• The Purchasing Managers Index Manufacturing Index Flash report released by U.S.-based Markit Economics showed the PMI at a 55.1 level during the month of January, a figure which analysts note includes new orders strengthening to their highest level since November 2014. The analysts also note that employment is improving.
• The existing home sales report released by the U.S.-based National Association of Realtors showed existing home sales decreasing by 2.8 percent in December to a 5.490 million level, with inventory levels reaching a 17-year low.
• U.S. home resales fell more than expected in December as the supply of houses on the market dropped to levels last seen in 1999, but the housing market recovery remained intact against the backdrop of a tightening labor market.
The drop in sales followed three straight months of increases and probably does not signal impending housing weakness, with the labor market near full employment and the economy strengthening.
• U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign several executive orders on Wednesday restricting immigration from Syria and six other Middle Eastern or African countries, according to several congressional aides and immigration experts briefed on the matter. And the restrictions on refugees are likely to include a multi-month ban on admissions from all countries.
U.S. President Donald Trump urged the chief executives of the Big Three U.S. automakers on Tuesday to build more cars in the country, pressing his pledge to bring jobs to America and discourage the car industry from investing in Mexico.
Trump, who has threatened to impose 35 percent tariffs on imported vehicles, opened a White House meeting with General Motors Co CEO Mary Barra, Ford Motor Co's Mark Fields and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV's Sergio Marchionne by saying he wanted to see more auto plants in the United States.
Under pressure from President Donald Trump, Mexico is preparing to discuss changes to trade rules about a product's country of origin to try to avoid a disruptive fight with the United States over commerce.
Sterling fell and London's FTSE 100 index rose on Tuesday after the Supreme Court ruled that the government must go through parliament, but not the UK's regional assemblies, to trigger talks on leaving the European Union. By 1553, sterling was down 0.4 percent to $1.2489.
• Oil prices climbed higher on Tuesday ahead of weekly U.S. inventory data on evidence the global market is tightening as lower production by OPEC and other exporters drains stocks.
Increased drilling in the United States, however, could keep a lid on prices.
U.S. light crude settled up 43 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $53.18. Benchmark Brent crude was up 17 cents at $55.40 a barrel by 2:33 p.m. ET (1933 GMT).
Reference: Xinhua, Reuters, CNBC
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