Business news for Mon, 24 Dec 2007 & with words fell+rose. 4 news.

SOUTH Korea's consumer confidence declined from a five-year high, signaling spending may slow and crimp growth in Asia's fourth-largest economy. The sentiment index fell to 106 in the fourth quarter, the lowest in three quarters, from 112, the Bank of Korea said yesterday in a report in Seoul. A reading higher than 100 indicates optimists outnumber pessimists. The benchmark Kospi index of stocks has fallen eight percent from a November 1 record of 2,085.45 on concern US subprime-related losses would slow the global economy. Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc this month cut its 2008 growth forecast for South Korea to 4.6 percent from 4.7 percent, Bloomberg News reported. "Consumers were probably very worried by the US subprime crisis," said Lee Sung Kwon, an economist at Good Morning Shinhan Securities Co in Seoul. The yield on a five-year government bond rose two basis points to 5.87 percent in Seoul and the won gained 0.1 percent to 939.65 versus the dollar. The

THE mortgage delinquency ratio in Hong Kong dropped to 0.11 percent and the rescheduled loan ratio fell to 0.2 percent, both record lows, driving the combined ratio lower to 0.32 percent, according to a report yesterday. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority also found in the monthly survey that new mortgage loans drawn down rose 17.5 percent to HK$18.7 billion (US$2.4 billion).

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Gold futures rose for a second straight trading day on Monday as the dollar fell against a basket of other major currencies. Copper futures rose for a fourth day. Gold futures for February delivery rose $1.1, or 0.1%, to $816.5 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Copper futures for March delivery rallied 5.6 cents, or 1.8%, to $3.1535 a pound. Copper has risen more than 10% since Dec. 19. The dollar index, which tracks the value of the dollar against a basket of other major currencies, fell for a second day, down 0.2% at 77.57. A weaker dollar tends to increase the appeal of dollar-denominated gold as an investment haven.

SAN FRANCISCO -- (MarketWatch) -- Crude oil fell below $93 a barrel on Monday ahead of the Christmas holiday. Crude futures for February delivery were last seen down 46 cents, or 0.5%, at $92.85 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It rose to an intraday high of $93.84 in electronic trading early on speculation demand for heating oil may increase during the winter.