnings season. The S&P has risen 2% so far this year after gaining 11% in 2014. The closely watched index had hit a multi-year low of 666 back in March of 2009, which was the height of the Great Recession. The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large cap U.S. equities. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.
If you’re planning a vacation to any of the Disney theme parks in the near future, be ready to shell out extra bucks for the ticket prices. The Walt Disney Co. just raised prices for one-day tickets to visit Mickey and Minnie. A one-day ticket for either Disneyland or California Adventure in Anaheim, California is now $99, up from $96 for anyone older than 10. Single-day tickets for the Magic Kingdom in Florida have been raised to $105 from $99. Disney said that it typically raises prices each year as it continues to add new experiences for visitors.
