and wolseley came out with the full-year earnings. they said profits they believe will improve in the second half of 2010, but stability may be in the new venture part of that business. seems to be helping prop the markets a little bit today. how's it going in germany? >> volatile. we are up 7% right at the beginning of the trading session, then, of course, went into negative territory. and also volumes are looking quite okay 37.3 million shares have traded so far and it is about the energy stocks that are helping the dax at the moment, up about 3.1%, on up 2.8% and reacting to one of brokers' calls upgrading that stock as well as giving it quite a nice progress. getting an upgrade there up 2.3% as we seek. m.a.n., though, the truck maker, down 1.5%, and s.a.p. under pressure. interesting to see in terms of direct reaction from the german election is the energy sector doing rather well in terms of the main utilities. and e. on, those renewable energy stocks and renewable stocks, now down 3.7%, solar world down about 3%. over to adam n

wolseley is one. it has a lot further to go i think in the next three months. liberty international, land securities, those stocks just off the top of my head, i think, have all made technical breaks and have a lot further to go. and another one which is less exciting, united utilities. a utility play, obviously. they're all stocks doing what they're meant to do. >> these are all stocks that you hold? >> we've been -- >> all right, fine. richard, thanks very much, indeed, richard cunningham at alecto financial. >> thanks, ross. in the u.s., we will get insight on two economic fronts before the opening bell, housing starts and weekly jobless claims. housing starts could be a real market mover with levels reaching 600 million units, up over 3% in june. housing starts could boost gdp by 0.5% according to some estimates. and weekly jobless claims will be released at 8:30 a.m. new york time. the prior week showed claims dropped to 550,000. many economist believe that number was a fluke due to the shortened labor day week. forecasters predict the number to rise to 56