US CONFERENCE BOARD SEP CONSUMER CONFIDENCE 99.8 VS 105.6 AUGUST U.S. consumer confidence fell to a nearly two-year low in September, weighed down by a softening labor market and worries over volatility in financial markets and a weaker dollar, according to data out Tuesday. (published 1018 ET) US AUGUST EXISTING HOME SALES DOWN 4.3% TO 5.50 MILLION RATE Demand fell a sixth time in a row for used homes in the U.S. during August, with the credit crunch helping sink sales to the lowest pace in five years. Home resales dropped 4.3% to a 5.50 million annual rate, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday. The rate was the lowest since 5.36 million in August 2002. (published 1127 ET) RICHMOND FED: SEP MANUFACTURING INDEX 14 VS AUGUST 7 Economic activity was mixed in the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond district in September. (published 1007 ET) =NORTHERN ROCK TO WITHHOLD ANNOUNCED DIVIDEND - REPORT Northern Rock PLC won't pay the interim dividend it previously announced, according to a report on the BBC's Web site Tuesday. (published 1111 ET) FREDDIE MAC AUG RETAINED PORTFOLIO AT RECORD $732.2B Freddie Mac grew its retained portfolio 1.6% from July to August to a record $732.2 billion. (published 1137 ET) LENNAR POSTS 3Q LOSS; ONE-THIRD OF JOBS CUT Lennar Corp. swung to fiscal third-quarter net loss on continued write-downs and announced it has cut its work force by 35%, as the company leads off what promises to be a vicious period for home builders. (published 0634 ET) =LOWE'S CEO: IMPACT OF HOUSING MARKET, CREDIT VERY REGIONAL Lowe's Cos. Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Niblock said Tuesday he shares concerns about the broader potential effects from housing market weakness and tighter credit, even though most of the hits to Lowe's so far have been regional. (published 0908 ET) BUSH: US TO TIGHTEN SANCTIONS ON MYANMAR MILITARY REGIME U.S. President George W. Bush announced new sanctions Tuesday against the military dictatorship in Myanmar, accusing it of imposing "a 19-year reign of fear" that denies basic freedoms of speech, assembly and worship. (published 1016 ET) REDBOOK: US RETAIL SALES +0.5% FIRST 3 WEEKS SEP VS AUG National chain store sales rose 0.5% in the first three weeks of September versus the previous month, according to Redbook Research's latest indicator of national retail sales released Tuesday. (published 0855 ET) ICSC-UBS CHAIN STORE SALES DOWN 1.0% IN SEP 22 WEEK The International Council of Shopping Centers-UBS Retail Chain Store Sales Index fell by 1.0% in the week ended Sept. 22 from its level in the week before on a seasonally adjusted, comparable-store basis, according to data reported Tuesday. This result followed a 1.1% decrease in the prior week. (published 0745 ET) JAPAN PM FUKUDA:TOO EARLY TO SAY WHEN TO HOLD GENERAL ELECTION Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday it's too early to say when he will dissolve the Lower House of parliament for general elections. (published 0942 ET) IMF RATO: IMPACT OF CREDIT CRISIS ON WORLD ECON TO BE MODEST Strong and decentralized global economic growth will mitigate the effects of the crisis currently affecting world financial markets, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato said Tuesday. (published 0710 ET) ANALYSTS: GM COULD LOSE BILLIONS IF STRIKE LAST MORE THAN 1-2 WEEKS If the United Auto Workers strike against General Motors Corp. lasts longer than a week or two, it could cost GM billions of dollars and stop the momentum the company was building with some of its new models, according to several industry analysts. (published 1054 ET) ====== DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY ====== US STOCKS MIXED AMID BEARISH NEWS U.S. stocks were mixed amid bearish news that included reduced sales forecasts from two major retailers, but investors trimmed early losses after existing home sales data for August came in better than expected. (published 1133 ET) EURO TRADES ABOVE $1.4130; HITS FRESH ALL-TIME HIGH The euro reached fresh record highs against the dollar Tuesday for the fourth consecutive trading session, with U.S. economic data providing a trigger for dollar sales. (published 1113 ET) TREASURYS STRENGTHEN SHARPLY AT OPEN Treasurys surged into Tuesday's session in the wake of miserable earnings news from U.S. homebuilder and consumer retail heavyweights. (published 1049 ET) RATE FUTURES POSTING EARLY GAINS, MKT EYES 4.25% RATE IN '07 U.S. interest rate futures prices climbed in overnight trading and opened Tuesday's session higher, reflecting increased expectations for multiple rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, amid some weak indicators and a tapering of inflationary concerns. (published 0847 ET) OIL FUTURES: NYMEX CRUDE SLIDES UNDER $79; US OUTPUT RESTORED Crude oil futures were lower Tuesday, slumping under $79 a barrel as Gulf of Mexico producers continued to restore output that was shut in last week by an approaching storm system. (published 0952 ET) (END) Dow Jones Newswires September 25, 2007 12:00 ET (16:00 GMT)